Toe-Up Socks with a Short-Row Heel

Instructions

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1. 1Toe cast onUsing Judy's Magic Cast-On, cast on 10 (12) sts onto each tip of the circular needle, 20 (24) sts in total. One tip holds the instep (top half), the other the sole (bottom half). On the first round knit the instep stitches; the sole stitches sit twisted, so knit them through the back loop. Place a marker; the round begins at the start of the instep.
2. 2Toe increasesRound 1 (increase): on each half: k1, M1L, knit to last st, M1R, k1 (4 sts increased). Round 2: knit. Repeat these 2 rounds 10 times, until each half has 30 (32) sts, 60 (64) sts in total. The toe is about 4.5 cm long.
3. 3FootContinue knitting every round. Measure from the tip of the toe and work until the foot is 5 (5.5) cm shorter than your foot length (19 cm for a 24 cm foot). End after the instep stitches; the heel is worked back and forth over the 30 (32) sole stitches.
4. 4Heel: first halfWork on the sole stitches only. Row 1 (RS): knit to last st, w&t. Row 2 (WS): purl to last st, w&t. Row 3: knit to the st before the last wrapped st, w&t. Row 4: purl to the st before the last wrapped st, w&t. Repeat rows 3 and 4 until there are 10 (11) wrapped sts on each side and 10 unwrapped sts in the center (20 (22) rows in total).
5. 5Heel: second halfRow 1 (RS): knit the 10 center sts, knit the first wrapped st together with its wrap (lift the wrap with the tip of the right needle and knit it with the stitch), w&t the next st. Row 2 (WS): purl to the first wrapped st, purl it together with its wrap, w&t the next st. Row 3: knit to the double-wrapped st, knit it together with both wraps, w&t the next st. Row 4: purl to the double-wrapped st, purl it together with both wraps, w&t the next st. Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all wrapped side stitches have been worked (20 (22) rows in total). On the last two rows the w&t falls on the first and last instep stitches; work those wraps together with their stitches on the next round. Return to working in the round on 60 (64) sts.
6. 6LegKnit all stitches, working the wraps at the heel corners together with their stitches. Knit in stockinette for 10 cm (about 44 rounds) above the heel. Then work *k2, p2* rib for 4 cm (about 18 rounds).
7. 7Stretchy bind-offBind off loosely so the cuff fits over your heel: k1, *k1, slip the 2 sts on the right needle back to the left needle and knit them together through the back loops*; repeat until one stitch remains. Cut the yarn and pull it through the last stitch. You may knit the purl stitches of the rib as you bind off; what matters is that the edge stays loose.
8. 8FinishingWeave in the cast-on tail at the toe and the bind-off tail on the inside of the sock. If there are holes at the heel corners, close them with a few stitches using the tail. Knit the second sock the same way; wash your wool socks in lukewarm water, roll them in a towel to remove water without wringing, and dry flat.