How to pick up stitches and knit socks' gussets

by Courtney

I'm knitting socks for the first time. I successfully joined the round together, and knitted the heel flap. Now I'm about to start the gusset and I'm stuck. The instructions are:

With RS facing and using an empty needle, pick up and k 17(17, 18) sts (1 st in each slipped st) along left edge of heel flap. From this point, this needle will be designated Needle 1.


I know how to pick up stitches (in theory) but the details are escaping me. What's stumping me here is the yarn. It's still attached to the last row of the heel flap, and I can't figure out if I'm supposed to start with a new piece of yarn, or (somehow) continue from where it's attached to the heel flap.

I don't even know if you still run this service, but I would really appreciate your help.

Thanks again,
Courtney

Answer

Hi Courtney,

Socks can be quite tricky. It always gets me confused around the heel as well. I need to have a direction to remind me how to knit them.

I am not knitting socks at the moment but I have found this instruction from Lion Brand on how to begin the gussets. It just the right answer for your question, I think.



You can leave your yarn uncut and start picking up stitches (17 sts or 18 sts, depends on your selected size) along the side of the slipped stitches and continue with the pattern.

I hope this help.

Thank you for your questions.

Ratcha