Saturday, October 24, 2009

No Wrap, No Gap Short Row Heel Tutorial

I used to have this tutorial on my old blog, and I've had problems with the pictures, so I'm going to re-post it here with new pictures.

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):
DSC09383

Slip the first stitch purlwise (and every time you slip a stitch, slip it purlwise), knit to one stitch before the end:
DSC09384

Turn, slip the first stitch, purl to one before the end:
DSC09385

Turn, slip the first stitch, knit to 2 before the end:
DSC09386

Turn, slip the first stictch, purl to two before the end:
DSC09387

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:
painted

Ok, so.. You should be ready to do a knit row. Slip the first stitch, knit to one stitch before the gap:
DSC09391

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:
DSC09394

Insert the left needle through the front of the 2 stitches on the right hand needle and knit the slipped stitch and the picked up bar together, as if doing and SSK decrease:
DSC09396

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:
DSC09397

Slip the stitch before the gap, pick up the bar running between the gap, and put it on the right hand needle:
DSC09398

Insert your left needle through the back of the 2 stitches and purl them together.

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 stitch, knitting to the stitch before the gap, slipping it, picking up the bar, and knitting them together, until you've closed all the gaps.
DSC09413

And You've finished your heel. Here's how it looks on the side:
DSC09414

And here’s how it looks knit on a real sock:
fin

59 comments:

  1. By far, the easiest and best short-row heel I have seen. Thanks for posting it.

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  2. Thanks 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.

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  3. Love the simplicity! Will try this on my next sock. Thanks for sharing.

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

    So 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.

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    1. if your on a pearl row you pearl, knit row you knit. and yes purl bar with slipped stitch. I do love this tutorial I found it pretty easy to follow. last 2 photos have a problem with adobe

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  5. 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.

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  6. I can’t wait to try this method! Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Thanks 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!

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  8. (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!!

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  9. It's not the sherman heel - that uses the knit & purl encroachment. This looks like Japanese short rows without faffing about with pins! Marvellous.

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  10. Oh, just in the nick of time..So tired of the usual heel treatment! Thanks so much Lyn

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  11. I'm so glad to find this again, thanks for posting. Used it last night, as a matter of fact.

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  12. This is fanatastic ....thank you so much for sharing, your explanations are great! ♥

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  13. Yay! I've been doing heels and other short rows like this for years and years. It's nice to see the method legitimized.

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  14. Okay I am going to try this, sounds easy enough!

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  15. Great! On my next pair of socks I am going to use this heel! Looks so nice... I have heard about a JOJO-heel. Do you know that one and do you like it? Greetings from Holland!

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  16. That is one great tutorial, great pics, and the video's are a bonus! This is on my bucket list of to-do's! Thanks for your great work.

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  17. Thank goodness! Found it at last. I have not knitted socks with this heel since I was 16! I searched and searched for the old pattern I used 50 years ago and you have provided it! I was fed up with wrapping and flapping!

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  18. Did the other short row on a pair of socks; it confusing, got holes and not happy with it. This technique looks so much better, easier and no holes. Can't wait to try it on my next pair of socks. Thank you for taking the time to explain it so clearly. :)

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  19. Thank you so much for this! I've spent hours looking at youtube videos and on the blog that goes with the pattern I'm using and I still was getting holes or I was looking at a different type of stitch. Your explanation and the videos are so clear! Of course, I'm watching each video every time I get to the spot. I'm sure I'll get it eventually, but thank you so much! I finally don't have holes and it works with the pattern!

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  20. I thought steps were missing too. It looks like Kaity used a short cut by leaving both slip and bar stitches on right needle and knitting or purling together in place Bravo!

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  21. Is that you that you have created the springtime baby cardi? Need help. Thank you for yr reply.

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  22. This is the same way I have been knitting socks for the past 58+ years. I was taught this by my mother. The most sensible way to knit socks.

    Lisa Marie

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  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  24. I just started knitting socks. I was taught the toe-up method with wrapped short row heels. I found the short rows so frustrating that I almost gave up on sock knitting. Then I decided to search for an easier short row heel and I found this site. This is so much easier and I LOVE it!!! I just finished knitting a sock using this method and I love the way it looks and feels. I now love knitting socks. Thank you for creating this site and sharing this method. I can't wait to show this to the ladies in my knitting group.

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  25. This is from the book "Crazy Toes & Heels, Socks". Mary Ann Beattie.

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    Replies
    1. Where can we buy yourbook? Ive looked EVERYWHERE.

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  26. Can this heel be used on a cuff down sock? If so, do I need to pick up stitches and then decrease or just keep knitting the foot portion in the round?

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  27. This is ace! I used your original post about 6 or maybe 12 months ago to do the first sock, but followed the ravelry link here today. My second heel is so much better than that first one!

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  28. I love this short row method but I did notice that one side was not as smooth as the other. I solved that, on the purl side when you pick up the bar pick it up from the opposite side as you did for the knit (the left side of the bar will be on the front of the right needle) then purl it with the slipped stitch. It makes a much smoother join that looks identical to the other side.

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    1. hey :) see it's been two years but worth a try...
      noticed the same problem, thought of the same solution (mirror the knit side) but don't seem to be able to execute it :D
      -do you mean purl slipped stitch and picked up bar slip-slip-purl-style (needles pointing in same direction / from left on knit side / twisting the stitches) or just picking up bar differently?
      thanks

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  29. FYI. I found this heel on a pattern called "The Mindless Sock " ("deliberately designed to be the world's most boring socks to knit.") on Ravelry The designer describes it as "cobbled together from a variety of sources" and includes a partial list of those sources. This has become my go-to pattern. It works toe-p or toe-down.

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  30. So awesome! This is the way I want to do heels from now on! Thanks for the pattern and videos!

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  31. So awesome! This is the way I want to do heels from now on! Thanks for the pattern and videos!

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  32. is this meant for top down or toe up?

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  33. is this meant for top down or toe up?

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  34. does the short row heel wear well?

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  35. Awesome, I want to try this on the 2 needle sock method,I have to make a swatch 1st.

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  36. Many thanks! I'm knitting worsted weight from stash -- big socks to send to Standing Rock for water protectors -- all wool! I don't look how my usual style heel is going. This is a huge help.

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  37. I have been challenged with creating socks & the heel holes left me discouraged. This tutorial looks like a MUCH better process than I've seen before and now I am ENCOURAGED!

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  38. Do you start the heelbthe same way for cuff down?

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  39. I am trying to learn a short row heel that doesn't include knitting around the sock in the middle, because of the pattern I am using, Lapse Socks, http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lapse-2

    I think your style of short row heel will work fine. I did, however, have to go to my computer because the videos didn't show up on my iPad. I don't think it is my iPad, so just FYI.

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    Replies
    1. It because you are using an Apple Product...on my Mac I had to allow Adobe Flash and the videos work

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  40. This heel looks so interesting, but I was looking for a better clarification on the videos you refer to. However, there are no videos - just blank spaces. Not sure why. I'm in the process of doing the German Short Row Heel on my present project, but I will definitely try this on my next pair of socks. Thanks.

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  41. Hi there, I like your idea of doing things the easy way.
    Your tutorial reminded me of something from loooong ago and I had a look at Drops' patterns. Behold ... have a look at 'Nick's sock' Design u-849. :) Sue

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  42. I 💖 you! I've been struggling for days on my short rows and now I don't have to. Thank you!!!

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  43. I wanted to try a different heel because I'm getting bored doing the same ones all the time. This looks great and I can't wait to try it!

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  45. I know Ive SEEN this method in an antique- as in, late 1800s or early 1900's knitting book I downloaded from public domain> I will look for the book it's in, I have so many saved on my reader it's hard to pin that exact pattern down. I hope I find it, and I hope I remember to comment on here again about it! Thank you SO much- I just love this heel, I will be using it as my go-to heel from now on.

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    1. Would be very interested to see this as listed in an early knitting book.

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  46. Isn't this the Fish Lips Kiss Heel?

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    1. It seems similar, but I guess there are only so many ways of making a short row heel, and people seem to keep arriving at them independently.

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  47. Where can I find the videos for this heel?

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  48. Thank you for this great, easy to follow, tutorial. I've knitted 4 socks so far with your instructions on the heel.

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  49. I've just found this and love it! Now, if I can remember to use it next pair of socks! My memory sucks.

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  50. Cannot see the videos? And am not being successful so need to see where going wrong?

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Say something nice, and I'll try to do the same back!