Need sock help (heel)

#1

I am using this (http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/socksbasic.htm)
pattern for my first pair of socks and I have come to a part that is confusing my brain! :thinking:

Divide For Heel:
Put one half of the stitches (28 ), centered on the beginning of the round, on a needle. (The easiest way to do this is to knit the first 14 sts, then turn and slip the 14 sts on the other side of the marker onto the needle). Place the other half on a holder - these stitches will be the instep later on. Work the heel flap over the 28 sts (using contrast colour if desired):

P across the back of the heel flap, slipping the first stitch.
Turn.
Sl1, K1 across.
Turn.

Repeat these 2 rows till you have worked 28 rows (count the slipped stitches which should be 14).

[color=blue]Okay, I did this but ended up so that my next row is working the WS and the next directions say…[/color]

Turning The Heel:
You are making short rows to shape a little “cup” for the heel.

  1. Starting on the right side, knit halfway across the heel flap (14 sts) plus 2 (16). Sl1, K1, psso. K1. Turn.

So, how do I get back to the RS? Purl another row? I thought for sure that at the start of dividing the heel, purling the back of the heel flap would be “row 1” which would mean that row 28 would be a knit row and the next row would be turning the heel but it says to start on the RS. Where did I screw up?

#2

That part was confusing to me too at first.

When you are knitting your heel flap the actual number of rows isnt important. If you need to knit one more row to get yourself turned around that is OK. Its also OK to frog one row. The only important thing is to measure your work so that both socks come out the same (one row off wont really matter). In other words aim for a measured amount - most patterns give a dimension of 2 to 2 /34 inches. Knit the same length for both socks.

As for the short rows in the heel - Its really confusing the first time you do it because you end up with a bunch of loops on the front of your needle after you turn. I thought I did something wrong the first time I saw that! But what happens is that you are really just knitting across the middle only. Each time you knit a row and make a decrease you are decreasing those extra loops at the ends. By the time you get done with the short rows your heel will be cup shaped and you wont have any loops.

Ingrid says to trust the pattern. Yup this is definately one of those times when you have to knit on faith! It might help to just do a sample for yourself. Knit on a few rows in the same number of stitches as your heel flap. Follow the pattern and you will see how the loops on the end decrease each round. Its pretty magical.

#3

Thanks so much. I wasnt’ sure if adding another row would screw it up or not. I will do that and remember to do the same thing on the matching sock. I saw Amy’s video about the loops decreasing on the heel so I know it can work. I just hope it works for me! THanks again!