The Good

They are blocking. My afterthought heel sockapalooza socks are done! They came out OK. I'm hoping the blocking does its usual magic and makes them look a little cleaner.

The Bad

My camera is throughly broken. It won't even take one picture anymore. The best I can do is remind you of the yarn I used for the socks.



Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton

I was afraid that they would knit up to remind me of



But I decided (after much torture (through obsession) of the hubby), that they look different enough.

The Recipe

I realize most people don't want to make something they can't see first, but maybe I'll get a pic eventually. Basically, I made my own "design" through a mixture of web sites and information about afterthought (aka "peasant" heels). These are cuff down, and include any adjustments I would make next time. I striped them by hand, to make it easier to match them. Of course sock knitters know that measurements vary etc (I just felt I HAD to write that-all the patterns say it).

The Leg

Using a yarn of a similar weight to the wool cotton (Approx. 122 yds/50g) and a set of 5 size 3 (US) dpns, CO 52 with color A (red, in my case) and join in the round (13 on each needle).

Using k2 p2 ribbing, K 6 rounds in color A.

Switch to color B (green, here) and K every stitch for 6 rounds.

Knitting every stitch, and making every stripe 6 rounds, continue striping until you have 7 stripes total (including the ribbed cuff) and ending in color A.

Switch to B and K 3 rounds.

Preparing for the Heel

At the beginning of this round, drop color B and, with waste yarn, K to the end of needles 1 and 2. Go back to the beginning of needle 1 and K using B. This will have you knitting into the waste yarn for needles 1 and 2, and then back into B for needles 3 and 4. K 8 rounds with B.

The Foot

Switch to A and continue striping (6 rounds each stripe) until you have 6 stripes total (not counting the thick green stripe on the heel), ending in green.

Decreasing for the Toe

round 1 and all odd rounds-Switch to A. K one round.
rnd 2- (needle 1) k1, ssk, k to end of needle 1
-(needle 2) k to the last three sts, k2tog, k1
-(needle 3) k1, ssk, k to end of needle 1
-(needle 4) k to the last three sts, k2tog, k1

Rep rnds 1 and 2 until 6 sts remain on each needle.
Move sts from needle 1 to needle 2 and from needle 3 to needle 4. Use kitchener st to close the toe.

At Last: The Heel

Remove the waste yarn, picking up stitches on either side as you go. You will have 53 sts. Pick up 2 stitches on each side of the heel: 57 stitches.

rnd 1-starting on the right side with heel facing you, K all sts, picking one spot to decrease the extra stitch (all needles will have 14 sts now).
rnd 2- (needle 1) k1, ssk, k to end of needle 1
-(needle 2) k to the last three sts, k2tog, k1
-(needle 3) k1, ssk, k to end of needle 1
-(needle 4) k to the last three sts, k2tog, k1

Rep rnds one and 2 (ommitting the decrease in rnd 1) until 7 stitches remain on each needle.

Move sts from needle 1 to needle 2 and from needle 3 to needle 4. Use kitchener st to close the heel.

Weave in your ends. And there it is.