An Afterthought Heel tutorial and cuff down sock pattern ideal for maintaining self-striping, variegated, or otherwise patterned yarn, or for contrasting heel & toe, or future sock mending ease.

The afterthought heel technique allows the knitter to control the patterning of the yarn as the circumference of the sock is not changed until after the heel is added, which occurs after the body of the sock is knit. Since the heel is added afterward it is also simple to take the heel off and replace it if mending is needed, thereby extending the life of the sock.

The cuff, heel, and toe may be worked in a complementary or contrasting colour or the same yarn as the body (but still allowing the knitter to determine the stripe or pattern placement). This pattern can be used with double pointed needles, magic loop, or two circular needles.

Any 100g sock yarn will do for this pattern, and approximately 30 g of a contrast colour if chosen.

Sm (M, L, XL) to fit 7.5” (8”, 8.5”, 9”) foot circumference. Easily adapted to further sizes outside this range.