Better Socks: Little Tricks That Make a Big Difference
Socks are simple to knit, but heels, toes, loose stitches, holes, and extra yarn ends can make them surprisingly fiddly.
A little planning while you knit can make your socks neater and finishing much easier.
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What You’ll Learn
- How to avoid unnecessary yarn ends
- How to position your carriage and yarn before working a heel
- How wrapping prevents holes when short-row shaping
- A simple trick for tightening loose stitches at the edge of a heel
Featured video
From the Learning Library: 6 Tips for Knitting Socks
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Try It
Next time you knit a sock, plan ahead before you start the heel. Check where your carriage and working yarn need to be before you begin shaping.
A free pass or even un-knitting a row may save you an extra yarn end and make finishing much cleaner.
Sue’s Tip
Watch those stitches while you short row.
As the heel or toe builds up, the knitting can push upward and stitches may not form properly. Use a weight, your fingers, or whatever works to keep the knitting pulled down and the stitches forming cleanly.
And don’t ignore that sloppy stitch at the edge of the heel. Pick up the heel of the stitch from the row below and place it on the needle to snug everything up.
Little details make better socks.
