jigsawknits.net

Left leaning decreases can look sloppy, I think I’ve tried them all – SSK, knitting two together through the backs of loops, and slip 1, knit 1, psso. None of them were particularly neat. Then I had a lightbulb moment 💡😁. I’m quite sure I’m not the first person to think of this, but….

Slip 1 KNITwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over.

The knitwise bit is the secret – if you slip the stitch purlwise (as you would normally do) you get that loose sloppy edge.

By the way, this isn’t a variation of SSK as some people have thought, it’s a totally different decrease.

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The full tutorial is available as a PDF download on Ravelry
Also available as a PDF download on Etsy and my website

I came up with this really really easy short row heel some time ago, as all the instructions I found for short row heels on hand knitted socks were overly complicated with all their wraps, turns, double stitches, twin stitches etc etc etc

The finished heel

This heel is so beautifully simple, that it’s easy to remember and it has absolutely no complicated stitches or techniques. Like any other short row heel, it works for both cuff down and toe up socks.

The full tutorial is available as a PDF download on Ravelry
Also available as a PDF download on Etsy and my website

I’m still hand knitting socks, though I haven’t posted about them for nearly 9 years. Has it really been that long?? I’ve knitted quite a few pairs since then, but these are the latest pair finished today.

It took a few tries to get the tension correct, though I got there in the end. Even the tiniest variation in the tension would mess up the pattern and you’d only get stripes. The pattern called for a standard toe and an afterthought heel, but I didn’t do either of those as I refuse to do Kitchener stitch! I did a round toe and my easy no wrap short row heels instead.

The yarn is Wool and the Gang’s Kinda Magic sock yarn. It’s made by Regia and is part of their Pairfect range, though it’s exclusive to WATG.