Skip to content

Worlds collide this month as we find one of our favorite designers, Wendy D. Johnson, bringing her massive sock skills to the Boost Your Knitting series of techniques and patterns.

It just gets better and better, I tell you.

This month Jen Arnall-Culliford takes us through the working of a gusset heel with toe-up socks. This technique creates a little more space across the instep. It’s good to try different methods of sock making, Jen reminds us, because your fit can vary from one method to another.

What I love about this video tutorial is that it gives us sock fiends a new method for working toe-up socks. I’m still pretty new to toe-up socks, so this all seems magical.

The Pattern?

Wendy Johnson literally wrote the book on toe-up socks (here you go!), so her new Alcedo Socks pattern for Boost Your Knitting is solid gold.

The allover texture makes these socks supremely squishy. And that heel! Magnifique!

It really is an elegant heel, don’t you think? Watch the video up top to see how it works. Excellent armchair knitting.

In the MDK Shop
Jen Arnall-Culliford leads you along with clear instruction—and the patterns are inventive, good fun from today’s most interesting designers.
This Could Come in Handy
Here’s how to save this article in your MDK account with one click.

8 Comments

  • I think I pre-ordered Wendy’s Socks from the Toe Up the day she previewed it on her blog. It’s wonderful and remains a reached-for reference. Looking forward to this Boost Your Knitting episode.

    • I just watched the video. Another outstanding tutorial. Thank you Jen!

  • Very excited for this month’s BYK project! I am a toe-up convert— I love being able to try them on as I knit to make sure it fits— but do like the extra room in the instep in a gusset.

  • Wow, I’m trying to absorb what I just saw in the toe-up sock video…..I’ll have to watch it again, no doubt…..as I get 110% lost listening to a pattern…..I need the written pattern…..I’ll see about hunting it up…..thanks you for your time and efforts, too! (((((((((( Happy New Year! ))))))))))

  • I just was contemplating whether I should try a new heal method on my latest socks… I was tired of short row… just tried this and I love it! Great learning on my last day of holiday break. THANK YOU!

  • Awesome heel method! I will watch the series. The Joan Rivers/Mr Rogers clip is wonderful and emotional. Two amazing people 🙂

  • I’m mainly a cuff-down sock knitter, but I’m trying to expand my horizons & do more toe-ups. I’ve only done short row heels on toe-ups, because I never liked the way the regular heel flap & gusset look when they’re upside down. I really like Wendy’s version & Jen’s video is excellent, just like all of hers are. I’d purchased the Boost series when you first offered it, so I’m off to download the pattern & try this technique.

  • Is it possible to get this intriguing sock pattern without buying the entire book which I’m not interested in?

Come Shop With Us

My Cart0
There are no products in the cart!
Continue shopping