Angel Yarns Knitting Forums UK

If I've mucked up these instructions somehow or something's not clear, let me know and I'll sort 'er out.

The Sherman Heel

You start with your 30 heel stitches, and there are two set-up rows.
Knit 29, and wrap next stitch (sl 1 purlwise, yarn forward, sl slipped stitch back onto L needle, turn)
Purl 29, and wrap next stitch (sl 1 purlwise, yarn back, sl slipped stitch back onto L needle, turn)
Those set-up rows actually aren't absolutely necessary, but I find they add a little bit of strength to the corner of the heel and prevent the tiny gap that can form.

Now for the heel itself. All slipped stitches in this section are done purlwise.

R1: sl 1, k28, turn
R2: sl 1, p27, turn
R3: sl 1, k26, turn
R4: sl 1, p25, turn
R5: sl 1, k24, turn
R6: sl 1, p23, turn
R7: sl 1, k22, turn
R8: sl 1, p21, turn
R9: sl 1, k20, turn
R10: sl 1, p19, turn
R11: sl 1, k18, turn
R12: sl 1, p17, turn
R13: sl 1, k16, turn
R14: sl 1, p15, turn
R15: sl 1, k14, turn
R16: sl 1, p13, turn
R17: sl 1, k12, turn
R18: sl 1, p11, turn
R19: sl 1, k10, turn
R20: sl 1, p9, turn
R21: sl 1, k8, turn

And that's the first half of the heel complete. For the next section, you need these two stitches:
P-enc (purl encroachment) - sl 1 st purlwise, lift st beneath next st purlwise, insert L needle into both sts (from L, behind R needle), p2tog
K-enc (knit encroachment) - sl 1 st knitwise, lift st beneath next st purlwise, insert L needle into both sts (from L, in front of R needle), k2tog

All the slipped stitches at the beginning of rows in this section are done purlwise, as well.

R1: sl 1, p6, p-enc, turn
R2: sl 1, k7, k-enc, turn
R3: sl 1, p8, p-enc, turn
R4: sl 1, k9, k-enc, turn
R5: sl 1, p10, p-enc, turn
R6: sl 1, k11, k-enc, turn
R7: sl 1, p12, p-enc, turn
R8: sl 1, k13, k-enc, turn
R9: sl 1, p14, p-enc, turn
R10: sl 1, k15, k-enc, turn
R11: sl 1, p16, p-enc, turn
R12: sl 1, k17, k-enc, turn
R13: sl 1, p18, p-enc, turn
R14: sl 1, k19, k-enc, turn
R15: sl 1, p20, p-enc, turn
R16: sl 1, k21, k-enc, turn
R17: sl 1, p22, p-enc, turn
R18: sl 1, k23, k-enc, turn
R19: sl 1, p24, p-enc, turn
R20: sl 1, k24, k-enc, sl 1

And you're done! Admire your heel.

You can also easily use this method to make a short-row toe if you're knitting from the toe up. I've also used it to start socks toe-up by casting on 30 sts provisionally, then removing the provisional cast on once the toe's done and knitting up from there.

Wow, Kay, thank you! That was super-quick!

I'm just about to cast on a sock so will try this out and let you know how I go. It does sound a little tricky but I'm going to give it a go as I'm sure it sounds worse than it is. No more neurotic sock knitting I hope

Thank you, Jen

It's like anything else with socks--the first time you look at it it makes no sense, but once yarn and needles are in hand it starts to clear itself up.

I was hoping that was the case!

Must get off the computer now and actually start knitting! The procrastinating is getting a bit out of hand lately! Thanks for your help though, much appreciated.

Thank you Kay! I shall try that on my next pair, I think....when I decide what that pair is (have a pair OTN right now, so I still have some time to decide).

thanks for taking the time to write it all out, kay - i've been wanting to try this!

Will try this Kay as im doing my first ever toe up socks at the moment and nearly at the heel, been putting it off for a week.

Here are pictures showing how to work Knit Encroachment and Purl Encroachment, for anyone who likes to learn visually.

Thanks, Ali! That'll be a great help.

Thanks Kay - I am now the proud owner of my first Sherman heeled sock! Will post pics at some point over the weekend if I get the chance.

YAY for you! I hope it worked out well for you.

Please can you explain - how does this work? You get down to the toe shaping bit, stop knitting on one side (I knit with 2 circs so I have two 'sides') then do the short row business, then what? So if you have short row'd on the sole, then you come to join with instep - how do you then cast off?

Thanks for the instructions though - I prefer short rows to heel flaps, but have been doing wraps up til now and would like to try something that looks neater so will give this a go on my next sock.

I meant from the toe up, sorry, not the top down.

But you could do it from the top down if you wanted to just work on one side the same as a heel and then graft the top of the toe to the top of the foot. Er. I'm running on an hour's sleep (yay high school reunion) and can't explain it worth anything right now. The Alison's Ankle Socks pattern explains it better, as far as what goes where.

Here are a couple of pictures of my Sherman heel. I'm still not sure whether to unravel it and make it a bit neater on the corners but I quite like it! Also, it seems a little tight across the top my foot so I may well change it. But it's good to try something new - I'm thrilled I could do it!





I'm just about to try an afterthought heel on another sock so will post pics of that too if it goes well.

Just a quick non-sock related question - what does the lightbulb symbol mean on this thread?