Sock of Roses – Part 3
Now it’s time to begin the heel! The Rose socks are shaped with a classic gusset and a heel flap embellished with a cable pattern. Because the heel is worked from the bottom up, we’ll use short rows and wrapped stitches to shape the heel turn.
The cable pattern on the heel flap synchronizes with the cables on the instep. The cables on the heel also enhance our romantic summer feelings! Just like a winding rose vine, the cables twine up the heel.
TECHNIQUES
Short rows with wrapped stitches (= wrap and turn). Working a short row means that you only knit a specified part of the row. To prevent holes at the points where you turn, the stitches are wrapped at each turn. Here’s how to wrap a stitch:
On the RS (right side): bring yarn to front of work, slip the next st to the right needle purlwise. Move yarn to back of work and then return the slipped st back to the left needle. Turn work. When later knitting a wrapped st, knit through both the st and the wrap at the same time.
On the WS (wrong side): Move yarn to back of work, slip the next st purlwise to the right needle. Bring yarn to front of work and return the slipped st to the left needle. When later purling a wrapped st, purl through the st and the wrap at the same time.
NOTE: See the link below for the video demonstrating short rows and wrapped stitches!
Slip 1 purlwise (sl 1 pwise): Slip 1 st from left to right needle as if to purl, with yarn held in front (wyf).
Slip 1 knitwise (sl 1 kwise): Slip 1 st from left to right needle as if to knit, with yarn held in back (wyb).
Make 1 left (M1l): Pick up the strand between two stitches with left needle tip from front to back and knit into back loop.
Make 1 right (M1r): Pick up the strand between two stitches with left needle tip from back to front and knit it.
Cable Pattern for Heel Flap:
Size S/M:
Row 1 and all WS rows: K1, *p5, k2*; repeat from * to * 2 more times; p5, k1.
Row 2: P1, *C1L, k3, p2*; repeat * to * 2 more times; C1L, k3, p1. It should be a multiple of 5, right?]
Row 4: P1, *k1, C1L, k2, p2*; repeat * to * 2 more times; k1, C1L, k2, p1.
Row 6: P1, *k2, C1L, k1, p2*; repeat * to * 2 more times; k2, C1L, k1, p1.
Row 8: P1, *k3, C1L, p2*; repeat * to * 2 more times; k3, C1L, p1.
Repeat Rows 1-8 for cable pattern.
Size L/XL:
Row 1 and all WS rows: K2, *p5, k3*; repeat from * to * 2 more times; p5, k2.
Row 2: P2, *C1L, k3, p3*; repeat * to * 2 more times; C1L, k3, p2.
Row 4: P2, *k1, C1L, k2, p3*; repeat * to * 2 more times; k1, C1L, k2, p2.
Row 6: P2, *k2, C1L, k1, p3*; repeat * to * 2 more times; k2, C1L, k1, p2.
Row 8: P2, *k3, C1L, p3*; repeat * to * 2 more times; k3, C1L, p2.
Repeat Rows 1-8 for cable pattern.
ROSE SOCKS – Part 3
Rnd 1
Instep: Continue in cable pattern following the instructions in part 2, repeating Rows 1-8 as before, continuing from the pattern row at the end of part 2.
Sole: K1, M1l, knit until 1 st remains, M1r, k1.
Rnd 2: Work across instep in cable pattern and knit across sole sts.]
Repeat Rnds 1-2 until there are 52 (57) sts on the sole.
Work 1 more rnd with cable pattern on the instep and stockinette on the sole.
Next rnd: Work in cable pattern across instep only = sts 1-30 (1-35).
Now it’s time to work the heel gusset.
HEEL GUSSET
Note that the heel gusset is worked back and forth with short rows and wrapped sts. Read the description of short rows above before you begin knitting the heel gusset.
The gusset is worked only with sts of the sole. Place 4 markers as follows:
Marker 1 after st 11 (11).
Marker 2 after st 22 (24).
Marker 3 after st 30 (33).
Marker 4 after st 41 (46).
There are 30 (35) sts between markers 1 and 4 which will be used to form the heel flap.
The center 8 (9) sts between markers 2 and 3 are the center sts of the heel gusset.
Row 1 (RS): Knit until 1 st before marker 4; wrap and turn.
Row 2 (WS): Purl until 1 st before marker 1; wrap and turn.
Row 3 (RS): Knit until 1 st before previous wrapped st; wrap and turn.
Row 4 (WS): Purl until 1 st before previous wrapped st; wrap and turn.
Repeat Rows 3-4 until all the sts outside markers 2 and 3 have been wrapped. The center 8 (9) sts inside markers 2 and 3 should not be wrapped.
Next Row (RS): K8 (9). Knit all the sts with their wraps up to marker 4, following the information for RS rows above. Turn.
Next Row (WS): Sl 1 pwise, purl to wrapped sts (after marker 2), purl all the sts with their wraps up to marker 1, following the information for WS rows above.
HEEL FLAP
At the same time as working the straight heel flap in cable pattern, join the gusset sts to each side of the flap.
Row 1 (RS): Turn and, at the same time, sl 1 kwise, tightening the yarn a bit. Knit until 1 st before marker 4, k2tog tbl.
Row 2 (WS): Turn and, at the same time, sl 1 pwise, tightening the yarn a bit, work in cable pattern (see explanation above; begin on Row 1 of cable pattern. Work until 1 st before marker 1, p2tog.
Remove markers.
Row 3 (RS): Turn and sl 1 kwise, tightening yarn. Work cable pattern to the slipped st, knit the slipped st tog with the next st of heel gusset as k2tog tbl (= 1 st before + 1 st after gap at the turn).
Row 4 (WS): Turn and sl 1 pwise, tightening yarn. Work cable pattern to slipped st, purl the slipped st tog with the next st of heel gusset (= 1 st before + 1 st after gap at the turn).
Repeat Rows 3-4 until all the heel gusset sts have been joined to the flap. End on RS. Now work in the round for ankle.
Next Rnd:
Instep: Work in cable pattern following instructions in part 2.
Sole: K2tog, work k28 (33) sts in cable pattern as before but as for the instructions in part 2 for working in the round, end k1.
You should now have the same number of sts as before the gussets and heel.
Size S/M only: Work another 4 rnds in cable pattern around the ankle but knit the first and last sts on the sole side as before.
Both sizes: End with 1 rnd in stockinette.
Psst! Join our Facebook group Rosensockan KAL – where we’ll share images, tips and inspiration. Don’t forget to show us your socks on Facebook and Instagram (@jarbogarn). Remember to use hashtags #rosensockan and #sockofroses !