Socks

In December of 2006, a blogger known as Fleegle changed the knitting world when she published a no-holes toe-up heel formula on her blog. Since I discovered the Fleegle Heel, I’ve been making videos showing how to do it, writing patterns that use it, and helping the whole world learn to knit it.

Wait – heel flaps are BACK? Yes, and better than ever. This integrated “faux” heel flap for toe-up socks lets you adjust for high insteps and more.

For toe-up sock lovers who want a great-fitting heel that can be adjusted for high insteps. This toe-up sock pattern has a “faux” heel flap which allows you to use heel stitch patterns like the Eye of the Partridge heel. You can also do a contrasting-color heel.

This tip is for sock-knitters who are following my high-instep toe-up sock pattern. It explains how to easily use my pattern for Toe-Up Faux-Heel-Flap Socks to make a bigger instep than you normally can with basic Fleegle-heel or other toe-up sock patterns.

If you are gifting hand-knitted socks for the holidays, there’s one way to make them look their best- You’ve got to block them. After all that combing, twisting, and looping that happens from sheep to sock, the fibers need soap and water to relax them into their new shape.

A big issue for first-time knitters of toe-up socks is knowing when to start increasing for the Fleegle heel. Where exactly is “the front of your ankle?” Here’s how to tell.

I recommend Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off (JSSBO) for binding off on toe-up socks. It is easy to memorize, easy to do, stretchy, and fast. JSSBO works with any rib pattern (1×1, 2×2, etc.). Includes an interview with JSSBO inventor Jeny Staiman.

Prevent your yarn from EVER tangling again when knitting two-at-a-time socks. Make sure you place your balls of yarn on either side of you. The key moment for keeping the yarns from tangling is during “the switch.”

Adding a textured heel flap is an easy way to make the socks more interesting AND to make the heel more durable at the same time. The slip-stitch heel is super-easy, and it is also nice and stretchy – great if you’re not sure how big the sock-recipient’s ankle is.

In case you are madly trying to finish Christmas gifts, here is the gift that I fall back on year after year: super-bulky slipper-socks. Knit with one skein of super-bulky yarn, these toe-up socks can be made in about 5 hours.

How to knit a Fleegle Heel toe-up sock using just shoe size, new child’s sizes for many popular KnitFreedom patterns, and a new, easy cast-on video for KnitFreedom members: “My Grandma’s Cast-On.” Plus, left-handed knitters get mirror-image videos!

Three professional tips for adding cables, lace, or other stitch-patterns to your socks, including combining multiple stitch patterns, checking to see if the socks will come out too big or too small, and heel-flap design tips.