I started these socks and then partway through realized they would qualify for Sock Knitters’ Jan/Feb 2018 New To You KAL if I used a short row heel, which I’d been meaning to learn and which I felt would best suit the patterning of the yarn.

I ripped back the FLK heel four times before I found a good fit for my heel and instep both -- I ended up adding a short flap and gusset. After I tried on the socks I discovered the heel “pops” slightly off my own when I point my toes, so next time I do this I’ll either work the heel on 30 stitches instead of 32 (same number of stitches, shallower heel cup) or knit a shorter heel flap (two fewer stitches, so hopefully it’ll be snugger). Haven’t decided yet!

Meanwhile, I’m pleased that these took only a month and a half (with a little pushing, but hey, Feburary’s short…) My fastest socks so far, even with all the ripping back of the leg and heel to get the sizing right.

I like the variation in pooling between the two socks, but clearly I need to work on my tension consistency!

• Cast on 64 stitches on size 1 needles
• 15 rows 1x1 ribbing
• 25 rows stockinette
• Switch to size 0 needles
• 30 rows stockinette
• 12 row stockinette heel flap
• FLK heel worked on 32 stitches
• Including the pick-up and gusset rows, 63 rows from the heel until beginning the toe.

New to me for the KAL

• Yarn from this dyer

• “Calf shaping” by changing needle size/gauge

• Fish Lips Kiss heel (or any kind of short row heel)