reknit heels in socks

Nancy@4 wrote

on Mar 23, 2009 4:19 PM

 Hello,

I'm relatively new to Daily Knitting - what a wonderful site!! I'm also a relatively new knitter and love socks, especially two at a time on circular needles.  As I have three grown daughters there isn't any end to recipients of my efforts!!  Unfortunately, one daughter has worn holes in the heels of a pair of cotton socks that I knit her and I would like to fix them.  How do I reknit the heels?  Thanks for your help!!  Nancy

JoeR wrote

on Mar 24, 2009 5:54 PM

Hi, Nancy - I thought I replied to a similar post within the last week but can't find it in the forums.  Oh well, here's the gist of it:  There's a blogspot for a knitter named "Yarmando".  In a recent posting, he talks about reheeling a pair of toe up socks.  (If you google "Yarmando" he should pop up.)  The principle would be similar for a pair of top down socks as well.  It looks a bit tricky but not very complicated.  I have an old German English-language knitting book that also tells how to do a similar repair but it requires cutting out the old heel flap and picking up stitches along the top and bottom of the heel flap, as well as the sides.  Once you reknit the heel flap, you graft the sides of the flap to the stitches held in reserve from the gusset work.    Another technique in the book has you cut the heel out, pick up the stitches, then knit another toe.  This is similar to Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Afterthought Toe" and may prove less tricky.  Hope you do well with the repairs.  Your daughter must really love that pair of socks. 

Nancy@4 wrote

on Mar 27, 2009 10:00 AM

 Thank you JoeR.  Yes, I did post my problem earlier, but as you say, it disappeared?!  Gotta love these forums, when someone from Wyoming can help someone from Vancouver Island, BC.  Thanks again.

AndreaW wrote

on Mar 31, 2009 11:17 PM

 Hi...

Joe...was this what you were looking for? I've been off here for a bit...but when I read this tonite it rang a bell as we'de both posted on it.

http://www.knittingdaily.com/forums/p/2093/26223.aspx#26223

I did try "Yarmando" that nite but didn't get it. Now I'm reminded will try again...thanks!

Hope your sock repair is working well Nancy...I'de wondered how it worked out for you?

   Take Care .... Andrea