I am making some socks and using the sturdy heel. I haven’t found any definitive instructions about whether the slipping should be kwise or pwise with yf or yb. I am slipping as if to knit with yb. It looks okay so I’m not really concerned, but I wonder if there is a way that it should be done for the most sturdiness.
It’s just my opinion, but I think it makes it sturdier if you slip pwise,yb on the knit side and the opposite on the p side.
Not really sure, most of the socks I’ve made have been worn by non-walking babies and golf clubs. :teehee:
I always have slipped pwise, wyib on my RS row, then when I turn, I slip that first st pwise wyif then purl across - so basically all my slips are pwise and the yarn is left wherever it is when I’m slipping.
Interesting on the slipping kwise though, Jan. Since your st is twisted, it would make for a denser fabric, yes? And a slightly different design. Are you having any problems purling back on the next row? I knit pretty tight, wondering if I could get my needle in there on the way back, but I might try it on my next socks.
You’ll have to update us on how it works out.
Twisting the stitch would make the fabric thicker… but don’t you think it would also put the strands of wool under more stress (like a too-tight caston edge)? I don’t remember ever seeing a pattern where slipping was done on the outside of the heel.
My instinct would be to slip pwise. If slipping kwise made tougher/better fabric then pwise, then more slip-stitch heels would be slipped kwise… since they’re generally not slipped that way, my guess is that’s because most people think they’re less desireable.
Why don’t you embark on a grand experiment… do one slipped pwise, and one slipped kwise, and wear them everyday until you can tell which is lasting better, and let us know… :teehee:
I imagine any difference would be minor though.
Sarah
I know I’ve read somewhere that you should slip purlwise–could have been in More Sensational Knitted Socks.
I know I’ve read somewhere that you should slip purlwise–could have been in More Sensational Knitted Socks.
I don’t know if it’s helpful, but all german patterns do the sturdy heel with slipped stitches knitwise on the right side.
RS: slip one stitch knitwise with yib, k1
WS: purl all stitches
repeat both rows
You can vary the pattern:
- row (RS): slip one stitch knitwise with yib, k1
- row (WS): purl all stitches
- row (RS): k1, slip one stitch knitwise with yib
- row (WS): purl all stitches
repeat these 4 rows
Here you can see a picture of both types. Scroll down, it’s the picture with the red swatch. The upper rows are made with the first pattern I wrote and the rows looking a little bit like lattice are made using the 4-row-pattern I wrote.
I don’t like the sturdy heel because the slipped stitches will tighten the heel and I don’t like that - so I do not know if this heel is really more durable than the normal knitted heel :teehee: