Sock after the heel shaping
Now the sock looks more like a sock and not just something knitted in the round. The heel makes all the difference.
I hope the short rows behaved well in your sock. If they didn't, let me know. We'll sort it out 🙂
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It looks wonderful! I look forward to getting to this part.😊
Quote from Patricia Brown on June 27, 2025, 3:58 pmIt looks wonderful! I look forward to getting to this part.😊
Thank you, Patricia 😊
Hello Marina, I see you work the sock using a long circular. I have always worked with dpns and was able to do the pixel socks up to now keeping my tension with the two color pattern. However, after doing the heel , which by the way it is brilliant, I feel my tension is harder to keep even. so my question is how long a cable is needed to be able to work the sock using a circular like you do?
Thanks, Cecilia
Quote from CECILIA VILLABONA on June 28, 2025, 10:12 amHello Marina, I see you work the sock using a long circular. I have always worked with dpns and was able to do the pixel socks up to now keeping my tension with the two color pattern. However, after doing the heel , which by the way it is brilliant, I feel my tension is harder to keep even. so my question is how long a cable is needed to be able to work the sock using a circular like you do?
Thanks, Cecilia
Hello Cecilia, I am glad you like this type of heel shaping. Thank you 🙏
As for the needles, the circular needle that I use is 100 cm / 39" long, but before you switch, try a little adjustment to your dpn setup.
If you transferred all stitches of the heel to one dpn, the edge stitches are probably too tight. It helps to add another needle (or even two) to the "resting stitches". If the other half of the stitches is divided between two needles, divide them between three or four needles. It will add additional needle tips to the work, but it will relieve the tension created at the edges of the "heel stitches". Good luck!
Hi Maryna,
I am really enjoying learning every aspect of knitting these socks.
My question is.... is it possible to make the heel deeper or larger? I have really high arches and I have read that those with high arches should stick with a heel flap and gusset type of heel but really wanted to try the wrap and turn method.
My knitting journey is a comedy of errors.....first time knitting toe up socks I wasn't too sure how to begin. I ended up choosing the wrong size for me (39/40) too small for me for women's so just guessing, chose men's size 40 (thinking if still too small I would just give the socks away).
After knitting the foot portion they looked to be too small so to compensate I made the foot of the socks 19.5 cm (men's size 42). I made the heel with 8 wraps (ending with the second Main Short Row 2). After trying the sock on I found the heel to be very shallow.
I then tried to make the heel with 11 wraps, but that resulted in a pointy heel 🙂 The bonus part is that I'm really good at making the sock heel now after ripping it out many times 🙂
In hindsight I probably should have chosen men's size 44 or 46 as I usually make cuff down socks casting on 68 to 72 stitches.
Thanks again for this wonderful knit along.
Quote from Dawn on June 29, 2025, 1:45 pmHi Maryna,
I am really enjoying learning every aspect of knitting these socks.
My question is.... is it possible to make the heel deeper or larger? I have really high arches and I have read that those with high arches should stick with a heel flap and gusset type of heel but really wanted to try the wrap and turn method.
My knitting journey is a comedy of errors.....first time knitting toe up socks I wasn't too sure how to begin. I ended up choosing the wrong size for me (39/40) too small for me for women's so just guessing, chose men's size 40 (thinking if still too small I would just give the socks away).
After knitting the foot portion they looked to be too small so to compensate I made the foot of the socks 19.5 cm (men's size 42). I made the heel with 8 wraps (ending with the second Main Short Row 2). After trying the sock on I found the heel to be very shallow.
I then tried to make the heel with 11 wraps, but that resulted in a pointy heel 🙂 The bonus part is that I'm really good at making the sock heel now after ripping it out many times 🙂
In hindsight I probably should have chosen men's size 44 or 46 as I usually make cuff down socks casting on 68 to 72 stitches.
Thanks again for this wonderful knit along.
Hi Dawn. What a story! Thank you for your optimism despite forgging the sock a few times.
I used this heel shaping in sneaker socks, zigzag socks, and binary socks, and no one told me that the socks were too tight around the arch. But we are all different and I am sorry you feel that the sock is not fitting you well.
Please try it on again and tell me where the most tension is - is it that the heel part is not long enough (option A in the photo), or is it that the sock won't fit around the arch of your foot (option B)?
Thank you!
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The most tension is in Option A and Option B.
I believe the problem is in my size choice and just me panicking 😳 so I think problem solved.
I tried on the sock after completing the heel at 8 wraps and it came up halfway to my ankle bone. I frogged and then tried 11 wraps which resulted in the pointy heel.
I frogged again and did the 8 wraps again and then continued with a few rows of the leg pattern….and was surprised they seem to fit well enough, just a little snug.
I think I’m going to really love knitting this heel and am looking forward to knitting my next pair. I like the no gaps at the join also.
Thank you.
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Quote from Dawn on June 29, 2025, 10:01 pmThe most tension is in Option A and Option B.
I believe the problem is in my size choice and just me panicking 😳 so I think problem solved.
I tried on the sock after completing the heel at 8 wraps and it came up halfway to my ankle bone. I frogged and then tried 11 wraps which resulted in the pointy heel.
I frogged again and did the 8 wraps again and then continued with a few rows of the leg pattern….and was surprised they seem to fit well enough, just a little snug.
I think I’m going to really love knitting this heel and am looking forward to knitting my next pair. I like the no gaps at the join also.
Thank you.
Thanks for the photo, Dawn. The sock does look nice on your foot. With a few more rounds of leg part, it will wrap your ankle like a glove. Happy knitting, my friend!
The heel on the first sock is completed. I enjoyed learning about these lifted short rows, and pleasantly surprised how neat the shaping came out as a result.
On to the second heel and then to the leg, hoping to get it done by the time the cuff tutorial rolls in.
For me, it will certainly a pair of socks knitted in record time!
It is ironic to finish a pair of socks when the temperatures are in the high 80's, nevertheless I am a pair of socks richer for the winter.
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Quote from Mirta on July 2, 2025, 2:58 pmThe heel on the first sock is completed. I enjoyed learning about these lifted short rows, and pleasantly surprised how neat the shaping came out as a result.
On to the second heel and then to the leg, hoping to get it done by the time the cuff tutorial rolls in.
For me, it will certainly a pair of socks knitted in record time!
It is ironic to finish a pair of socks when the temperatures are in the high 80's, nevertheless I am a pair of socks richer for the winter.
Mirta, your sock looks terrific! I am so glad you like this type of the heel shaping. Yay!
The heel shaping is going very smoothly. Just starting the short rows 1a&2a. I’ve only done this heel once before (for the zigzag socks); this time went quicker for me as confidence built from previous (hard-earned) success. Key for me this time was to shut off all distractions and just focus. (I often learn lessons the hard way but I did learn!)
I am loving these socks!
Your socks look great, Jennifer! 😊🧶
Quote from Jennifer on July 4, 2025, 12:08 amThe heel shaping is going very smoothly. Just starting the short rows 1a&2a. I’ve only done this heel once before (for the zigzag socks); this time went quicker for me as confidence built from previous (hard-earned) success. Key for me this time was to shut off all distractions and just focus. (I often learn lessons the hard way but I did learn!)
I am loving these socks!
What a gorgeous pair of socks! The shaping looks impeccable. I am glad you enjoy the process 🧶
hello!
phew, I had a frogging saga with the second heel, ironically it wasn't because of the heel itself, but as I was restrarting the colorwork I dropped the double wrap stitch... well and the frogging began! It turned out to be beneficial as the wraps on both knit and purl became easier to handle. I had to sort out the purl wraps, as it wasn't intuitive to move the wrap from the right needle to the left; I found that turning the work and then moving the wrap worked out better.
I am quite pleased with the heel, and I get that you Maryna love this heel method! I do however need to improve on the closing of the round in the colorwork. I followed your instructions Maryna, but the join became ropy, I changed method, by lifting the right leg of the stitch under the first stitch of the row and knit the two with the color of the next row. The feel is right, the look wasn't smooth. You won't see it in the picture because I purposely laid the join side down! Fortunately, as I am doing the leg I see better results! I definitely need to work a tube in colorwork and keep practicing.
As Jennifer noted and I found out the key is really to cut out distractions .
I tried one sock on and it does fit great! I will do the 1/4 length and because my ankles tend to swell I need to have a soft cuff, to that end I wonder if I should pick the next needle size. Maryna, do you think that will be a good solution? Thank you again for a super knit=along!
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Quote from Jennifer on July 4, 2025, 12:08 amThe heel shaping is going very smoothly. Just starting the short rows 1a&2a. I’ve only done this heel once before (for the zigzag socks); this time went quicker for me as confidence built from previous (hard-earned) success. Key for me this time was to shut off all distractions and just focus. (I often learn lessons the hard way but I did learn!)
I am loving these socks!
Your colorwork is beautiful, Jennifer!
Quote from Mirta on July 5, 2025, 5:33 pmQuote from Jennifer on July 4, 2025, 12:08 amThe heel shaping is going very smoothly. Just starting the short rows 1a&2a. I’ve only done this heel once before (for the zigzag socks); this time went quicker for me as confidence built from previous (hard-earned) success. Key for me this time was to shut off all distractions and just focus. (I often learn lessons the hard way but I did learn!)
I am loving these socks!Your colorwork is beautiful, Jennifer!
Thank you, Mirta! So is yours! And I love the colours you’ve chosen. 🙂
Quote from Mirta on July 5, 2025, 5:24 pmhello!
phew, I had a frogging saga with the second heel, ironically it wasn't because of the heel itself, but as I was restrarting the colorwork I dropped the double wrap stitch... well and the frogging began! It turned out to be beneficial as the wraps on both knit and purl became easier to handle. I had to sort out the purl wraps, as it wasn't intuitive to move the wrap from the right needle to the left; I found that turning the work and then moving the wrap worked out better.
I am quite pleased with the heel, and I get that you Maryna love this heel method! I do however need to improve on the closing of the round in the colorwork. I followed your instructions Maryna, but the join became ropy, I changed method, by lifting the right leg of the stitch under the first stitch of the row and knit the two with the color of the next row. The feel is right, the look wasn't smooth. You won't see it in the picture because I purposely laid the join side down! Fortunately, as I am doing the leg I see better results! I definitely need to work a tube in colorwork and keep practicing.
As Jennifer noted and I found out the key is really to cut out distractions .
I tried one sock on and it does fit great! I will do the 1/4 length and because my ankles tend to swell I need to have a soft cuff, to that end I wonder if I should pick the next needle size. Maryna, do you think that will be a good solution? Thank you again for a super knit=along!
Mirta, your socks look terrific! You have remarkable patience to frog the sock a few times, but it is clearly worth it. I also dropped a wrapped stitch once and discovered that it is incredibly difficult to pick it up. Just like you, I frogged back and reknit the whole heel. Lesson learnt – now I am very careful with those stitches, and I stay away from distractions during the heel shaping.
It is an interesting idea to prevent the hole at the corners of the heel by lifting the stitch below and knitting it together with the "active" stitch. I'll give it a try. It could be a simple solution to a very common problem.
I am so glad the sock fits well. Bigger needles will make the cuff wider, but with the ankle length, that width can be too much, and the sock will slip off the foot. To make the cuff just slightly looser, make the cuff in a regular ribbing, not the twisted one. Also, make the cuff about 2" long and knit and purl stitches loosely as you bind off stitches.
Happy knitting!
Quote from Mirta on July 5, 2025, 5:24 pmhello!
phew, I had a frogging saga with the second heel, ironically it wasn't because of the heel itself, but as I was restrarting the colorwork I dropped the double wrap stitch... well and the frogging began! It turned out to be beneficial as the wraps on both knit and purl became easier to handle. I had to sort out the purl wraps, as it wasn't intuitive to move the wrap from the right needle to the left; I found that turning the work and then moving the wrap worked out better.
I am quite pleased with the heel, and I get that you Maryna love this heel method! I do however need to improve on the closing of the round in the colorwork. I followed your instructions Maryna, but the join became ropy, I changed method, by lifting the right leg of the stitch under the first stitch of the row and knit the two with the color of the next row. The feel is right, the look wasn't smooth. You won't see it in the picture because I purposely laid the join side down! Fortunately, as I am doing the leg I see better results! I definitely need to work a tube in colorwork and keep practicing.
As Jennifer noted and I found out the key is really to cut out distractions .
I tried one sock on and it does fit great! I will do the 1/4 length and because my ankles tend to swell I need to have a soft cuff, to that end I wonder if I should pick the next needle size. Maryna, do you think that will be a good solution? Thank you again for a super knit=along!
Quote from Mirta on July 5, 2025, 5:24 pmhello!
phew, I had a frogging saga with the second heel, ironically it wasn't because of the heel itself, but as I was restrarting the colorwork I dropped the double wrap stitch... well and the frogging began! It turned out to be beneficial as the wraps on both knit and purl became easier to handle. I had to sort out the purl wraps, as it wasn't intuitive to move the wrap from the right needle to the left; I found that turning the work and then moving the wrap worked out better.
I am quite pleased with the heel, and I get that you Maryna love this heel method! I do however need to improve on the closing of the round in the colorwork. I followed your instructions Maryna, but the join became ropy, I changed method, by lifting the right leg of the stitch under the first stitch of the row and knit the two with the color of the next row. The feel is right, the look wasn't smooth. You won't see it in the picture because I purposely laid the join side down! Fortunately, as I am doing the leg I see better results! I definitely need to work a tube in colorwork and keep practicing.
As Jennifer noted and I found out the key is really to cut out distractions .
I tried one sock on and it does fit great! I will do the 1/4 length and because my ankles tend to swell I need to have a soft cuff, to that end I wonder if I should pick the next needle size. Maryna, do you think that will be a good solution? Thank you again for a super knit=along!
Hello, Mirta!
I had a very similar issue with sock #2….got to the last stitch (aaargh!) before restarting colour work and realized I had neglected to double wrap it. I wanted perfection…. After several attempts I finally just redid the whole heel. Second attempt, I remembered to double wrap! 🙂 I sympathize regarding trying to undo the heel stitches!