Textural or lace socks are fun to knit but always present challenges when one gets to the heel. Calculations must be made, the sock divided into sections, and matters often go south at this point. Still doable, of course (and I have done it a few times), but I longed for an easy heel that could just be neatly inserted without any calculations (getting lazy in my old age, I guess, lol).

Another motivation for this sock was my boredom with my standard heel flap and associated gussets. I have been blessed with big feet, sturdy thick ankles, and a ridiculously high instep. Most of the alternate heel designs available in the Knitting Universe just don’t accommodate those features very well.

I had occasionally seen some triangular heels here and there and been intrigued; here is my version that I call a Wedge Heel. They do indeed contribute to a roomy ankle AND as an added plus: there are no heel flap stitches to pick up! YAY! Because of the lacy pattern, however, I did not want to end the heel in a similar wedge on the bottom that would then result in a lacy sole to walk on, so I left a narrow sole. The lace does wrap around the sides of the foot, but the very bottom of the sock is nice, flat stockinette. Fair warning: if you have sensitive feet, this design may not provide enough stockinette for you to walk on.

Also: note that the heel is worked in plain stockinette. There are no slipped stitches to add more padding or a thicker fabric to the heel so it won’t wear out--don’t expect this lacy pattern with its fancy heel to be a work-horse of a sock. These are pretty socks to wear and show off with Birkenstocks or the like, not hard-wearing socks to wear inside work boots.

On the plus side; this particular heel design in combination with this stretchy lace pattern is a GREAT choice for those of us blessed with wide/big feet, and/or high insteps and/or cankles and/or wide calves. The pattern expands beautifully and still looks lovely. Choose your normal size and make sure to cast on loosely and then the pattern will take care of the rest. Pixie footed people should size down to ensure a good fit.

These socks are knit top down. The heel is worked integrally and thus cannot be worked in a separate color. The socks as shown were knit up in the XL size for my size 11 feet. Choose a lighter colored yarn that is solid; variegated or self-striping yarn will obscure the pattern and heel details. I knit socks on 4 DPNs at a time, I have attempted to generalize my instructions for folks who use other needle set-ups.

Materials:
-Manos del Uruguay Alegria, 75% superwash merino/ 25% polyamide. Colorway A2058; Turmeric. As shown in XL: 82 g or 365 yds.
-Needles in size US 1 and 2 OR sizes needed to obtain the gauge
-Stitch markers
-Tapestry needle

Gauge:
33 ST = 4 inches in stockinette ST using US 2 over blocked stockinette pattern OR size needed to obtain the gauge
40 rows = 4 inches

Finished sizes: Ladies M (L and XL). Size XL sock is shown.