Eye of the Partridge

April 15th, 2007

Toe Up or Top Down (Click to enlarge)

Details: This isn’t actually a heel pattern type, but a stitch pattern that is used on the back of the heel. It can be used anywhere really, but is often used with many of the heel flap methods. The basics of the stitch pattern involves alternating sl1 and k1, and purling the wrong side rows. It alternates in a way similar to moss stitch, so that you’re slipping a stitch that was knit two rows before it, and vice versa.

Advantages: This stitch pattern adds a lot of padding to the heel, and helps prevent it from wearing away quite as fast. It also looks very nice, and adds a fun detail to the sock. It can also feel more comfortable and padded to the heel.

Disadvantages: It seems to take up more rows to create an inch than normal stockinette stitch. This may require knitting the gusset rows more quickly by not alternating them with a regular knit row. For feet without arches, or wide feet it actually may be better to decrease the gusset stitches more slowly by alternating gusset rows with knit rows, as it creates a more loose arch.

Learn How

• Eye of partridge
  

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This entry was posted on Sunday, April 15th, 2007 at 3:51 pm and is filed under Heel Compendium, Knitting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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