More Sock Love: Turning a Heel

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This is the heel I just completed on my bee-yoo-tiful Monkey sock. I love it, both the sock and especially the heel turn.

It's not exclusive to this sock, I'm always excited to do the heel on my top down socks. I enjoy it so much that, as I did on this one, I sometimes pause the project to find a peaceful little moment to knit the heel flap and make the heel turn all in one go.

Turning a heel was one of those phrases I knew in my pre-knitting life and I had the idea it would be a tricky thing to do. It pleased me no end to find that it was straightforward and so clever. While I was blindly following the instructions for my first sock I don't think I even realised that I achieved this significant moment in my knitting career! Now, every top down sock I make, I relish this part most of all. A simple, elegant piece of engineering. What's not to love?

Anyone else have a favourite element of the sock knitting process, or have I reached new heights of knitgeekery? Thank goodness I have the excuse of Socktober.

Comments

Charity said…
I remember I was terrified to knit a sock, because of the heel turn, and felt so terribly clever once I'd achieved it! :0) Your heel looks lovely.
19 October 2008 at 16:41:00 BST
Marianne said…
Oh, definitely turning the heel is my favourite part of knitting a sock, I STILL feel 'oh so clever' each and every time. (sung to the tune of 'I'm so Pretty' :^)
19 October 2008 at 18:00:00 BST
blog-blethers said…
I love turning heels too ... though am less keen on picking up the stitches afterwards:o)

What a beautiful shade that yarn is!
19 October 2008 at 19:19:00 BST
Shelley L. MacKenzie said…
I used to think knitting socks would be really hard...because of the heel...but once I started knitting them, I quite enjoy doing socks immensely!

I've heard a lot of people say...ok, I've read a lot of people saying...that the kitchener stitch at the toe is what they dread. I like kitchener stitch. I don't find it difficult, and it means that the sock is finished!
19 October 2008 at 22:10:00 BST
Kate said…
my two favorite parts of the sock-making process? turning the heel and grafting the toe. i always feel immensely clever after turning the heel ... and after i finish the toe, I can put on my sock and wear it around the house! :)
19 October 2008 at 22:39:00 BST
Bells said…
Oh the heel. Definitely the heel. I ALWAYS stop and look and admire. Always. I even point it out to hubby if he's close by because he thinks it's some cool kind of magic too.

Yours looks lovely! You ought to try a dutch heel. I will do a post on it some time soon. It's similar to a regular heel but somehow just that bit cooler.
19 October 2008 at 22:42:00 BST
raining sheep said…
I love turning the heel too because really it means the sock is half done :)
19 October 2008 at 23:44:00 BST
Rose Red said…
I was so scared to turning the heel on my first sock - but I still love it. And when I finish the (seeming) neverending gusset decreases is another favourite.
19 October 2008 at 23:49:00 BST
sheep#100 said…
I like the heel turns, too. And the way we can vary them so much.
19 October 2008 at 23:53:00 BST
Rachel said…
I love the heel flap...I often wonder why so many people seem to hate that part of the sock. Otherwise, my favorite part of the sock is using the Kitchener stitch to finish up the toe. I think it's like magic and it makes me giddy each time I do it. Knitgeek for sure.
20 October 2008 at 01:05:00 BST
Anonymous said…
My favorite part used to be the heel flap and gusset on a top down sock, but now it's the gusset and heel flap on a toe up sock. I didn't know it could be worked both ways, and I love working toe up socks best.
20 October 2008 at 01:53:00 BST
T. said…
I work cuff down and I do love me a good heel turn (it's almost magical) but I truly love the toe. The gorgeous decreases on both sides, AND you know you're almost done and can slide your tootsies into some warm socks.
20 October 2008 at 03:40:00 BST
Anonymous said…
Love your socks. I've never tried as the heels look so complecated, much in awe of anyone who can.
20 October 2008 at 08:29:00 BST
Sarah Ditum said…
I'm not so much a sock knitter but heel turning is still one of my great knitterly pleasures. It just works - and there's nothing quite as exciting as seeing knitting take shape in your hands.
20 October 2008 at 10:14:00 BST
Kai said…
I have to admit, I'm with you on this one. It's the heel turning and toe grafting that I look forward to!!
20 October 2008 at 11:09:00 BST
Donna said…
Yes, definitely the heel turning and toe grafting. I absolutely dread picking up the stitches though, I still can't quite seem to get that right.
20 October 2008 at 12:25:00 BST
Terrie D. (StarSpry) said…
Beautiful heel! I have yet to knit socks, but I really want to try it :)
20 October 2008 at 18:29:00 BST
florencemary said…
Um, yes, I do enjoy turning a heel, and this is probably the only thing that I enjoy about sock-knitting. I wish I could enjoy more about socks, but then they ain't shawls, are they?

xxx
20 October 2008 at 19:42:00 BST
blog-blethers said…
Sarah, Loops' UK online store has Norah Gaughan's Collections 1-3 available;o)
21 October 2008 at 01:07:00 BST
Lynne said…
I like turning the heel - it marks the halfway point!! LOL

I use short row shaping so there's no picking up of stitches but, as yet, I've not made a pair of socks I found comfortable! ;-(
21 October 2008 at 04:59:00 BST
Curly Cable said…
Beautiful heel turn, well done :) Turning the heel is one of my favourite parts on making socks too. As once you've completed that stage, you can see your sock is really starting to take shape and is looking like a sock too lol :)
21 October 2008 at 11:19:00 BST
Knit Sew City Girl said…
Hi! The heal of a sock always scares me, I will be taking your word and attempt this. Fingers Cross.

Mary
21 October 2008 at 13:37:00 BST
Anonymous said…
http://media.wendyknits.net/knit/FingeringweightSocks.pdf
This is where I find the instructions for the toe up with heel and gusset. It makes for a very nice heel. There are tutorials on the web also that can show you different kinds of heels, but the short row is definitely not for me!
candi
23 October 2008 at 06:01:00 BST
Floderten said…
Turning a heel pleases me to no end as well. It's so brilliant! I don't like having to pick up stitches afterwards, though. ;)
23 October 2008 at 11:35:00 BST
Anonymous said…
The heel turn is definitely a magic thing.
27 October 2008 at 10:01:00 GMT
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