Hi:
I’ve made several pair of socks so I feel like a dummy for asking this basic question. This is a new pattern and heel for me though. I am doing the heel flap and the pattern says:
Work back and forth on the #1 needle (which I understand) as follows:
(Start with 32 sts.)
Row 1: (RS) Sl1, K1 rep between * across (I get this)
Row 2: Sl1, P rem sts across. Work 32 rows.
End after last sl1, K1 row.
OK, here is the question…Do I work both rows 1 and 2 over and over? If I do that and the Sl1 K1 rows are odd, then wouldn’t I end after 33 rows??
Thanks for the help!
When I did Silver’s sock tutorial, there were similar directions, but for that pattern you were supposed to end ‘after 20 rows’, but you were really supposed to end at row 19 (ie, skip the very last row of purling). That’s the only sock pattern I’ve ever done though. 
So does that mean row 1 and 2 are “one row” or do they count separately? Every sock I have ever knit had me knit a certain number of inches so I am confused…
You counted Row 1 and Row 2 as separate rows, and basically you were just supposed to go until you had done 19 rows, even though she said to do 20 rows (basically she said that because you’re supposed to count the slipped stitches on the edge or something like that…). But you ended up doing 10 repeats of Row 1 and 9 repeats of Row 2.
Here is a link to the webpage, since I’m sure it makes a lot more sense than I do: The count of ‘20’ rows is because I was using worsted weight yarn - there are other stitch counts for sock and DK weight yarn as well.
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/SockClass_Heel.htm
Basically I’m trying to say that my best guess is that you should end on row 31.
So she says to slip as if to purl and I have always heard that you should slip as if to knit if the pattern doesn’t say. I guess I’ll slip as if to purl??? This is what happens when I try something new! Jeesh.
You could be adventuresome and slip as if to knit. Most of the sock patterns I have used have done it that way. It will just look a little different than the pattern designer suggested. I have also found that the more stitches to the inch in a sock the more rows to the heel flap and the more stitches you pick up in the gusset. The pattern is having you end after the k1,s1 row in order to be in position to pick up your gusset stitches.
Yes, let’s call it “adventuresome” and not “too lazy to rip out 4 rows of knitting.” Hahaha! Maybe I’ll do one sock this way and the other I’ll slip as if to purl!
The socks are really, really lovely and I just want them to be really nice. I’ve never loved a yarn this much!
Thanks for the help!
I understand completely. I have been sock crazed the last 6 months and have used a couple of yarns I just am in love with. I have finished 15 pairs of socks in this time and am learning to be more casual in following patterns. I have been inspired by the people here and the yarn harlot.
There seems to be a pretty simple recipe for top down socks as far as percentages. Usually half the stitches knit around for the leg are used for the heel. In your case that’s 32. In doing the normal heel flap you would normally do as many rows as you have stitches,again in your case 32. You then turn the heel and end up after that on the left end of the heel with the right side facing so you can start picking up the gusset stitches.
There are sooo many pretty sock patterns to knit.
I know! I love this forum and learn so much by just lurking! I want so badly to knit some really patterned socks but I have 2 little kids running around all the time and I only knit when I’m tired in the evening or 10 minutes at a time when they are busy. I have to do mindless stuff for now!!!
I understand. I don’t have children, but life has been very busy up until the last year. I closed down my business and now have time to indulge in my love of knitting. I used to be doing good if I finished one knit project in a year. I have probably knit more FO this past 6 months than I did in the last 30 years. I probably knit about 8 or 9 pair this winter before I got the rhythm of the stitch ratios and shaping.
