Disappearing Act – Part 2

Our toe is complete and Section I of the design has been revealed.  Whether you are knitting with one hand or two, I hope you are enjoying the introduction to color work.

This week’s clue not only brings you Section II of the design, but another surprise as well.  Disappearing Act will include an Afterthought Heel!  Although we will not get to the actual heel construction until the sock is complete (hence the name), we need to set the stage for its placement.

In our pattern, the Afterthought Heel will be placed 2 ¼” from the end of the foot.  One strategy to find this location is to place the sock on the foot and stop knitting when the sock is 2 ¼” from the back of the heel.  (A great reason to knit with circular needles.)  Another option is to measure the entire length of the foot, from tip of toe to back of heel, and subtract 2 ¼” from this number.  (This works for double point knitters.)

Once the location of the heel is identified, a piece of waste yarn is knit into the sock.  This waste yarn should be in a contrasting color for easy viewing.  The waste yarn should be smooth for easy removal later.  A yarn with fuzzy fibers is difficult to separate from the work.

It is VERY important to place the waste yarn after completing an odd numbered round.  This allows for a round of solid color knitting, an even numbered round, to follow the placement of the waste yarn.  A solid row above the Afterthought Heel is more stable and lends itself to a tidy transition when the waste yarn is later removed.  The curious aspect of the heel is that the color work below the waste yarn has no bearing on the appearance of the heel stitches.

If you are lucky enough to have a petite foot, you may be placing the waste yarn for the heel somewhere in Section II.  I knit the Medium Size for my size 8 foot.  My waste yarn was placed in Section III.  If you are like me, you will have to wait until next week’s clue to place the waste yarn at the correct location.  Whenever you are ready for the waste yarn, watch the Afterthought Heel – Part 1” Video to guide you through this step.

As you move past the waste yarn, the remainder of the sock will form the leg.  Take the time to check the fit at this point.  If you would like a wider leg, go up one needle size at this juncture to gain a bigger leg circumference.  Changing needle sizes at this point will be nearly invisible to the eye.

Part Two

Click here to download printable version

IMPORTANT:  Work Foot, maintaining two-color design, until it measures 2 ¼” less than desired length ending after an odd numbered round.  For most knitters this placement may occur in Section II (below) or Section III (next week’s clue).

Place waste yarn for Afterthought Heel as follows:

K32(36,40) with waste yarn.  Return these stitches to the left hand needle.  Continue knitting in established design pattern beginning with an even numbered row.  See “Afterthought Heel – Part 1” Video

Section II – Work these 4 rounds 8(7,6) times.

Round 1.  *1A, 1B; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2.  Knit A.

Round 3.  *1B, 1A; repeat from * to end of round.

Round 4.  Knit A.

STOP!

Next’s week’s clue finishes the design.  Happy knitting!