2/24/16 note: if working with THIN fingering weight yarn, you may want to knit two knit-rds between working your decrease rds on the star heel (at least for the first couple of decrease rds) so the heel doesn’t stretch out as much.

Say hello to a simple pattern that intrigues the eye. The sock spirals at the heel and toe. It turns “vanilla socks” (or plain stockinette stitch socks) into something interesting, intriguing, and can be used as a base to any lace or cabled pattern with a multiple of 4 because it used an “afterthought heel.”

See my complete Afterthought Heel Tutorial here:
http://knitting-up-a-storm.blogspot.com/2009/04/afterthought-heel-pt1.html

Materials:
--Yarn: under 400 yards of fingering weight yarn.
Pattern seen in “Butterfly” colorway by KUAS Yarns.
--Needles: set 5 of dpns or one 40’’ circular needle (for magic loop method) in size US 2/2.75mm.
--1 darning needle.
--2 lengths of waste yarn (about 20’’ each) in a contrasting color.

Sizes: Narrow (Standard)(Wide). Pattern seen in size “medium.”