Eclectic sock heel

It was Dawn (HI!) who told me about the eclectic sock heel and it has become my favourite. It's not hard to do; it works equally well toe up or cuff down; it's very comfortable (especially for feet with wider heels). You can read about it here.

This is a sock made in Lorna's Laces using the eclectic heel. It has been worn quite a few times.

Making an eclectic heel

Here is how to knit the heel on 5 double pointed needles (i.e. four holding the stitches and the fifth for knitting) on 72 stitches in total. There are three parts to the heel: heel flap, short row section and gusset.

The first needle after the join is needle 1.

When the cuff is as long as you want knit to the end of needle 1 and put the stitches from needles 2 and 3 on a holder for the instep.

Heel flap
Transfer the heel stitches from needles 1 and 4 onto one needle for ease of working. Knit in stocking stitch for 14 rows (12 to 14 rows is normal for a sock in 4 ply/fingering yarn). Row one is a purl (wrong-side) row. Slip the first stitch of each row to make a chain edge.

Short-row section
On row 14 (right-side) knit to last stitch. Don't knit it but turn (I don't wrap, but do wrap if that's your method). Purl back to last stitch. Don't purl it but turn. Work short rows progressively one stitch shorter each time until you feel that you have left enough stitches in the centre for the base of your heel. I like quite a wide heel so I left 16 stitches and had 10 short rows each side. Then, following your favourite method work longer rows until you have worked across all the stitches. Adjust the heel stitches so that you put half of them back on needle 1.

The short row section complete. Needle 1 is on top.

Gusset (I like gussets!)

With needle 1 pick up and knit one stitch from each chain loop along the left-hand edge of the heel flap. (Or use another needle to do this and transfer the stitches to needle 1.) Pick up and knit an extra stitch through the corner stitch at the end of the flap. Eight new stitches.

With needle 2 knit half the stitches held in reserve on the holder. With needle 3 knit the other stitches from the holder.

With needle 4 pick up a corner stitch and then a stitch from each chain loop on right-hand side of the heel. Knit the remaining heel stitches. You should be back to the original configuration, but with eight extra stitches on needles 1 and 4.

Knit one round. Then start decreasing the gussets:

Round one

• needle 1: knit to last 3 stitches, k 2 together, k 1
• needle 2: knit
• Needle 3: knit
• Needle 4: k 1, ssk (slip 1, slip1, transfer back to left-hand needle and knit together through back)

Round two: knit.

Repeat these two rows until  you have decreased away the gusset stitches. You may like to work more rows between the decreases to give you an even roomier heel. Here's a picture of my gusset with some of the stitches decreased.

Comments

[Patricia]

Is that the Lorna's Laces Baby Stripe colorway? They sure are pretty!

[Jeannie]

I have been wanting to try this heel but have not been able to find any clear step-by-step instructions.

Your instructions are perfect.

Thanks!

[Mary]

I keep on thinking I must try this, especially as I have a high instep. Thanks for the tutorial - it may inspire me to get on and give it a go.

[dawn]

It's also good for those of us with high insteps. Great little heel, a good mix of short row and mini gusset. I don't know how anyone can just stick with one type!