Last week we were talking about ways to avoid the hole that often forms at the top of the heel. When I was working on my second Six-Pack Sock, I took a few ictures of how I deal with this annoying problem.
In this photo, I’ve turned the heel and I’m ready to resume working in the round:
(Remember, as always, you can click on the photos to see larger versions.)
As you can see theres a bit of a gap between the top of the heel and the instep stitches. So I pick up a stitch:
I pick it up from the center of a stitch so it looks more natural. I knit the stitch.
Then I continue and knit across the instep stitches. Then I pick up one stitch at the other side of the heel. On the next round, I knit each picked up stitch together with the heel stitch next to it.
In the comments, a few of you mentioned that Charlene Schurch recommends picking up 2 stitches on each side. I used to do that, but I’ve found that once I got adept at it, I only need to pick up one stitch and that closes the gap nicely.
Thanks for all your lovely comments about the Six-Pack Socks. I’ll be sure to let you know when the pattern is available.
I’m working on another sock, but I’ll talk about that tomorrow. 
Un-Official Start of Summer Giveaway!
Here in the United States, Memorial Day (which is today) is the un-official start of summer. In celebration of summer, I’m giving this away:
A brand-new still-in-the-box 1GB iPod Shuffle. This iPod was donated by my mom. She won it in a raffle, and offered it to me for a blog giveaway. Thanks, Mom! 
To be entered in the iPod contest:
1. Write a summer-themed Haiku. A Haiku is three short lines. The first line usually contains five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line contains five (5) syllables. For example:
Summer-time is here
heat and humidity now
turn the a/c on.
Yeah, T.S. Eliot I ain’t. But I wrote that on the spur of the moment, so do cut me some slack.
Okay, write a summer-themed Haiku and leave it in the comments for this post. If it is not summer where you are, you can still enter — it may be the start of winter for you, but you can still write a summer Haiku, right?
2. One Haiku per person, please.
3. Leave your Haiku comment by midnight Eastern time, Thursday, May 29, 2008. The WendyKnits panel of judges will select several finalists. These finalists will be published on Sunday June 1 for everyone to vote on, and the winner will be selected by popular vote.
Okay? Don’t worry if your comment doesn’t show up right away. My spam filter does not appreciate fine poetry, so your entry might be ensnared in its net. Not to worry, I’ll go in and release comments from time to time.
Lucy is clearly trying to come up with a good entry.
I’ll have to break it to her gently that she is ineligible to enter.
o. m. g. I’m melting
and gas is so expensive
margarita, please
susans last blog post..whooo whooo
Interweave Knits comes
Ravelry queue gets longer
What?! No cotton stashed?
KnittinDoulas last blog post..My Secret of knitting
streetlights popping on
games come screeching to a halt
run on home to bed
What’s that in the air?
Friends, fun, knitting, sharing much
How’s summer diff’rent?
Sorry, I just counted the syllables, and the last one wasn’t a haiku. At least not in the strict sense.
So here now the corrected version (is that possible? I can’t count to 11 – how can I knit? argh.):
High skies and knitting
make wonderful summer nights
for spinning fine yarns.
Chris
Wool and wood combine
into my very first shawl
right in time for heat
Mousewritess last blog post..Iron Man (2008) – Memorable quotes
hummingbirds at dawn
sunlight late into the night
gimlets on the deck
Here’s kind of a Confusian Haiku (or is that Confucian? Confuscian??I’m confused :^)
The wise knitter knows
that a summer full of socks
makes winter warmer.
And now just as a bonus one in German (sorry, untranslatable, as a lot of poetry):
In der Kürze liegt
die Würze – Sommer, Sonne,
Sonnenschein und Strickzeug – ahhh.
Thanks again, Wendy, and Wendy’s Mom to make this possible. I enjoy reading all participant’s entries!
Chris
Chris 8-)s last blog post..Haiku
summer socks without
holes at the top of the heel?
my dream has come true!
Wool is hot right now
Knitting will always happen
Cotton yarn not hot
yarnsnobs last blog post..Post 149-Land Legs
Summer comes gently
Heat presses down, hot overload
Moisture all seeps out
Great contest idea! Here’s mine:
Singing, soaring, flirt
Tangled endless hours; laughter
Sunshine of the mind
Sweat drips in my eyes
Paint old shutters new colors
Family project
Mindis last blog post..Origami Sweater Part Two
It is June now, cat
Why lay in the hot sunshine?
Must be solar power.
Camilles last blog post..Prodigal Blogger..
Spring left in March, the
heat grows wearisome. Oh, how
Florida swelters.
Sailboats on the lake
riding gently on the breeze
lazy days in Maine
Janes last blog post..The Grands!
Yarn slips through fingers
Cicada song, dappled shade:
Knitting in summer
Almas last blog post..It’s Not My Fault 101
Good bye summer dear,
With winter gone, I’m cold now
Come back real soon, please!
Sallys last blog post..Proper post
Lush greens and sunshine
No more crying of cold tears
Summer warms soul’s heart
Karen Ss last blog post..Of moths and knitting…
Time to sit and knit
Pool lake beach or front porch swing
Summer knits start now
jane pollards last blog post..TWO FOs SETTLED
Blooming summer long
the sneezing always happens
hankies are my friends
Hamburgers sizzling
Refreshing lemonade drinks
It’s barbecue time
Haha, clearly 219 haikus is not enough, so I’m leaving you another one.
Cool summer evening
Gentle breeze on the back porch
Ow! damn mosquitoes…
CarolineFs last blog post..It isn’t yarn anymore
Warmer days are here…
Time to put away the wool.
Cotton knits are in!
Cheryls last blog post..Happy surprises!
Too damn hot for wool!
Sweater projects cast aside
Lace knitting for me
Katschems last blog post..Confirmed
How I love summer
Sunshine, flowers, rain showers
What could be better
Heat. Humidity.
Still I knit with woolen yarn.
Winter will return.
Sarah Rs last blog post..Oh, So Fine!
Hmm…haiku, huh?
Summer in Florida
Too damn warm to knit sweater
Yeah, right, where’s my sticks?!
Melanie J.s last blog post..Learning
Once I starting writing the haiku, I couldn’t stop. It was tough to pick just one but here it is:
July’s heat rolls in
and humidity grows high –
Summer knitting gets smaller
Beckys last blog post..Lazy day… mostly
Sun, socks, school is out
Sunshine, poolside, warm days here
Summer fun, cast on
treks last blog post..Box Topapalooza: Week 4 Update
The sun is shining
It’s time to go to the beach
Don’t forget the drinks!
Micheles last blog post..Long Weekend
Hot cicadas screech.
Peaches ripen by the pool.
My white wine is cold.
Summer heat not fun,
but time at the beach? I want-
with marshmallow fires.
lazy, humid days
lemon iced tea in the shade
knitting wool on hold
Favorite season
Time for cotton and bamboo
Patio knitting
Sweet scents of summer
turn my thoughts to canning jam,
tomatoes, and fruit.
Summer days are long
Fine for knitting in hammocks
Too bad socks are hot
Muriels last blog post..Spinning Under the Willow
Summer of socks is
about to begin! Swatch, swatch…
We need to prepare.
Cathys last blog post..Magic Loop
Too sticky to knit
Time to listen to podcasts
On my new Ipod
Here is my haiku:
Summer knitting time
Knit up lots of cotton yarn
Sip some tea, Relax!
laughing children play
in corn as high as your nose.
night sky; fireworks!
moos last blog post..photo challenge, entrance & penultimate
Tucson was too hot
Now in CO I can knit
wool ev’ry day – Splee!
What fun!
5elementknitrs last blog post..Six Things
Summer’s sun and surf
spoilt. Cracks, hairshirts and Speedos
blind me. Oh, my eyes!
Oh, how I loves the haiku.
I think Wendy’s comments have me confused with another Anne. I think I have maybe 3 comments. I’m sorry if I’ve stolen your identity, Frequent Commenter Anne!
Gentle Breezes Blow
Knitting Under A Shade Tree
Such A Pleaseure For Me
Socks I knit
Seem not to fit
when summer temps hit
Starting a blanket.
Summer is finally here.
Dying under wool . . . .
Anne Ks last blog post..Where does time go?
Hello Wendy; thanks for the fun (I was awake thinking about this half the night!)
Long days of Summer
More time to knit socks and mice;
Cats wait patiently.
I don’t know how you’re going to be able to choose; I read so many wonderful Haikus already posted! Good Luck!
Creativehandss last blog post..A little bit of everything
My ode to summer in Haiku (didn’t we learn these in like 2nd grade?)
Gotta have cool tunes
For yardwork, sock knits and pool
Rock it summer style
Okay, here’s my entry:
Three short months we knit
With cotton and silk, or we’d melt;
Wool is too darned hot!
Now I can go read everyone else’s!!
CraftyGryphons last blog post..Tiny Circular Needles = Fun!!
On the beach in June
My iPod Shuffle and me
Knitting by the sea.
The temp is rising
the sun is shining brightly
love this time of year
Winter is now gone
Days of sipping in the shade
How I have missed them
Hi Wendy!
Shawl draped bare shoulders
Flowers petals dance in the sun
On the garden path
Happy Summertime!
margenes last blog post..Spring Cleaning Jag
Well, here goes…..
Do I knit or plant
The decision is futile
I will have some wine
I think it’s been since junior high since I’ve had to do this. It was fun!
I’m curious as to what Lucy has come up with
fine wool, thin needles
my queue grows longer each day
summer of socks, joy
caths last blog post..Bellatrix progress
I love haiku
Blue skies, perfumed air,
Sparkling water, sun-warmed hair,
Summertime is here
Kathys last blog post..That which does not kill us
Summertime knitting…
Wool sweater? I don’t think so!
Lace or socks for me.
Natalies last blog post..Bevel, part 1
Turn the page to June
Swimsuits and sun come to play
Worries melt away
Job transfer, must eat
Summer in Mississippi
Can I live on love?
It’s time to knit with
Cotton – smooth, cool. Another
excuse for more socks.
A great idea for a contest. What fun. Helene
I hope this isn’t too lame!
The air is heavy.
I really do hate to sweat!
No more wool for me.
I love reading your blog and seeing your creative juices at work. I don’t usually comment, but I thought the haiku idea was interesting.
Great contest Wendy. Here goes:
Scented garden’s swing
Placed for knitting in sunshine
Sweet warmth on our backs
Alaskan summer
Abundant light day and night
Perfect for knitting
long, breezy days flow
like bamboo yarn over my
hands… good skirt weather
Rachels last blog post..FO: Hild is done!
That’s a brilliant idea. I will have to use it. Thanks for the tip!
Juanitas last blog post..Teeth, Indy and a little knitting…
Florida summers
last from May to October,
high electric bills.
old boardwalk pier creaks
while cold water splashes on
hushed children’s laughter
Sweet ice cream to eat,
And cool lemonade to drink,
Summer treats are here!
Fire under noon sky
Old Woman waits for cool moon
Weaving her long days to night
sunny days ahead
winter blues are gone at last
time to live again
Kathy in Hollywoods last blog post..Getting Fresh
Green leaves dance on air
Tossed on breezes warm and soft
Summer takes a bow
Kims last blog post..Sock Knitting Continues…
Sun-warmed cat plays outside,
then darts into my closet, pleased.
What is in my shoe?!
long days of sunshine
temperatures going up
the swelter arrives
Marshas last blog post..Another birthday
Hot panting dog and
cats flat on the kitchen floor.
Too hot to clean, though.
Dead lawn, wilting blooms
Summer sun too much for us
Give me November
Cotton linen kiss
Sleeveless slip stitch lace cami…
Summer knitting bliss.
All the rain we’ve had must have addled my brain. Finally, a beautiful weekend. I’m an idiot with pictures to prove it.
SUN!! Outside to spin
Lovely lime green merino
Pass the damn aloe!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/petunia509/sets/72157605281245492/
Petunias last blog post..Memorial Day in the USA
The colorway of summer
Iris purple days
spiked with arborvitae green,
mown grass, lemonade.
courtneys last blog post..Knitting infidelity. . .
Texas surveyor spouse
dreads summer. I knit cotton
and wait for autumn.
PS: my first comment a couple of days ago was numbered my 82nd!
In the summer wind—-
Listening to my new IPOD
Won from Wendy’s Knits.
Thanks, Wendy!
OK – here goes. Don’t laugh. ;0)
The summer sun shines
Down on me and my knitting
Sun and yarn = bliss
Lindas last blog post..FOs and more pet pics ;0)
A bicycle ride
Quiet country roads, alone
Sweet smell of deep woods
waiting for summer
waiting for summer
working cotton and linen
dishcloths, anyone?
Yeah, it sucks but it’s the best I can do under pressure.
I’m awful at this stuff, but..
Don’t like the Summer
The sun makes me hid in fear
Wrinkles: my worst enemy.
Shaded sun for me.
Wools can balance on my knee.
Knitting time, I’m free!
Overcast, Breezy
Shoulders Itchy and Sunburned.
Aloe relief – Ahhhhhh!
aspen tree catkins
raspberry canes leafing out
not summer yet
Cold, Dreary,Wet, grey
not really summerlike yet
perfect for knitting
Summer, already?
Turn on the A/C, stay in,
and keep knitting socks!
Denises last blog post..I went, I flung, I’m looped
Summer: Nice long days
Still sitting inside at work
but gazing outside
summer days, i fear,
are coming ever nearer;
no more wool, my friends.
today is so hot!
but yesterday, i froze. that’s
summer in SoCal!
Thanks for the contest, Wendy. Check out my new blog at
Lady Ps last blog post..Today’s adventure – Thievery!
Knitting poolside, hot,
Sticky fuzzy tangled wool,
Sweater’s done by Fall!
The knit bikini
So carefully constructed
Just don’t swim in it…
I hope this doesn’t post twice!
Leaves blow in the wind,
the bright summer sun shines down,
over fields of green.
Here’s a middle school teachers lament:
Last bell please do ring
Kids making me crazy again
Will June never end?
Mosquitos buzzing,
Picnics at the park, ice cream,
Fireworks at sunset