10 August 2010

the heel...finally!

finishing these socks...well, i lost momentum, but here is the pattern!

make the heel.
we will be making a short-row heel. knit across instep stitches to be prepared to knit only on the sole/heel stitches.
on heel stitches:
row 1: k to last st, slip last st, wrap slipped stitch with working yarn from back to front, slip back to left hand needle, turn work, as if to knit flat. bring working yarn to front.
row 2: slip 1, p to last st, slip last st, wrap slipped stitch with working yarn from front to back, slip back to left hand needle, turn work.
continue in this manner (sl1, k to one st before last wrapped st, wrap st, turn. sl1, p to one st before last wrapped st, wrap st, turn.) until you have 8 wrapped sts on either side. (for a narrower heel, you can wrap up to 10-12 sts either side. just end on a wrong side wrap and turn.)
turning the heel:
sl 1, k to 1st wrapped st. pick up the wrap by inserting your right needle tip from the bottom to the top. slip it up onto the left hand needle with its wrapped stitch. knit them both together. wrap the next st (yes, it is already wrapped once – wrap it again.) turn.
sl 1, p to 1st wrapped st. pick up the wrap, slip it up onto needle, purl the 2 st together. wrap next st, turn.
**sl 1, k to 1st wrapped st. pick up BOTH wraps (remember, you re-wrapped it), k the 3 of them together, wrap next st, turn.
**sl 1, p to 1st wrapped st. pick up BOTH wraps, p3tog, wrap next st, turn.
continue in **this manner, picking up both wraps and knitting/purling 3 together until all wraps are picked up. picking up all the wraps make for a tighter, hole-free heel.

make the cuff.
knit across instep stitches. remember to use your pattern if you added one, or you may want to start a 2x2 rib. when you get to the heel sts, you should pick up an extra st and knit it together with the first heel st. this will close any gaps. do this again at the end of the heel sts to close up the other side.
knit the cuff as long as you like, leaving enough yarn to bind off. (2 feet is plenty!)

bind off.
i like to use elizabeth zimmermann’s sewn bind off. it allows for a very stretchy nice bind off!
thread your 2-foot tail onto a tapestry needle. *insert the needle into the first 2 stitches on the knitting needle as if to purl and draw the yarn through. reinsert the needle into the first stitch on the knitting needle as if to knit, draw the yarn through and slip the stitch off.* continue from * to *.

wear your socks.


:::::Pattern ideas:::::
1)
2x2 rib

2)
knit all even rows:
row 1: k2, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog,k3,yo, k1, yo, k3, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog, yo, k1
row 3: k2, yo, k1, sl1, k1, psso, k2 ,k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, sl1, k1, psso, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1
row 5: k2, yo, k2, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k5, yo, k1, yo, k5, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k2, yo, k1
row 7: k2, yo, k3, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog, k3, yo, k1
row 9: k2, yo, k4, sl1, k1, psso, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, sl1, k1, psso, k2, k2tog, k4, yo, k1
row 11: k2, yo, k5, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k5, yo, k1
repeat these rows, ending with a knit row.

Let me know of any other simple patterns/ribs that you enjoy!