Time for a Heel

How do I know?

Well, I know that - unless I'm making footies - I generally like my handknit socks to hit just as my calf starts to widen, what the wide world calls "mid-calf" but isn't. I also know that I generally like my summer socks to be about an inch shorter than my winter ones. No idea why, you wouldn't think an inch would add that much warmth. Anyway, I'm looking for a leg length of 5-6".

The stitch pattern matters, too. Since I want two matching socks, it's always wise to start the heel at the end of a pattern set, just because it's easier to remember. Happily, the end of the 5th pattern repeat hit right at 5 1/2".

Definitely time to start the heel, which starts, in this case, with a heel flap. The pattern actually calls for plain knitting, and I could do that. But I like a bit of bulk in the heel flap, so that it wears longer. I could go all out on an eye-of-partridge heel, which I'm fond of. But the stitch pattern is already textured and interesting enough, so I'm just going to go with a regular heel flap, the kind where you slip 1 - knit 1 across the heel flap and slip 1 - purl across on the way back.

See you around the corner!