I have been knitting a pair of socks. I have my heart set on doing a short row heel. Last time I tried this was nearly 2 years ago and that attempt resulted in many, many holes. I’ve progressed since then. Matured as a knitter.
Attempt #1:
Lucy Neatby Garter Stitch Short Row Heel
Involves not picking up the wraps.
Success? Nope. Lots of holes.
Result: Frogged heel #1.
Aw shucks!
Attempt #2:
Garter Stitch Short Row Heel… my version.
This involved picking up the wraps.
Success: Nope! Lots of holes.
Result: Frogged heel #2
:: stomps foot::
Attempt #3
Garter Stitch Short Row Heel…. Hail Mary version
Involved picking up the wraps and twisting them prior to knitting.
Success? Nope. Lots of holes… and bumps too.
Result: Frogged heel #3.
^&*%$#*
(Insert unladylike language here)
I swear by Priscilla Gibson-Robert’s book Simple Socks Plain and Fancy. Its the first time I’ve ever managed to do a short row heel without gaping holes all over!
Good luck~!
A gusset and heel flap sock fits me better than a short rowed heel. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. 😉
Also, I’m pretty sure Mary wasn’t a knitter. All my Hail Marys haven’t helped any with my knitting escapades.
I was also going to suggest Priscilla Gibson-Robert’s. Priscilla’s Dream Socks are in Favorite Socks and feature the heel.
Cookie (shut up and knit) just put up a short row tutorial on her blog. As the button says: keep your sh*t tight. Really.
If you can get your hands on (or have) Cat Bordhi’s New Pathways book, do so, she has a great thing in there for hiding wraps – although it is for a flap heel. I’ve utilized it on my short rows and it works for them too.
I second the Cat Bordhi suggestion…I love her book, and I’m not even a sock knitter!
Been there… done that!
I was going to suggest Cat Bordhi’s technique as well. I refer to her book often even when knitting other socks.
However, I also lean towards Lorette’s advice. 😉
Cosmicpluto and Misocrafty both have short row heel tutorials in their sidebars somewhere, slightly different techniques that both result in NO holes
Well, after you get the hang of them.
Wasn’t there some discussion about Japanese short rows when you were out for Madrona? I thought Lorette had learned about them in a class and was going to show us, but we ran out of time (too much wine, I think!). I just started a pair of socks from New Pathways, toe up, so I’ll keep you posted.
Good luck with getting the short rows to work, sweetie.
I swear by Priscilla Gibson-Robert’s yarn-over short-row heel. It’s the best for me–no holes, and both sides of the heel have the same amount of stretchiness. On my other short-row heel attempts, one side was noticeably shorter and not as stretchy as the other side.
Hunny garter stitch heels are super easy!! You just have to remember to titghten your stitch after you wrap it plus I give a little extra tug on the next stitch too.
Also, Lucy Neatby suggests slipping the stitch with the yarn in back, bringing the yarn between the needles, slipping the stitch back to the left needle and turning which wraps the stitch from the BACK. You might have more success by slipping the stitch with the yarn in FRONT, moving the yarn to the back then slipping the stitch back to the left needle and turning which puts the wrap on the FRONT. (Cosmicpluto and Misocrafty do it thusly)
It takes a little practice to get your tension perfect. When I first start any short rows, I got out my #4 needles, some worsted weight yarn, cast on 30 – 40 stitches and knit “just” a heel. Then I frogged it and did it again until I felt comfortable.
D’oh…that should read “When I first started doing any short rows…..” That’ll teach me to respond at 1:47 am – damn that caffeinated Diet Coke