Hole between the heel and the foot in socks

23084 Posts Recent Started

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 7:09 PM

Dear Community,
a user on Facebook has reported a recurring problem with holes between the heel and the foot in her socks. I’m trying to find out more details about this. Have any of you experienced similar problems?

Schnuckelina

5957 Posts Recent Started

Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 11:49 AM

Dear Josefa,

The hole where the heel meets the foot forms after picking up stitches for the foot section. You can prevent this by knitting the last stitch on one needle together with the first stitch on the next needle when picking up stitches or during the first round.

Best regards, Ina

Moderator

23084 Posts Recent Started

Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 2:30 PM

Great explanation—thanks for that, Ina.

veronika-t15

3937 Posts Recent Started

Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 4:09 PM

Do you then increase the stitches again afterward, or do you add one extra stitch beforehand?

Schnuckelina

5957 Posts Recent Started

Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:14 PM

Hi Veronika,
Here’s another tip. After picking up the stitches for the heel, I then start with fewer stitches by knitting stitches together in the corners. Since my heel flap is high enough (for a normal instep), I have enough stitches on the side needle and can afford the “loss” from knitting them together.

Also, the decreases for the gusset follow every other round. That creates a smooth visual transition.
Best regards, Ina

Moderator

23084 Posts Recent Started

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 4:24 PM

The woman thanked Ina on Facebook for the information she shared here in this thread.

Schnuckelina

5957 Posts Recent Started

Friday, April 10, 2026 at 6:13 PM

That’s great to hear, Josefa.
Best regards, Ina

walburga-frankenberger

4 Posts Recent Started

Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 11:04 AM

Hi everyone,
your explanation about the hole at the transition from heel to foot is clear,
but that’s for the “standard traditional” knitted heel. What
about the boomerang heel? I get a hole there too—what should I do there?
I’d appreciate a reply.
Best regards
Walburga

Schnuckelina

5957 Posts Recent Started

Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 1:22 PM

Dear Walburga,
since I never knit my socks using the boomerang heel technique, I’m afraid I can’t answer your question. Maybe someone who knits the heel using this technique will chime in.
Best regards, Ina

Eddysmutti

92 Posts Recent Started

Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 5:03 PM

Hello dear Walburga,

I knit the boomerang heel, or shadow-wrap heel. Here you can use a method similar to the heel flap and turn:

When you first work the double stitches, also pick up one stitch each from the first and last stitches of the instep. For the first stitch, knit one stitch through the right leg of the stitch, and for the last stitch, knit one stitch through the left leg of the stitch. These two additional stitches are knitted together with the last and first stitches of the heel, respectively, after the heel is completely finished.

But I make it even easier for myself. I simply slip 2 stitches each from the instep, on the right and left, onto the heel needle, but I don’t knit them as part of the heel; instead, I knit them very tightly in the intermediate rounds. 😉 This keeps the actual first and last heel stitches tight on the needle so they don’t stretch out.

Maybe this will help you.