Improving Your Sock Heel Flaps // Technique Tuesday

This video explains why using an even number of stitches for the heel flap creates asymmetry and wildly different selvedges when using standard instructions. Options for improving the selvedges and for making the heel symmetrical are offered.

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To jump to a specific point in the video, click on the adjacent time-stamped link:
Introduction 0:00
Heel flap selvedges (even number of stitches): 0:18
Reducing selvedge discrepancy: 2:39
Symmetry via an odd number of stitches (three options): 5:39

Needles used for demonstration: Signature Needle Arts 6'' dpns with stiletto tips.

Yarn used for demonstration: Cascade Heritage 150

Sweater I'm wearing: Stripes Gone Crazy by alfa knits: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...

Written reference for options described in the video:
Standard heel flap instructions over an even number of sts:
Setup:
Row 1 (RS): Knit across.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1 as if to purl, purl across.
For flap:
Row 3: RS: *(Sl 1, k1), rep from * to end of row
Row 4:WS: Sl 1, purl across.
Rep Rows 3 and 4 to desired flap length. (all sts slipped as if to purl)
This creates a flap with asymmetrical edges and selvedges that are very different.

Options to reduce selvedge discrepancy:
1. Slip first stitch of RS rows as if to knit. Slip all others as if to purl.

2. Work first and last sts (2 or 3) in garter stitch (without slipping the selvedges). Selvedges will be identical, but asymmetry will still occur in the slipped stitch section.

Options to eliminate asymmetry:
1. Work heel flap over an odd number of sts. If you have an even number for the heel, work a k2tog somewhere in the setup row.
2. For twisted selvedges, slip first st of RS row as if to knit, all others as if to purl.
3. For open selvedges, knit last two sts of RS rows, and slip first st of WS rows. Slip all sts as if to purl.
4. Work first and last sts (2 or 3) in garter stitch.

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