Tuesday, January 12, 2010

On Picking Up Gusset Stitches: Avoiding a Hole

This is a sock knitting question that comes up fairly often, most recently in a Twitter exchange.

How to avoid the hole at the top of the gusset when picking up stitches?

(This applies only to a sock with a heel flap - the rules are different for a short-row heel. I'll cover short-row heel holes at another time, if you're interested...)

When you're at the top of the heel flap, have run out of edge stitches, and need one more stitch, many knitters have been tempted by the siren song of that lovely little bar that hangs out between the heel flap and the held stitches of the instep.

This one:

DON'T DO IT!

Picking up this one causes a hole.


Other knitters just stop at that point, and give up on the extra stitch. That doesn't help either, as it can leave a bit of a gap between the instep and heel flap.

Instead, keep going in the direction you were going...

That is, keep going up in the same 'column' you've been picking the stitches up in, in a straight line...

Yes, you're up into the leg of the sock, above the divide for instep and heel flap, but this is a good thing.

First of all, it keeps the gusset pickup in a tidy straight line.


And it handily eliminates both risk of hole and gap. No hole because you're picking up a fully formed stitch, and no gap because you're actually going to cover up the divide. And going that extra stitch makes for a better fitting sock, with a bit more fabric to fit comfortably around the heel.

No, it doesn't create any significant extra bulk.

As to coming back down the other side? Before I start picking up, I count up to figure out where I need to start. And I start up in the leg a bit, to match the first side.


And final tip - on the following round, I work the picked up-stitches through the back loop. It tightens and closes them up a bit, and makes the whole thing a bit neater.

24 comments:

Linda said...

Very interesting. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Thank you!! And I would be interested in the Short Row method even more.

LadyFin said...

THANK YOU!!! OMG I am very excited about this...

Bonnie said...

Ohhh, I get it! I always have holes there. I'm excited to use this on my next heel! Thanks.

Kelene said...

great thanks for the advise I have been trying to figure this one out

Bonny said...

I've knit many pairs of socks and always 'fudged' that extra stitch to be picked up. Knitting the next round TBL is something I've always done, too. This is an excellent tutorial! Thanks for posting it :)
I too would be interested in a short row heel tutorial: both for creating the heel and for picking up stitches. If you're offering...

Thank you!

Marjorie said...

I will have to try your method. I've had the most success in eliminating the hole using Charlene Schurch's method (from Sensational Knitted Socks). She has rows of garter stitch (three stitches on each side) on the heel flap, and she asks you to dip down to the stitch below that bar to pick up two additional stitches. Her diagrams are better than my verbal explanation.

Anonymous said...

With my next socks I really have to remember your advise because I do not like holes.

Annegret

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this! Very helpful. I'll definitely keep it in mind.

Delusional Knitter said...

Awesome, thanks! I've been knitting socks for a few years and always end up with holes in my cuff down. This is great info!

17th stitch said...

So useful! Thank you! (the pictures were probably the key to me really grasping this concept, so double-thanks for those.)

V said...

Through the back loop! Of course!

And.... Please remind me to hide the wraps on the W&T. My wraps are always showing.

glamoursmiles said...

You are so informational. Love your blog!

cdanielshafer said...

Thank you so much... I have been trying to figure this out for months!!!!

Renna said...

I just discovered this post via Pinterest. I have to tell you, I am really excited to try this! Since learning the Magic Loop method, I've been knitting my socks with it, using toe-up patterns. I love toe-ups, as it's eliminated the dreaded "picking up stitches" step. I ALWAYS ended up with holes & gaps, and have tried several recommendations to avoid them.

Though I like Magic Loop Toe Up sock patterns, I did enjoy using dpns, knitting cuff down. Thanks for sharing your tip!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for explaining this very clearly... I finally "get it" now :)

Unknown said...

Thanks so much. No more holes in my socks!

Laura Nelkin said...

Brilliant!!!! This makes a TON of sense, is so simple, and solves a problem all at the same time!!!

Katie said...

Do you have a video of doing this to avoid any holes?

Crescent Lane Hooker said...

AWESOME, thank you. Trying it my next pair.

Lindsay said...

I know I'm late to the party, but this TOTALLY TOTALLY works! Just tried it on a pair of socks, and they're looking great and hole-less. THANKS, Kate!

quiltcontemplation blogspot said...

Cool thanks. and yes to short row heel tutorial. Do you ever do afterthought heels? I tried once and it was an abyssmal failure. As in an abyss sized gap at the corners. But it seelms like such a grand idea!

buttonbox said...

Almost 7 years after your original post this is still reaching beginners. Thank you! I'll be giving this a go today.

Sarah Dawn said...

I'm another one who finds this post 7 years later. It's genius!

I'm definitely going to have to give this a try on my next pair of socks. Thank you.