Crystal Socklet by Lynn DT Hershberger

Crystal Socklet

Knitting
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
30 stitches and 42 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette in the round
XS / S / M / L; to fit US shoe sizes 5 (6-7 / 8-9 / 10-11).
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This pattern is available for free.

Knit Along/ KAL! Come on and join us in the ColorJoy discussion group for a knit along on this sock. What a great way to learn a new technique or two. Are you in?

Video Tutorials for This Sock!
On YouTube, the ColorJoyLynnH channel you can find video tutorials specifically created for this sock. They are numbered in the order needed to knit along with the pattern.

Here is a clickable link.

  • A three-color sock (dark/medium/light contrast works well) with an unusual heel, the Crystal Heel, which is an afterthought that is actually shaped like a human heel! (Imagine that. Most afterthought heels are shaped like our toes, which just doesn’t fit well.)

  • Only 16 rounds of stranded colorwork
    per sock.

    • Either follow chart or text for the color patterning.

From Knitty:
A common complaint about afterthought heels is that they don’t fit well. Often they are too shallow. This happens when the heel is made exactly as we might make a toe.

The crystal heel is deeper, with facets of decreases accelerating as one knits. This makes a more human-shaped sock heel. The extra rounds at the beginning of a Crystal Heel compensate for the lack of a gusset, and create a sort of shaped arch as well.

Since this is not a standard afterthought heel it may look long and awkward when off the foot. The proof is in the wearing!

This toe-up sock uses a flat-knit Bosnian stockinette square toe. Both the toe and heel are shaped in a swirl rather than a wedge shaping. Swirls are common in historical knitting and have a soft, pleasant look. They fit a heel particularly well.