Knit Toe-Up Boomerang Heel
The boomerang heel is always knitted the same way - whether from the top or the bottom. Others, like the cap heel, need a little adjustment.
We explain step by step how to knit the boomerang heel - with addiCraSyTrio, needle play or sock wonder.
Characteristics of the boomerang heel:
Foot instep height: ♥♡♡♡♡
Wide heel: ♥♥♡♡♡
Yarn consumption: Low
Technique: ↑ Toe-Up und ↓ Top-Down
Customizability: Difficult due to shortened rows of existing stitches. Alternatives for a higher instep are shadow wrap heel, round boomerang heel or round hybrid heel.
Usage: For color-contrasting heels with color gap in the round and for Fair Isle socks
Knit Toe-Up Boomerang Heel
The boomerang heel is always knitted the same way, whether toe-up or top-down. It is worked in 3 parts.
-
addiCraSyTrio - The stitches of a needle
-
Double-pointed needles - The stitches from two needles. With needle play it is best to knit the stitches for the heel on one needle. This makes it easier to handle.
- Sockwonder - For toe-up socks on the sock wonder, the boomerang heel is best, as you don't need another auxiliary needle. Place a stitch marker on half of your stitches. The other half of the stitches can rest.
The boomerang heel can also be knitted from the cuff to the toe in top-down socks. The instructions for this can be found here:
Knit Toe-Up Boomerang Heel
The boomerang heel is always knitted the same way, whether toe-up or top-down. It is worked in 3 parts.
-
addiCraSyTrio - The stitches of a needle
-
Double-pointed needles - The stitches from two needles. With needle play it is best to knit the stitches for the heel on one needle. This makes it easier to handle.
- Sockwonder - For toe-up socks on the sock wonder, the boomerang heel is best, as you don't need another auxiliary needle. Place a stitch marker on half of your stitches. The other half of the stitches can rest.
The boomerang heel can also be knitted from the cuff to the toe in top-down socks. The instructions for this can be found here:
Sock Chart - Knit Toe-Up Boomerang Heel
Sock chart Toe-Up 4-ply:
- Sock wool 4‐ply (420m, 100g) (384 yd, 3.5 oz)
- Gauge: 30 stitches/ 42 rows = 4″x4″ (10×10 cm)
Size | 22/23 | 24/25 | 26/27 | 28/29 | 30/31 | 32/33 | 34/35 | 36/37 | 38/39 | 40/41 | 42/43 | 44/45 | 46/47 | 48/49 |
Stitches total | 40 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 56 | 60 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 |
Sts per needle addiCraSyTrio | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 |
Sts per needle dpn | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
Sts for heel | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 |
Heels: |
||||||||||||||
Three-way split Classic Heel + Boomerang Heel |
7/6/7 | 7/8/7 | 8/8/8 | 8/8/8 | 9/8/9 | 9/8/9 | 9/10/9 | 9/10/9 | 10/10/10 | 10/10/10 | 11/10/11 | 11/12/11 | 12/12/12 | 12/14/12 |
Length toe to beginning of heel (cm) Boomerang Heel |
11 | 12 | 13,5 | 14,5 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20,5 | 21 | 22,5 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Total foot length (cm) | 14,5 | 16 | 17,5 | 18,5 | 20 | 21,5 | 22,5 | 24 | 25,5 | 26,5 | 28 | 29,5 | 30,5 | 31 |
Sock chart Toe-Up 6-ply:
- Sock wool 6‐ply (380m, 150g) (347 yd, 5.3 oz)
- Gauge: 22 stitches/ 30 rows = 4″x4″ (10×10 cm)
Size | 22/23 | 24/25 | 26/27 | 28/29 | 30/31 | 32/33 | 34/35 | 36/37 | 38/39 | 40/41 | 42/43 | 44/45 | 46/47 | 48/49 |
Stitches total | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 56 | 56 | 60 |
Sts per needle addiCraSyTrio | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 |
Sts per needle dpn | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Sts for heel | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 36 | 38 |
Heels: | ||||||||||||||
Three-way split Classic Heel + Boomerang Heel | 5/6/5 | 6/6/6 | 6/6/6 | 6/8/6 | 6/8/6 | 7/8/7 | 7/8/7 | 8/8/8 | 8/8/8 | 8/10/8 | 8/10/8 | 9/10/9 | 9/10/9 | 10/10/10 |
Length toe to beginning of heel (cm) Boomerang Heel | 11 | 12 | 13,5 | 14,5 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20,5 | 21 | 22,5 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Total foot length (cm/inch)) | 14,5 | 16 | 17,5 | 18,5 | 20 | 21,5 | 22,5 | 24 | 25,5 | 26,5 | 28 | 29,5 | 30,5 | 31 |
Sock chart Toe-Up 8-ply:
- Sock wool 8‐ply (300m, 150g) (274 yd, 5.3 oz)
- Gauge: 20 stitches/ 28 rows = 4″x4″ (10×10 cm)
Size | 22/23 | 24/25 | 26/27 | 28/29 | 30/31 | 32/33 | 34/35 | 36/37 | 38/39 | 40/41 | 42/43 | 44/45 | 46/47 | 48/49 |
Stitches total | 28 | 32 | 32 | 36 | 36 | 40 | 40 | 44 | 44 | 48 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 56 |
Sts per needle addiCraSyTrio | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 |
Sts per needle dpn | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
Sts for heel | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 |
Heels: | ||||||||||||||
Three-way split Classic Heel + Boomerang Heel |
4/6/4 | 5/6/5 | 5/6/5 | 6/6/6 | 6/6/6 | 6/8/6 | 6/8/6 | 7/8/7 | 7/8/7 | 8/8/8 | 8/8/8 | 8/10/8 | 8/10/8 | 9/10/9 |
Length toe to beginning of heel (cm) Boomerang Heel | 11 | 12 | 13,5 | 14,5 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20,5 | 21 | 22,5 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
Total foot length (cm) |
14,5 | 16 | 17,5 | 18,5 | 20 | 21,5 | 22,5 | 24 | 25,5 | 26,5 | 28 | 29,5 | 30,5 | 31 |
Toe-Up Boomerang Heel - the beginning
Work part 1 in plain right and in rows. Divide your number of heel stitches by 3 (see table).
The right and left thirds of your stitches are now worked piece by piece into reversal stitches and the middle piece remains plain right. Here you knit with shortened rows.
- 1st row: re to the end of your needle(s).
-
2nd row: turn the work and place the thread to the front and pull it firmly to the back so that the 1st stitch becomes a double stitch. This double stitch is now lifted and the rest of the stitches are knitted purl.
-
3rd row: Turn work and place thread to the front, pull firmly to the back to form another double stitch, which is now lifted off. Re to BEFORE the last double stitch.
-
4th row: Turn the work over and place the thread to the front and pull it firmly to the back so that a double stitch is formed. This double stitch is now slipped. Purl until the the last double stitch.
Toe-Up Boomerang Heel - the beginning
Work part 1 in plain right and in rows. Divide your number of heel stitches by 3 (see table).
The right and left thirds of your stitches are now worked piece by piece into reversal stitches and the middle piece remains plain right. Here you knit with shortened rows.
- 1st row: re to the end of your needle(s).
-
2nd row: turn the work and place the thread to the front and pull it firmly to the back so that the 1st stitch becomes a double stitch. This double stitch is now lifted and the rest of the stitches are knitted purl.
-
3rd row: Turn work and place thread to the front, pull firmly to the back to form another double stitch, which is now lifted off. Re to BEFORE the last double stitch.
-
4th row: Turn the work over and place the thread to the front and pull it firmly to the back so that a double stitch is formed. This double stitch is now slipped. Purl until the the last double stitch.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 1/3 of the stitches on the right and left have been worked into double stitches, leaving a smooth right middle section. The rows become shorter and shorter and you have now formed a trapezoid that is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 1/3 of the stitches on the right and left have been worked into double stitches, leaving a smooth right middle section. The rows become shorter and shorter and you have now formed a trapezoid that is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top.
Toe-Up Boomerang Heel - the Middle Part
Now work off all the double stitches by knitting off each double stitch as a right stitch. The number of stitches does not change.
-
Then continue knitting the stitches of the second needle in a pattern or stockinette, if the foot part is also to be patterned.
-
Now also work off the double stitches on the right heel half by knitting them off to the right. Knit another 2 rounds over all stitches.
Toe-Up Boomerang Heel - the Middle Part
Now work off all the double stitches by knitting off each double stitch as a right stitch. The number of stitches does not change.
-
Then continue knitting the stitches of the second needle in a pattern or stockinette, if the foot part is also to be patterned.
-
Now also work off the double stitches on the right heel half by knitting them off to the right. Knit another 2 rounds over all stitches.
Toe-Up Boomerang Heel - Final Part
Now you have to work a trapezoid again, but this time it is the mirror image of part 1. For this, work again in plain right in rows over the heel stitches only.
- Row 1: Knit the stitches of the right heel half and the stitches of the centre part. Knit one stitch.
- Round 2: Turn the work over and place the thread to the front and pull it firmly to the back so that a double stitch is formed. Now slipp this double stitch and knit the stitches of the middle part of the heel. Purl one.
- Round 3: Turn the work and place the thread to the front, pull it firmly to the back to form a double stitch again, which is now slipped. Knit stitches up to the double stitch, knit the double stitch. Knit one.
- Row 4: Turn the work over and place the thread to the front and pull it firmly to the back so that a double stitch is formed. This double stitch is now slippe. Then purl stitches up to the double stitch. The double stitch is purled. Purl one.
Toe-Up Boomerang Heel - Final Part
Now you have to work a trapezoid again, but this time it is the mirror image of part 1. For this, work again in plain right in rows over the heel stitches only.
- Row 1: Knit the stitches of the right heel half and the stitches of the centre part. Knit one stitch.
- Round 2: Turn the work over and place the thread to the front and pull it firmly to the back so that a double stitch is formed. Now slipp this double stitch and knit the stitches of the middle part of the heel. Purl one.
- Round 3: Turn the work and place the thread to the front, pull it firmly to the back to form a double stitch again, which is now slipped. Knit stitches up to the double stitch, knit the double stitch. Knit one.
- Row 4: Turn the work over and place the thread to the front and pull it firmly to the back so that a double stitch is formed. This double stitch is now slippe. Then purl stitches up to the double stitch. The double stitch is purled. Purl one.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until there is a double stitch on the right and left. The rows become longer and longer and you have now formed a trapezoid that is narrow at the bottom and wide at the top.
In the last outward row you no longer turn, but knit directly in rounds, by knitting the last double stitch and now working over the stitches on needle 2. At the beginning of needle 1 the double stitch is now also knitted.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 until there is a double stitch on the right and left. The rows become longer and longer and you have now formed a trapezoid that is narrow at the bottom and wide at the top.
In the last outward row you no longer turn, but knit directly in rounds, by knitting the last double stitch and now working over the stitches on needle 2. At the beginning of needle 1 the double stitch is now also knitted.
Instruction Video - Knit Toe-Up Boomerang Heel
Knitting a Toe-Up Boomerang Heel - CraSy Sylvie shows how it's done - in the video she shows step by step how to knit a boomerang heel.