Sling Heel Socks

I am happy to present the best fitting socks I have ever designed, Sling Heel Socks. The pattern includes instructions for both DK/Sport and Fingering (sock) weight yarns, in sizes for both women and men, and includes a free video tutorial that demonstrates the techniques used in the pattern. You can see the video further down in this post.

Pattern + video tutorial – $8 US via PayPal.

DK/Sport Weight Socks.
Sizes: Women’s and Men’s average width, any shoe size
Needles: Size US 3 (3.25mm), your choice – DPNs, 9” circulars, or long circular for magic loop
Yarn: 100 grams DK or Sport weight yarn (also called 8-ply yarn). If you plan to use a different color for the toe/heel/ribbing, you’ll need about 50 grams of yarn for the pair.
Additional Materials: Size G or H crochet hook, a few feet of worsted-weight scrap yarn in a contrasting color, tapestry needle for weaving ends
Gauge: 6.5 stitches per inch (2.5cm) in stockinette
The yarn I used in my socks: Knit Picks Hawthorne Sport Multi in color Irvington, sport weight, 258 yards. The contrasting color I used at the toe and heel is some leftover DK weight yarn.

Fingering Weight Socks
Sizes: Women’s and Men’s average width, any shoe size
Needles: Size US 1.5 (2.5mm), your choice – DPNs, 9” circulars, or long circular for magic loop
Yarn: 100 grams of fingering weight yarn (also called sock yarn or 4ply yarn). If you plan to use a different color for the toe/heel/ribbing, you’ll need about 50 grams of yarn for the pair.
Additional Materials: Size G or H crochet hook, a few feet of worsted-weight scrap yarn in a contrasting color, tapestry needle for weaving ends
Gauge: 8 stitches per inch in stockinette
The yarn I used in my socks: Alpha B Yarn Luxe B, superwash merino/silk blend, in color Babydoll. The contrasting color I uses at the toe and heel is some leftover white sock yarn, not sure of the brand.

38 comments on “Sling Heel Socks

  1. Love the concept but prefer doing cuff down socks. I know German short heels can be done both ways. Can your new heel be done cuff down?

  2. Nan – If you’re comfortable modifying patterns you can, but I encourage you to knit them as the pattern is written for the best fit.?
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  3. Marzia – I don’t give specific instructions for magic loop knitting (this is an intermediate pattern), but if you are already comfortable knitting socks using that method, you certainly can use it.

    If you are new to magic loop sock knitting, I have other tutorials that each it specfically. You can see all of my sock tutorials here: https://verypink.com/category/socks/

  4. Can this pattern be done with bulky yarn? I like the idea of your bulky sleep sock pattern but think this heel would be great on it.

  5. Pat – no, sorry…it would not be an easy modification to make these in any yarn weight other than the two the pattern is written for. It can be done, but it would mean starting from scratch with an entirely new pattern.

  6. I found it quite strange that the one thing that distinguishes this pattern–the heel–is the element you leave out of the video tutorial. I recognize that the heel is composed of the same german short rows that make up the toe. You demonstrate the toe the same way in nearly all toe up sock patterns you have. I have seen this so many times. So to watch yet another crocheted provisional cast on and short row toe, suddenly followed by “…continue by referencing your well-written pattern for the heel…,” well, I was confused. Why not just go ahead and demonstrate the unusual, new style heel that everyone is dying to see? Are you afraid other designers will copy it?

  7. Sarah – thank you for the note. To some degree, yes – demonstrating the heel would make the design easy to copy. But more than that, demonstrating the heel would have only been repetitive in the video, since the techniques used in the heel are identical to those used in the toe, the only difference is the row-by-row instruction for the stitch count. The heel is unique, but the techniques of counting stitches and using German short rows is the same as are used in the toe.

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    • Can’t wait to try this new sock method. As always, your tutorials help us beginners tremendously. So far, my socks are a little wonky so I’ll have to wait a bit before trying this pattern out. It really like the style.

  8. If I buy this pattern and you add other sizes later, will I have to buy it again?

  9. Hi Staci – I have a high instep and a big heel on my size 10 1/2 feet. Would this new heel work for me? I usually have to have heels with gussets. Thanks!

  10. Jenn – I’m not sure…this heel gives you more shaping than a short row heel, but I can’t say whether or not it is going to fit best on specific foot shapes. I say try as many shapes as you can to help you find your favorite!
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  11. Hey Staci. I purchased the sling heel sock pattern, and look forward to trying this. However I like to make socks for my little grandsons and wonder if there is a formula to follow to make these much smaller? I usually use 40 stitches for the little socks.. any ideas?

  12. Yes – I got your question in YouTube comments and answered there, too. Sorry – modifying this heel to other sizes isn’t an easy modification. But folks have been asking me to update this pattern in sizes for men and kids, so that is on my radar.?
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  13. Simply genius heel. I have knit several of your toe up sock patterns in dk and sock weight yarn and they have been fabulously easy to follow. Thanks for continuing to innovate.

  14. Hey Staci, love your work btw, i have a quick question can I use this heel pattern with the Lace GSR sock pattern.

    Thank you.

  15. Mai – it can be done, but the stitch count is different, so you would essentially need to rewrite the heel for the new stitch count.
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  16. Hi Staci. I love to knit socks and I am interested in this pattern but I have a question about the heel. I do not feel confidant with the traditional heel flap where you need to pick up stitches. So I have been doing a heel that stays on the needles and doesn’t require you to pick up stitches. Will this heel require me to pick up stitches or will the heel stay on the needles.

  17. Do you by chance know how much yarn you used for the toes, heels, and cuffs? I know you usually say knit until you run out of yarn but I’m trying to make two pairs in opposite colors.

  18. You mentioned in the video that once you finished the toe you we’re going to switch to a 9 inch circular. When you got to the heel did you switch back to the double pointed needles or did you continue on the 9 inch circular? I’m doing magic loop and I’m struggling with the heel.

    • Virginia – in most socks, I switch back to DPNs for the heel, then continue with 9″ circulars for the cuff. But in these socks, since the heel shaping is all the way around the sock, I stayed with 9″ circulars for the heel. Just my personal preference.
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  19. Hi! I’m up to the heel using dpns and am wondering how to go about it? How many needles should I be using while doing the heel because it seems to be super awkward.

    Thanks

    • You want to use the same number of needles that you’ve used up to this point, no different for the heel. The only thing that is different is that you’re working wrong-side rows as you shape the heel. It may feel awkward at first, but this WS shaping is a technique you’ll find all sock patterns.
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      • Thanks Staci, I did manage to figure it out, my brain didn’t want to cooperate originally lol half way through the heel and this will be my very first sock 🙂 love it

  20. hey
    At the end of the heel when you say knit to the end of the round, is that just 10 stitches…or back to the original round marker?

    thank you

    ash

  21. Wow! Quick, easy and a great fitting sock. My new go to pattern for socks. Love them.

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