Turning the Heel on 9” Circulars: The Magic Moment in Sock Knitting

If the heel flap is the setup, turning the heel is the plot twist. This is the moment when your sock stops looking like a simple tube and starts becoming an actual, foot-shaped garment. It’s also one of the most fascinating parts of sock construction because a few carefully placed decreases transform a flat piece of knitting into a curved little pocket that perfectly cups your heel.

The best part? I knit socks on 9” circular needles AND I don’t switch needles for the heel turn. Like knitting the heel flap on 9” circulars, when I knit the heel turn, I simply knit flat back and forth instead of in the round.