Wanted to try a Strong heel for a long time. My normal sock numbers for a light fingering weight yarn are a 72 st leg & foot, increased to 106 sts at heel turn, using US 1 needles.

• To avoid the shorty sock going above my ankle, I CO 76 sts (with German twisted CO and accent yarn) and knit 7 rounds of 2x2 rib with combination knitting and US 0 needles. This saved me 4 gusset increase rounds.
• I switched to US 1 needles and main yarn. I then worked my heel side gusset increases until my total stitch count reached 106 sts.
• I switched to accent yarn and worked gusset decreases until my total st count was 72.
• Heel was a little tight, so I tinked back to the beginning of the decreases and changed the number of knit stitches between the first wrap & turns from 2 to 6.
• Switched to main yarn after completing gusset decreases and knit 60 rounds, which brought foot length from heel to toe end to 8”.
• Switched to accent yarn and worked toe decreases. Closed with Finchley graft.

Compare these strong heel socks to recently finished Fleegle heel socks using the same yarn.