Recommended Toe-Up Sock Patterns

[evilawyer]

I've decided to give toe-up socks a try for a change, but I can't find any patterns that I've been able to execute without big holes all along the turn of the heel. This might be okay if I was going for a fishnet effect, but I'm not. Does anyone have a pattern they'd recommend that has stitches to avoid this problem?

Thanks.

Comments

[commodorified]

I have great love for the short row heel, and so long as I wrap and turn I don't get holes.

Or if I do it's one fairly tiny hole at the first turn that can be fixed by a bit of gentle tugging when I go past there again.

[evilawyer]

I'm not sure why it's not working for me, but I will try the linked pattern. Thanks!

[pinesandmaples]

Wrap-and-turn heels do have a learning curve. It takes practice and a balance to get the heels looking crisp. Some knitters are really lucky and manage to find their ideal tension for the heels the first time or two, but lots of people end up with holes that look too open.

WAT heels work really well for me, and I love the way they turn out...but I seem to be in the minority of folks who had good-looking heels from the beginning. I'm cautious when I recommend them because those holes (what the OP seems to be getting) put people off of an otherwise good technique. I have many loves for it, though.

[commodorified]

Mmmm, fair point. I tend to be a slow learner and I had all KINDS of issues at first with short rows in general so I guess I assumed that if WAT heels worked first go for me that must mean they were easy :-)

I also tend to do them in garter stitch, originally because I hated purling back and now because I like the way they come out. This may be helping avoid holes.

The hardest part is making sure I ALWAYS pick up each wrap/both wraps on the second half. Miss a wrap and I get a hole, sure as eggs is eggs.

[pinesandmaples]

The hardest part is making sure I ALWAYS pick up each wrap/both wraps on the second half. Miss a wrap and I get a hole, sure as eggs is eggs.

Huh. That is not true for me. Knitting is so freaking wild sometimes. I can just hear Taggert (from Eureka) stage-whispering to yarn shop employees, "It's a jungle out there." Then he'd probably pull his night-vision goggles down and try to hide behind a potted plant.

[evilawyer]

I also tend to do them in garter stitch, originally because I hated purling back and now because I like the way they come out. This may be helping avoid holes.

I did experiment with this, and the holes weren't as much of a problem. It made the heels a little to padded and rough, and I was worried about comfort or undue pressure on the heel of the foot (one person I make things for has really poor circulation in his legs and feet, and things like too thick socks can cause him wound problems).

[commodorified]

*nods* Reading this comment thread I'm sorely tempted to suggest waiting for a full moon and turning the yarn four times widdershins before casting on.

I knew knitting was highly personal but I'm always amazed by HOW personal...

[evilawyer]

It really is, isn't it? I remember how amazed I was the first time I saw how many different ways people cast on, even. And how much something that works for one person can result in nothing but frustration for someone else.

Thanks for the help.