Monica Knits

If you prefer visual methods, as some of my knitting students do, you might like the following technique that was used for managing decreases in the cabled cap and increases in a glove wrist. The number of stitch markers used is equal to the number of increases or decreases required.

Use locking stitch markers if you don't want to use math or hash marks scribbled on paper. Leave them unlocked while you eyeball the spacing -- adjust if necessary. You don't even have to lock the markers, if you are going to knit the row/rnd immediately. Read more ....

Having designed and written about the Ridgeline Turning Heel , a crisp, professional looking horizontal heel edge, I thought I'ld discuss a contrasting turning heel pattern. I call this softer, blended heel a basic turning heel. Although both turning heels are discussed in the context of a French heel, they can be used for other heel types as well. The basic heel, like the Ridgeline turning heel, is formed with short rows comprising paired decreases on either side of the heel center. Read more...
Click on any thumbnail to view a larger image.

The slip, purl, PSSO decrease slants to the right on the stocking stitch side of the fabric and is paired with the SSK (slip, slip, knit) decrease which slants to the left on the stocking stitch side. Using this pair of stitches in the Ridgeline Turning Heel creates a crisp, professional looking horizontal edge at the base of the turning heel.
Read more .... for stepwise instructions.
Related Posts: "Dad's Socks", SSK, Stitch Patterns , Turning Heel - SSK Appearance.
Click on any thumbnail to view a larger image.

A few days ago I wrote about the professional, polished ridgeline finish that can be achieved on a turning heel with the SSK stitch. Then I looked at a few of my sock books and patterns and noticed that the patterns didn't have a matching stitch for the opposite side of the sock. I found that odd and did a bit of research, including World War 2 vintage patterns, and didn't find a sock pattern with a matching stitch for the opposite side of the foot. One common pairing of decreases was the SSK with a P2tog. So I sat down and experimented until I found a closer match. Read more ...