"You're Still Putting Me On" Socks

I've found it -- a new perfect sock pattern. Ironically, it's the first sock pattern that I fell in love with and used over and over: Judy Gibson's "You're Putting Me On" Socks.

My new perfect pattern is actually a mash-up of YPMO and Brooke Chenoweth Creel's Widdershins. Widdershins is only for one size, while YPMO is charted to adapt to various circumferences and has a handy guide for when to start the gusset increases. The only problem with YPMO is the ridge that forms beneath the heel, but there is no such ridge in Widdershins. So here is my Widdershins-inspired revision of the "You're Putting Me On" heel. Stitch markers make it very easy. The numbers for [K], [P], and [A] are from the YPMO chart.

Set-up and Turn Heel
After finishing the gussets, knit around to the center of the sole stitches. Place heel markers [K] ____ stitches away on either side of the center to mark the area for the heel.

Row 1: Knit to 2 stitches before heel marker. Lift the stitch below the stitch to the left and knit it, k1, wrap and turn.

Row 2: Purl 3, place turning marker, purl up to 2 stitches before the end of heel stitches. Lift the stitch below the stitch to the left and purl it, p1, wrap and turn.

Row 3: Knit 3, place another turning marker, knit to other turning marker and remove it temporarily. Lift the stitch below the stitch to the left and knit it, k1, wrap and turn.

Row 4: Purl 3, place turning marker, purl to other turning marker and remove it temporarily. Lift the stitch below the stitch to the left and purl it, p1, wrap and turn.

Repeat rows 3 & 4 until you have increased to [P] ____ stitches for the heel (between the heel markers, ignoring the turning markers you use in rows 3 & 4).

Knit one complete round, making sure to knit the wraps with the stitches that they are wrapping.

Heel Flap
Knit to end of heel stitches, combining the last heel stitch with the next stitch using SSK. Turn, slip the first stitch, and purl across heel stitches, combining the last heel stitch with the next stitch using P2tog. Repeat until you are back to your original sock circumference, or [A] ____ stitches.

The YPMO sock pattern doesn't call for it, but if you like the reinforced heel stitch you can work the knit side with a sl1-k1 repeat. I also think it's helpful during your first round after completing the heel flap to pick up stitches on either side of the flap. This closes the gap that forms at the top of the heel flap.