Workshop: MUMTU Socks Pt9: Heel Flap

1. Intro, Items Needed, Stitches Used
2. Gauge, Measurements, Primary Stitch Count
3. Orientation, Glossary, Visualizing Magic Loop
4. Pack Kit, Cast On
5. Round 1
6. Toes
7. Foot, Gusset
8. Heel Extension
9. Heel Flap (You are here!)
10. Leg & Cuff, Bind Off
11. Charts for Customizing Your Fit

STEP 10: Heel Flap

Preparation Row 1: Turn, place marker, sl 1 knitwise, K across heel, pick up _____ (Chart 1, Row L) stitches by knitting along the decrease edge as follows:

To pick up stitches by knitting, insert the left needle into the loop where you will pick up the stitch...

... insert your right needle through the front leg...

... wrap the tip of the right needle, draw it through the loop...


... and drop the loop off the left needle.


You will be asked to pick up more stitches along each side than you have slip-stitches available. This is not a problem. Count how many slip stitches you have available (these will be the easily visible) and space the remaining pick-ups evenly among the slip stitches. When you are not picking up through a slip stitch, you will be picking up through a more dense, knot-like area. Don't despair, and don't let the perfectionist in you drive you mad... you're not going to find a "single," simple loop to pick up through for these stitches. Instead, you just need to dig your needle in through the knot, finding whatever opening you can. It will look great, I promise. You don't need to over think it!

Preparation Row 2:

• Turn
• Place marker
• Sl 1 purlwise
  
  
  
• P back across the heel stitches.
  
  
• Pick up _____ (Chart 1, Row L) stitches by purling along this decrease edge as follows:
  
  Insert the left needle into the loop where you will pick up the stitch, right leg forward...
  
  ...insert the right needle into the loop as if to purl...
  
  Wrap the tip of the right needle, draw it through, and drop the loop off the left needle.
  
  

At this point, _____ stitches (Chart 1, Row M) have been worked with reinforcing thread.

Your heel now looks something like this:


This is where you start incorporating the G and J stitches from the sides: You will knit the heel flap upward in the Eye of Partridge stitch, incorporating 1 stitch from G or J each time you turn.

Eye of Partridge Stitch:

• Row 1: Turn; sl 1 knitwise; K1 sl 1 across reinforcing thread. On the final reinforced stitch, which you would be working as a K (not a slip), work a SSK, incorporating the first unreinforced stitch from the side. (Place marker if you wish.)
  
  To work the SSK, slip the last reinforced stitch (the last stitch before the marker) as if to knit...
  
  ... remove the marker, slip the first unreinforced stitch as if to knit, and knit these two stitches together through the back loop.
  
  
  
• Rows 2 & 4: Turn, sl 1 stitch purlwise, P across to last stitch worked with reinforcing thread, P2tog (the last reinforced stitch and 1 unreinforced stitch – shifting marker as necessary).
  
  To work the P2tog, slip the last reinforced stitch (the last stitch before the marker) as if to purl...
  
  
  ... remove the marker, slip the first unreinforced stitch as if to purl, and purl these two slipped stitches together.
  
  
  
• Row 3: Turn, slip first 2 stitches knitwise; K1, sl 1 across. You knit the 2nd to last reinforced stitch and then SSK the last reinforced stitch with the first unreinforced stitch from the side.
  

Repeat these 4 rows until all G and J stitches have been worked, ending with a purl row.

At this point, you have _____ (Chart 1, Row N) stitches altogether for each sock: _____ stitches (Chart 1, Row O) on Needle 1 and _____ stitches (Chart 1, Row P) on Needle 2. (You'll notice that there is a 2-stitch difference. This is correct. You will add the two missing stitches back in on the sides in the next round to close gaps between the heel and instep.)

In this picture, I have incorporated all the G and J stitches, ending
with a purl row, and I am ready for the Heel Completion Row.

[[[TIP: If you want to try a slip-stitch heel instead of Eye of Partridge, just work rows 1 and 2 of the Eye of Partridge instructions above.]]]

Heel Completion Row: Turn, sl 1 knitwise, K to end, M1 by knitting into stitch below the first stitch on the left needle (creating a new stitch so that when you start knitting in the round again there won’t be a hole between the heel and instep stitches). Sometimes twisting the new stitch helps. Whatever feels right and looks right to you.

This is where you M1:

Note that we aren't picking up the bar for this technique (as we did for the M1L/M1R on the toes). Instead, we're picking up the stitch just below the first stitch about to be knit off the left needle (twisting if necessary to close any gap between the heel and instep)...

...inserting the right needle to knit...


... wrapping the yarn around the right needle, drawing the new stitch through, and pulling the left stitch off the needle.

You have completed the heel extension and flap for Sock 1.

Work the heel extension and flap for Sock 2, as per the above instructions. (It’s now Sock 1’s turn to hang out on the cable.)

When you have completed both heels and are at the point where you have just made a new stitch at the end of the heel on Sock 2, cut the reinforcing threads for both socks.


Finish the 2nd Half of the Round: Knit the instep of Sock 2. Knit the instep of Sock 1.
If you used a special stitch pattern for the top of the foot, continue in pattern.

Completion Round: Turn the work so you’re ready to knit the heel stitches. M1 between the heel and instep stitches. (Knit into the stitch below the first stitch on the left needle. Twist if needed to close any gap.)


With this M1, you now have the primary stitch count for each sock again.

Congratulations — you have completed both heels!

Aren't they pretty?! Now would be a good time to indulge in some dark chocolate.

Return to Part 8 of the MUMTU Socks Workshop.
Proceed to Part 10 of the MUMTU Socks Workshop.