Knitting Around Corners

Day 44: The very thought of turning a heel is enough to put many needleworkers off the idea of knitting four-needle socks, but the process is actually quite simple to master. Once the cuff is complete, the stitches are redistributed so that the instep is divided onto two needles and the remainder of the stitches are slid onto one needle for the heel flap. The flap can be worked in different ways, but I prefer to add reinforcing thread at this point. For a cushiony, thick flap, Row 1 is sl 1, p across. Row 2 is *sl 1, k 1,* repeated across the row. Turning the heel is simply a matter of working short rows back and forth, increasing the distance travelled past the center mark by one stitch per row until there are no more stitches to work. The first stitch of these short rows is always a slip stitch.

Then comes the fun part! To make the triangular gussets, stitches are picked up along the edge of the heel flap and markers are put in place to indicate where the instep begins and ends. Knitting progresses to within three stitches of the first marker, two stitches are knit together and one stitch is knit plain. The instep is worked straight across, and when the second marker is reached, one stitch is knit, the next slipped, the next knit, and then the slipped stitch is passed over the knit stitch. Decreases are made in this manner, most often with a plain round between them, until the appropriate stitch count is reached. Then you're back to plain knitting (or patterned, if you want some variety). All that's left is decreasing for the toe and weaving the last few stitches together. Oh, and making Sock #2. Double the fun!