Magic Heel Slipper Socks by Judy Jewell

Magic Heel Slipper Socks

Knitting
August 2023
yarn held together
Worsted
+ Worsted
= Bulky (7 wpi) ?
18 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette stitch
US 8 - 5.0 mm
211 - 225 yards (193 - 206 m)
1 (US shoe size 4-6.5), 2 (US shoe size 7-9.5), 3 (US shoe size 10-12) To fit foot circumference: 8 (9.25, 10.25)”/20 (23.5, 26) cm
English
This pattern is available for $4.00 USD buy it now

Greetings from the Woods of New Hampshire!

I’m on a mission to fill every sock drawer in the world with beautiful, hand-knit socks!! I felt the only way to achieve this mission was to design socks that EVERYONE could feel successful at knitting.

I do realize that turning a heel and knitting a gusset aren’t the worst things in the world, (in fact, some knitters really enjoy that step,) but I’ve always dreaded it, and it was the one thing that prevented me from knitting all the socks.

CHOOSING YOUR SOCK SIZE:
It’s very important to have negative ease and a snug fitting sock when knitting Magic Heel Socks BUT with slipper socks, you’ll want a bit of positive ease! If you’d like a snugger fitting heel, knit the main body of your slipper sock in the needle size stated in the pattern and then knit the heel section in a needle that is one size smaller.

If you want to get really accurate, measure your foot circumference around the ball of your foot (the padded area just under your toes) and measure the area around your heel and ankle (round to the nearest ¼”/.5 cm). Use the larger of these 2 numbers and multiply by .95 – this should be the finished circumference of your socks.

What exactly are the BENEFITS of knitting Magic Heel Slipper Socks?
I’m so glad you asked!

  1. No finicky heel means these socks are a complete joy to knit, especially for beginner or nervous sock knitters!
  2. Knit cuff-down, (but easily adjustable to be knit toe-up).
  3. They’re ideal if you’re using self-striping yarn because your stripes will be uninterrupted.
  4. They’re perfect for fast-growing children’s feet because they’re quick to knit and the heel can accommodate multiple sizes.
  5. They make the best gift knits, especially when you’re not exactly sure what size feet your recipient has. The perfect way to keep them a surprise!
  6. When your slipper socks finally wear out, you can easily mend them by cutting your slipper sock, (just above or below the worn area) picking up the live stitches and then re-knitting your slipper sock down or up. You’ll get twice as much wear out of your Magic Heel socks this way.

SIZES: 1 (2, 3)
1 (US shoe size 4-6.5), 2 (US shoe size 7-9.5), 3 (US shoe size 10-12)
To fit foot circumference: 8 (9.25, 10.25)”/20 (23.5, 26) cm

MATERIALS:
One or two types of ANY hearty worsted wt yarn, preferably Icelandic wool, or hearty wool with similar qualities. You will be using 2 strands of MC yarn held together and 2 strands of the CC yarn held together.

YARN ONE/MC: Approx 97 (100, 104) g / 211 (218, 225) yds of MC.
My first sample (gray + pink) was made in size 2, using 50 g/109 yds Istex Lettlopi, 100% pure new wool in “Ash Heather” PLUS 50 g/109 yds of Istex Plotulopi, 100% new wool in “Ash” (held double)

YARN TWO/CC: Approx 17(20, 24) g/ 19(22, 26) yds of CC.
My sample is shown using Istex Lettlopi, 100% pure new wool in “Pink Heather”.
For my second sample (brown + cream), I also held 1 strand of Lang reinforcing thread (75% wool/25% nylon) in color, “Brown Heather” when I knit the heel/foot section as well as the toe section.
I used a total of 2 spools/46 yds.