Fleegle Heel

Are you ready to take your sock-knitting skills to the next level? The Fleegle Heel is a revolutionary technique that has taken the knitting world by storm. Combining elegance, practicality, and a flawless fit, this method will quickly become your go-to for knitting socks with ease. Perfect for both beginners and experienced knitters, the Fleegle Heel eliminates the need for picking up stitches or worrying about unsightly gaps at the heel, making it a beloved choice in the knitting community.

Unlike traditional methods, the Fleegle Heel allows you to work the entire heel in the round, resulting in a smooth, seamless finish with minimal effort. It’s ideal for those who want a well-fitted sock without the hassle of complicated shaping or finishing techniques. Whether you’re knitting your first pair of socks or adding a new technique to your repertoire, you’ll appreciate how quickly and beautifully this method works up.

A Fleegle Heel is a toe-up version of a Strong heel, which is worked cuff-down. If you’re currently working a cuff-down sock, you’ll want these directions instead. 

Pattern Notes

In this post, we’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of creating the Fleegle Heel. With clear instructions and helpful tips, you’ll soon be able to create cosy, perfectly-fitted socks that look as great as they feel. Say goodbye to heel flap anxiety and hello to a smooth, enjoyable knitting experience. Ready to dive in and start knitting your best pair of socks yet? Let’s get started!

These directions are for magic loop based on 48 [52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72, 76, 80, 84, 88] stitches, having the stitches divided evenly between the two needles. We can work them using DPNs, being mindful of where your instep and back stitches begin and end. The directions assume you’ve already worked the foot of your sock approximately 2.25 [2.5, 2.5, 2.75, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.5, 3.75, 4, 4.25]” / 5.5 [6.5, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8.5, 9, 9, 9.5, 10, 11] cm less than your desired foot length.

These measurements are based on a rhyFlower Knits sock pattern gauge of 32 stitches by 40 rounds in the stockinette = 4″ / 10 cm, after blocking. Gauge is crucial in obtaining the correct fit. Changes in gauge will cause a size difference for your finished socks. 

Abbreviations used in the Fleegle Heel

BOR: Beginning of round.

Dec: Decrease.

Inc: Increase.

K: Knit.

K2tog: Insert the right needle into 2 stitches simultaneously and knit the 2 stitches together. (1 st dec)

M1L: From the front, lift the horizontal strand between stitches with the left needle. Knit through the back loop. (1 st inc)

M1R: From the back, lift the horizontal strand between stitches with the left needle. Knit through the front loop. (1 st inc)

P: Purl.

P2tog: Insert the right needle into 2 stitches simultaneously and purl the 2 stitches together. (1 st dec)

RS: Right side.

Sl1 wyif: Slip specified stitch(es) purlwise with yarn in front.Ssk: Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, knitwise. Knit the slipped stitches together through the back loops. (1 st dec)

St(s): Stitch(es).

WS: Wrong side.

Directions for a Fleegle Heel

Gusset

Round 1: Work across the instep as established, k1, M1R, knit to last st, M1L, k1. (2 sts inc on second needle)
Round 2: Work across the instep as established, knit to end of round.

Continue working Rounds 1-2 until you have 46 [50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86] stitches on your second needle for the gusset.

Fleegle Heel

Continue across the instep as established. You will work flat for your heel flap, only working the stitches on your second needle using short rows.

Row 1 (RS): K25 [27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45], ssk. Turn your work. (1 st dec on second needle)
Row 2 (WS): Sl1 wyif, p4, p2tog. Turn your work. (1 st dec on second needle)
Row 3: Sl1, knit to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1. Turn your work. (1 st dec on second needle)
Row 4: Sl1 wyif, purl to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1. Turn your work. (1 st dec on second needle)

Continue working Rows 3-4 until you have 26 [28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46] sts remaining on the second needle. We will resume working in the round from here onward.

Next Round: Knit to last st before gap, ssk, slip BOR marker, work across instep as established, k2tog, knit to end of round. 24 [26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44] sts remaining on the second needle, returning you to your original stitch count.

Congratulations! You’ve worked the Fleegle heel and are now ready to work the leg of your sock per your pattern directions!

The yarn we used in our sample heel is Symfonie Yarns’ Terra Base in the Peacock Green colourway.

Happy knitting! ♥