I love the clean look of a classic short-row heel but am not keen on the way they have to stretch to accommodate the heel and arch. Human heels aren’t shaped like that! Hence the additional gusset shaping to accommodate heel sticky out-y ness (for want of a better word). The shaping can be modified to fit your foot perfectly.

My After Hours Socks, Sun Up Socks, and Sidestep Socks all feature this construction, so I thought it was about time to use the method on a simple vanilla sock. This pattern is intended to be used as a blank canvas for playing around with stripes or showing off a special skein.

The pattern features blank charts for you to colour in to work out the perfect stripe placement around the heel.

YARN: 4ply / fingering weight yarn, approx 273 (312; 351) metres / 299 (341; 384) yards in total.

Sample used 5 colours in equal width stripes. For a similar stripe sequence and leg length, you will need approx:

73 (83; 93) metres / 80 (91; 102) yards of cuff colour

63 (72; 81) metres / 69 (79; 89) yards of heel colour

46 (52; 59) metres / 50 (57; 65) yards in each of 3 other colours

Sample shown in Botanical Yarns 4ply merino sock, (75% merino, 25% nylon, 85m per 20g mini skein) in Knit City Toronto 2024 exclusive colourway.

GAUGE: 33 sts and 47 rows to 4 inches / 10 cm in stocking stitch blocked. Suggested size 2.5 mm.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS:
2.5mm needles of your preferred length for working small circumferences in the round, eg. DPNs, magic loop, short circulars.
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

SIZING
To fit foot: 7.5 (8.5; 9.5) inches / 19 (21.5; 24) cm
UK: 2-4 (5-7; 8-10)
EU: 34-37 (38-41; 42-44.5)
US: 4-6 (7-9; 10-11)
Finished circ: 6.75 (7.75; 8.75) inches / 17 (19.5; 22) cm