elephantJuice: back to stripes

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

back to stripes

My stripey socks are on the go again. I abandoned these in favour of Christmas knitting, and in the spirit of my 2012 “resolutions” I’m going to try and get a few WIPs off the needles even though I’m itching to start something new.

These socks are my first attempt at a short row heel. I’m a big fan of a nice, thick cushiony heel flap, but I thought I’d try something different with the stripes, and a short row heel would probably look a bit neater than my usual flap and gusset. Unfortunately it’s not going too well.

I’ve worked short rows before, even though I’ve never tried a full on short row heel, and despite trying a variety of different short row techniques, like many knitters I often end up with holes. I thought I’d try Shadow Wraps this time around, and even though I really like the technique I’m still ending up with holes. I refuse to be beaten though, so I’m giving it another go tonight and if my heels are still full of holes I’ll have to start again with wrap & turns!

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MindingMyOwnStitches · 690 weeks ago

Cute socks. I find socks with short row heels are too tight around the ankles. Usually I knit a longish heel flap. Good luck with the tutorials!

1 reply · active 690 weeks ago

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elephantjuiced 73p · 690 weeks ago

Thanks! I'm a big fan of heel flaps too but I'm hoping these short rows work out so that I can mix heels up sometimes :)

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autumngeisha · 690 weeks ago

I really like the colors of the stripes. Good luck with the short row heel! I saw a tutorial on shadow wraps and it seemed like an interesting technique.

1 reply · active 690 weeks ago

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elephantjuiced 73p · 690 weeks ago

Thank you :) The colour is a little off thanks to incandescent lights though .

Shadow wraps are a very interesting technique. If I manage to get them to work they'd be my favourite way to work short rows as they're so simple!

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Leah · 690 weeks ago

Arrgh I am not a fan of shortrow heels - for the reason of holes and because they don't fit me... I found I didn't get holes when I tried Priscilla Wild's method, though. (But they still didn't fit). Good luck with yours - the stripes are great :)
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1 reply · active 690 weeks ago

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elephantjuiced 73p · 690 weeks ago

Ooh, thanks! I just googled that method and it looks very really straight forward. I'll give it a shot if I can't get anywhere with these shadow wraps. Shame the short row heels don't fit you though!