Mind the gap

    If you struggle to avoid the little 'hole' which occurs between the heel and the instep when knitting socks, help is at hand. When you've turned the heel and picked up the stitches on the edge of the heel flap, patterns often tell you to pick up one extra stitch before and after working the instep part of the round, but I've never seen one explain how best to do so. I've tried various permutations of knitting through the back loop, or into the row below, and sometimes this does the trick, but it's hit-or-miss.

    Paula Emons-Fuessle of The Knitting Pipeline has helpfully filmed a short tutorial showing a good method of avoiding the hole; I've just used it for my current sock (pictured above, one round after picking up the heel stitches, and below, a little further on), and found it excellent for closing the gap after you've picked up the left-hand side of the heel stitches, less good - for some reason I do not understand - on the other side, but I shall persevere.

    Edited to add: if you're still having trouble, try these socks in which the holes become part of the design.

Comments

[B R Wombat]

Thanks for the link - I will try this on current pair.

[Callmemadam]

Thanks for the link; I'll check it out.

I can never understand why one side of the heel *always* looks better than the other.

[Kathleen]

I so envy your talent for knitting socks! Last winter I managed to finish a pair,knitted in a spiral thus no heel at all to worry about... I was really pleased with the result. When I see the beautiful wools and designs that you use it makes me want to persevere and so I shall!!!

[Dark Puss]

Or just tell people that you have worn the holes through constant use :-)

[Fran H-B]

Yes, so often have several attempts before I am happy with my pick up row so will be using the link in future, many thanks!

[Toffeeapple]

Thank you, I have bookmarked this page!