This lesson shows how to divide the sock after the leg, place the front stitches on hold, work the heel flap in garter stitch, mark the center 6 stitches, and gradually knit the side stitches together with the center section to form a narrow French heel.
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Translated
Things you will learn
A French heel has a narrower base than a straight heel and widens smoothly upward.
The front of the sock is placed on a stitch holder, while the back is moved onto one needle.
The heel flap is worked in garter stitch for as many rows as there are stitches on one needle.
The heel base is formed around the center 6 stitches marked with stitch markers.
The side stitches are gradually worked together with the edge stitches of the center section.
French heel for a sock
The result is a triangular French heel with a narrow base. This shape works well on both thick and thin socks and helps the sock fit the foot more comfortably.
Materials and tools
Tools
Needles with a sock in progress, The work starts after the sock leg has been knitted.
Stitch holder, For holding the front stitches of the sock.
Stitch markers, For marking the center 6 stitches of the heel base.
Preparation
Finish the sock leg
Before starting the heel, knit the sock leg. From this point, you will work only on the back of the sock.
How a French heel differs from a straight heel
The heel shape affects how the sock fits.
Look at the heel shape
A straight heel usually has a square shape and a wide base. A French heel has a narrow base that widens smoothly upward, so the finished sock follows the shape of the foot better.
How to knit the French heel
The work is built around the back of the sock and the center 6 stitches of the heel base.
Divide the sock into two parts
After the sock leg, divide the knitting into front and back sections. Place the front section on a stitch holder and move the back section onto one needle.
Work the heel flap
Work the back section in garter stitch for as many rows as there are stitches on one needle. In the author’s example, this is 18 rows.
Mark the heel base
Divide the knitting into 3 parts. Mark the center 6 stitches with stitch markers — these will form the heel base.
Start shaping the heel
On the right-side row, knit 15 stitches and then 5 of the marked stitches. Knit the last stitch of the center section together with the first stitch of the side section, then turn the work.
Work the wrong-side row
On the wrong-side row, purl the middle 5 stitches, then work the last stitch together with the neighboring stitch from the side section.
Repeat until all stitches are used
Keep repeating these actions until all stitches on the needle have been worked into the heel shape.
Last row
According to the source, the last row will be a wrong-side row.
Continue to the toe
After the heel is finished, the fabric remains on one needle. You can then continue knitting the sock and move on to the toe.
Finish and variations
Finish
Check the shape
The finished heel should have a triangular shape and a narrow base. After that, continue knitting the sock and move on to the toe.
Variations
For different sock weights
According to the source, a French heel looks good on both thick and thin socks knitted in any pattern.
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