With this interactive pattern you can make a contrasting color short row heel without the stripe on the instep. The secret sauce is one wrap and turn at each end of the instep needle which prevents holes from forming.
This pattern works for both toe-up and cuff-down socks and almost for any stitch count and gauge.
This pattern is part of my universal basic sock pattern.
Abbreviations
Knitting abbreviations used in this pattern you can find here.
sts on my needles rows / 4” (10cm).
Pattern
Beginning your sock from toe work until your foot measures 1.10” (2.75cm) less than desired length or if you are making cuff down socks begin the heel when your leg measures 1.10” (2.75cm) less than than desired length. You should now have a total of 56 sts divided evenly on two needles.
You should now be at the end of needle 1. With contrasting color work to the end of needle 2. The following rows 1-3 are worked on needle 2 only. Turn your work.
Row 1 (ws): mds, p to end, turn.
Row 2 (rs): mds, k to double st, turn.
Row 3 (ws): mds, p to double st, turn.
Repeat rows 2 & 3 until the last row you worked was mds, k 10. You should now have 9 double sts at each end of the needle 2 and 10 regular sts in the middle.
Continue working the row without turning and k the 9 double sts (knit through both legs of the double st as if it was one stitch). You should be now at the end of needle 2, w&t (the first stitch on needle 1).
Row 4: p to end of needle 2 (purl through both legs of the double st as if it was one stitch), w&t (the last stitch on needle 1).
Round 5: k 20, turn.
Heel continues. The following rows 4-6 are worked on needle 2 only. Turn your work.
Row 4 (ws): mds, p 11, turn.
Row 5 (rs): mds, k to double st. K the double st and 1 st after it, turn.
Row 6 (ws): mds, p to double st. P the double st and 1 st after it, turn.
Repeat rows 5 & 6 until you are on the right side and the last st of the needle 2 is double st. Knit the st.
Slip all the heel stitches purlwise back to the left needle. Break CC. Take the main color and work the double st on needle 2 and then work to the end of needle 2.
Knit the first st on needle 1 together with its wrap. K to 1 st before end of needle 1. Knit the next st together with its wrap.
The heel is now finished. Continue working in the round.
2 Responses
I am trying out this pattern now and it is working well. I like the interactive aspect very much. I have a suggestion: It’s fairly common to knit short-row heels with slightly more than half of the total stitches to allow for a high instep. Could your input field allow for this? (I got around it by doubling my heel stitch count.)
Hi Sarah!
Thanks for taking your time to leave a comment and feedback. Right now as you already mentioned you can use the pattern as follows: If you have a total of 60 sts the pattern assumes that you would like to work your heel over 30 sts. If you would like to work your heel over 34 stitches instead just enter twice the number of stitches to the total stitch count that in this case is 68 stitches.
I will definitely add your suggestion to my improvement list.
-Ida