Pirate socks

During the late spring, summer and early fall some of my weekends are spent working as a historical re-enactor.  I play the role of a pirate, ship's Clerk of the Black Rose II.  Well, obviously I need pirate socks, but because of my heavy calfs, there are not any striped socks that fit me correctly.  So, I'm making my own. 

I'm using the same pattern as before, the Toe Up using the Eastern cast on.  I have a few things I'm changing from the last pair.  I'm making the foot an inch shorter and the leg two inches longer.  I'm using a 75% pima cotton, 25% acrylic blend from Knitpicks in a dark red and ivory color.  I'm still using the short row heel and the 2X2 ribbing, starting on the instep, stocking stitch is used on the sole.

I've seen a lot of different ways of doing a short row heel.  Most of them are very fussy and some are completely impossible to understand.  I have found a way to do them that is easier.  It's still a little fussy, but if you've ever turned a heel, well, you know that heels are just fussy no matter how you do them.  Here it is:

First a few assumptions.  You are using 3 needles, your instep stitches are all on one needle and the sole stitches are evenly divided between 2 needles.  The beginning of your rounds is in the middle of the sole stitches.  The sole stitches are on needle 1 and 3.  My sock has 34 sole stitches.  You will be working the heel straight.  Once it is done you go back to knitting rounds.

First Half:  1.  With needle 3 knit to the last stitch on needle 1.  You have one stitch on needle 1 and 33 stitches on needle 3.  Turn so the WS is facing you.
                 2.   Slip the first stitch.  Purl to the last stitch and turn.
                 3.   Slip the first stitch.  Knit to two stitches before the end, turn.
                 4.   Slip the first stitch.  Purl to two stitches before the end, turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4, increasing by one the number of stitches left on the needle, until you have 12 stitches (or how ever many fit your pattern) left between the ones left on the needles.  There will be an obvious gap, but I have used stitch markers to help.

This is the first half in progress.  You can see the Gap.

Here is another view.

Here is the second half (and the part that I find fussy).  You should have the RS facing you:

          1.  Slip the first stitch then knit to the first stitch before the gap.  Slip that stitch and pick up the bar between the stitches on to the right needle and knit them together, turn.  This will begin closing the gap between the stitches.
          2.  Slip the first stitch then purl to the next stitch before the gap.  Slip that stitch and pick up the bar between the stitches on to the right needle and purl them together, turn.

Repeat these two rows until all the stitches have been used up and you have your original number of stitches on the needle.

Here is the second half in progress.  You can see the heel cup forming.

Here is the WS view.

It really is the easiest way I have seen to turn a heel.  I'm not sure if this helps anyone or makes it more confusing.  I hope it helps. 

If you have found a better way to do this, please leave a comment and let me know.  I love knitting socks but really DON'T like heels.

Finished Heel