This tutorial will teach you how the pickup stitches after completing your heel turn by twisting them. This method will make them a bit fancier. It will also make it less likely that the pick up will cause any holes.
The number of stitches that you pick up and knit will be the same number of RS rows you knit on your heel flap, plus 1 extra stitch.
Twisted stitches can be used as a decorative element or as some believe a studier picked up stitch.
As always, follow the instructions contained in your pattern.
These instructions assume you are starting by picking up stitches on the right-hand side of the heel flap.
With the free needle – not the one holding the heel turn stitches – you are going to pickup stitches from your heel flap.
Step 1 – Insert left needle through your first heel flap stitch.
Step 2 – Insert right needle through the back loop of the stitch on the left needle
and knit it.
Step 3 – Continue picking up stitches in this same way until all of your heel flap stitches have been worked.
Step 4 – Next, pick up one extra stitch where the last of your heel flap stitches meets the top of the foot of the sock.
You’ve now picked up stitches along the right-hand side of the heel flap.
Step 5 – Knit across the top of the foot of the sock and after completing this you will reach your next set of heel flap stitches to pick up.
Step 6 – First, pick up an extra stitch just like you did on the other side.
Now, repeat steps 1-3.
About the Instructor: Andi Gallegos
Andi Gallegos- aka Mysistersknitter on Ravelry- learned to first crochet more than 20 years ago from a coworker, while looking for a way to occupy herself during downtime at a call center job. A couple of years later after many attempts to teach herself to knit from books, she found a video that taught kids to knit and it suddenly clicked. Nowadays it is rare for a day to go by without at least one stitch being knit.
At that time living and knitting in sunny Arizona didn’t warrant a large knitting community, so Andi started a blog called My Sister’s Knitter as a way to connect with other knitters.
Andi believes that if everyone knit or crocheted the world would be a kindler, gentler place.
About the Instructor: Jody Richards
Jody loves pouring over stitch dictionaries and trying out new stitches. And while she likes all things crafting (well ok, except that one thing), yarn crafts are her true love (and she has the stash to prove it).
She’s a serial starter-of-projects and has a serious problem with finishing things without a deadline.
And don’t get her talking about hand-dyed yarns. You’ve been warned.
I understand the twisting of stitch but when I pick up stitches I knit the also. How would I do this?
Hi Jo!
I’m actually not sure what you’re asking, because we *are* knitting the stitches (see Step 2).
Can you explain a bit more what you mean?
Thanks!