Knitting Socks for Wide Feet

Am knitting Socks for a dear friend with extra wide feet. I usually do the fish lips kids heel, but am a bit unsure if I also need to add a mini gusset. Total length of foot is 11-3/8, Ankle to heel is 4-7/8, diagonal around heel and where foot/leg meet is 14. Any sock known have some advice?!! Thanks in advance!!

1 Like

Welcome to KH!
I wonder if this free pattern would help. It’s not the FLK heel but maybe it would work for you.

2 Likes

Roxanne Richardson has done videos on fitting short row heels.

ETA I just realized that I’d included the wrong link and removed it. I can’t get a search results link to work. :frowning:

1 Like

The mini gusset is handy when the wearer has a high instep.

I have a friend with a wide foot and an average instep – the usual proportion of stitches works fine for a short-row heel for the socks I make for her. I just knit the sock on more stitches overall.

I have a wide foot and a high instep, so I need to allow for that with a mini gusset or other adjustment.

Your friend will apppreciate these custom socks!

1 Like

Thank you so much!!

Thanks for that link. My brother has Clydesdale type ankles and his socks often pull - extreme pull- on the diagonal heel/instep line. I increased the width there in my usual make-it-up-as-you-go manner and it worked. Sort of.

But I think it might be better to do it more systematically.

If he has that much of a problem with socks you really should try a heel flap style. I do mine with longer than usual heel flap and gusset. My gusset stitches are double the heel stitch count plus 2. I probably could figure out how to make a short row heel work for my feet but it’s too much bother when I have something that works.

Thanks GG. I’ll try that. I make heel flap style socks occasionally, but they’re not my go-to style. I can see how you could add extra length to that diagonal with that type of heel
Thanks.

1 Like