I saw this method on some pattern somewhere, but I have since forgotten where. I don’t take credit for this Method of Short Rows. There is no wrapping, and no holes.
Start off with your heel stitches on one needle (I just cast on for the purpose of the tutorial, but these would be the heel stitches of your sock):

Slip the first stitch purlwise (and every time you slip a stitch, slip it purlwise), knit to one stitch before the end:

Turn, slip the first stitch, purl to one before the end:

Turn, slip the first stitch, knit to 2 before the end:

Turn, slip the first stictch, purl to two before the end:

Keep Going like this, turning, slipping the first stitch, and knitting to 3 before the end, than 4, than 5, and so on and so forth, each time you’ll be leaving a stitch behind and havin less and less stitches to knit. Keep going until you’ve got however many stitches you want to stop at (I did 6 or so, but a standard sock might be 10 or 12, whatever you want, really.)
Your work should look something like this:

Ok, so.. You should be ready to do a knit row. Slip the first stitch, knit to one stitch before the gap:

Slip the stitch before the gap onto the right hand needle, pick up the bar running between the gap and put it on the right hand needle:

Knit the slipped stitch and the picked up bar together:

And thats how you close a gap on the right side. Now turn, slip the first stitch, and purl to one stitch before the gap:

Slip the stitch before the gap, pick up the bar running between the gap, and put it on the right hand needle:

And that’s how you close the gap on the purl side. Here are videos to help you out.
On the Knit Side:
On the Purl Side:
Keep going like that, Turning, slipping the first stich, knitting to the stitch before the gap, slipping it, picking up the bar, and knitting them together, until you’ve closed all the gaps.

And You've finished your heel. Here's how it looks on the side:

And here’s how it looks knit on a real sock:
By far, the easiest and best short-row heel I have seen. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this! I love the visual help from the photos. What you have here is (IMO) the Sherman Heel (http://www.knitlist.com/2002/ToeUpSock.htm), but your photos make it MUCH easier to follow.
ReplyDeleteLove the simplicity! Will try this on my next sock. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete"Slip the stitch before the gap, pick up the bar running between the gap, and put it on the right hand needle:"
ReplyDeleteSo we purl the "bar" with the slipped stitch? I'm not sure you finished that instruction.
I've seen a similar short row tute in a few different places, usually with regards to bum-shaping short rows on longies, but you can never have too many ways of explaining a technique IMO.
That is a heel I can Love. Your videos were perfect and the make one pick up is sensational. I am sooo sooo thankful you did this and solved a long time problem.
ReplyDeleteI can’t wait to try this method! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this tute. I'm knitting my first pair of toe-ups with short-row toes & short-row heels. I was resigned to havin' holes in my SR toes & heels. Now, I can do my next pair with your lovely "No Holes Barred" SR method and be happy & hole-less!
ReplyDelete(came over from Ravelry) I've been using the same method for awhile as seen here: http://kaityvr.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/the-easiest-way-to-do-a-short-row-heel/ However, I always have trouble finding the correct thread to pick up and nearly strangle the poor stitches. This is so helpful because your pictures and explanation plus the video all make it add up for me. Excellent work. You have done me a great service. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteIt's not the sherman heel - that uses the knit & purl encroachment. This looks like Japanese short rows without faffing about with pins! Marvellous.
ReplyDeleteOh, just in the nick of time..So tired of the usual heel treatment! Thanks so much Lyn
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to find this again, thanks for posting. Used it last night, as a matter of fact.
ReplyDeleteThis is fanatastic ....thank you so much for sharing, your explanations are great! ♥
ReplyDeleteYay! I've been doing heels and other short rows like this for years and years. It's nice to see the method legitimized.
ReplyDeleteOkay I am going to try this, sounds easy enough!
ReplyDelete