Standard heel for Octopus’ Garden:

The heel is worked back and forth along the next 27 [31, 36, 38] stitches and using a new needle.  The remaining stitches will be held while you work the heel. (Slip the extra 2 [0, 2, 0] sole stitches onto instep needle.  This will balance the pattern on the instep.)

Flap:

Row 1 (right side): slip 1 stitch, knit to end.
Row 2: slip 1 stitch, purl to end.
Repeat rows 1 and 2.

Repeat these 2 rows 16, [16, 17, 17] more times.

27 [31, 36, 38] stitches

Turn Heel:

Row 1 [RS]: K15, [17, 19, 21] ssk, k1, turn work.                                                                                                 Row 2 [WS]: Sl1, p3, [5, 7, 8] p2tog, p1, turn work.

Repeat these two rows until all stitches have been worked.

Gusset:

16, [18, 20, 22] stitches remain.

You are now ready to pick up stitches to form the gusset.   Pick up and knit 16, [17, 18, 19] stitches.

Resume chart pattern where you left off over instep needle(s).

Using a new needle, pick up and knit 16, [17, 18, 19] stitches, then divide heel stitches so you have an equal number on each of the needles with gusset stitches.

Rnd 1: K to last 3 stitches of needle, k2tog, k1; work next round of chart pattern instep, k1, ssk, K to end of needle.

Rnd 2: K to end of needle, work next round of chart pattern over instep, K to end of needle.

Repeat Rounds 3 and 4 until you have decreased down to the original cast on number.

Henry’s Sweater is featured along with some other great kid’s knits  in today’s blog post on Spud Says.  Go check it out!

Hopefully by this time tomorrow, I’ll have something very exciting to share with you. Here’s a preview: