When the heel only becomes worn out in a hand-knitted sock or stocking, it is an easy matter to replace the worn-out portion and the adjacent weak parts.
If possible, let the mending thread be a little finer in texture than that used in the stocking, and when not possible to match the thread in colour use white—in fact, many people prefer white heels and toes in their hosiery.
We are illustrating a grey sock re-heeled with white to show clearly how the work is done. Run a coloured thread through each stitch at the base of the heel in a straight line from side to side. In the same way run another piece of thread through the stitches at the top of the sole where it adjoins the heel “closing” portion, that is from the first to the last stitch on the centre of the heel to where the stitches at each side of the heel were raised.
Now count the number of rows in the heel before the “closing” was begun, and the number of stitches at each side of the back seam after the closing was finished. Take a note of these, as the piece re-knitted must fit exactly.
Cut away the worn part that you wish to replace from the second row inside the marking thread, and the second row from each side where the side stitches were taken up. Pick out the cut threads from each side of the heel until you come to the “raised” stitches, which you may leave for the present as they cannot ravel.
Pick out the cut threads from the rows inside the marking threads in the same way. The marking thread should be through every stitch so that they cannot ravel.
Take up the stitches at the base of the heel and re-knit exactly as it was before and close it in the same way. Tie the thread when the last row in the heel closing is done, cut it and work the end in through the stitches.
Thread a darning needle with a length of the same kind of thread and fasten the thread to the beginning of the heel at the right side. * Run the needle behind the next of the “raised” stitches on the sole at the base of that stitch, bring it back to the heel, and running it inwards through the first stitch where it was brought out bring it out through the next heel stitch and repeat from * up to the stitches on the needle which are connected to those on the thread in the same way, slipping off each stitch when joined. Work down the other side in the same way, fasten off the thread and cut it. Work in the end of the thread through a few stitches. Remove the marking threads. This heel will have no seam.
