The Knitting Fiend/ Diet Diary

Now I’ll show how to work the heel flap when knitting a sock toe up. It’s a very simple process that involves “seam as you go”. (That’s a handy think to know should you ever want to knit a saddle shoulder in the round.)

At this point, you have already worked the gusset and heel turn and you have three sets of stitches held on three separate strings of yarn. I’m mostly quoting the directions written for magic loop below with translations in blue.

Note that in the instructions I translated, the flap had 18 stitches. When working magic loop, all 18 stitches are knit in one fell swoop; so the number “18″ appears in rows 3 and 4. When working on DPN’s the flap is divided on 2 needles, so you will notice the number 9 (or 18/2) appears in rows 3 and 4.)

As you work back and forth over the stitches, you will “seam” the flap to gusset. It’s very easy to do, but first two rows are a bit fiddly, because you have to transfer the gusset stitches from a string to a needle tip right in the middle of the seaming operation!

• Row 1: P1, L1B, Purl until one stitch remains on left needle tip. Slip that stitch to the right needle tip. You will see gusset stitches on a string to the left; slide the gusset stitches onto another DPN (see below — do pull the string out before knitting!). Slip the stitch on the right tip back to the left tip, then purl two stitches together. Turn so knit side faces. (You have seamed the edge flap stitch to the gusset; the flap stitch should cover the gusset stitch.)
  
• Row 2: Slip 1, knit; 1 stitch remains on left needle tip. Slip last stitch knit-wise. Transfer gusset stitches from string to another DPN. Slip first stitch, knit together with previously slipped stitch. Turn so purl side faces. (You just worked an “ssk”.
• You should now be working with two DPN’s.)
• Row 3: Slip 1, purl 9; pick up another dpn purl 9, p2tog; turn.
• Row 4: Slip 1, knit 9; you reach the end of one dpn; knit 9, ssk; turn.
• Work in pattern established by rows 3 and 4. Each time you turn, there will be one fewer stitch on the left tip. Continue until there are no stitches on the left tip when you turn to complete a knit row.



• Pick up the instep stitches and divide stitches on three needles keeping the points in the center back of the heel flap.. (– 40 stitches on needle.)

Yep. the heel flap is complete and you’ve learned to seam as you go. (I bet you’ll want to do more of that from now on!) I advise you try the sock on at this point just to verify it really, really fits!

The rest of the sock? Well, if it’s an unshaped sock, you’ll just knit rounds until it’s long enough. Then switch to smaller needles, knit some ribbing and bind off.

If the sock is shaped, you’ll want to increase stitches. My sockulator pattern has you increase them along the center back. (That’s why I suggest keeping the two points in the center back of the sock; they act as stitch markers. ) You could also increase stitches in other locations. Some people like to increase at the sides. However, if you increase at the sides, you’ll need to figure out how to do line them up. (Hint, increasing 4 stitches on the increase rows and leaving more plain rows in between works.)

Either way, you’ve just got fairly ordinary knitting up ahead. The whole gusset / heel turn / flap bit is done! Watch some tv and relax.

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