Sometimes you just have to change the needles.....

Short row heels...they give me a lot of trouble.   When I found the no wrap short row heel demonstrated by Charlotte Stone, I was delighted!

On a good day, I can do this in one try.   The last time I did this heel, it was not a good day...or stretch of days.   The yarn for the sock is West Yorkshire Spinners...one of their holiday yarns....and I do love the sparkle.   

The needles I knit the cuff and leg with are an off brand version of flexi-flips.....which I do like using as they seem to be easier to hold than the 9" circulars and less likely to fall out of the stitches than double pointed needles.    

I am not sure why...but I could not get the heel to work well.  Finally, I switched to using two 20" circulars...and success if not perfection.

My thought is that I was worried enough about stitches falling off the needle (sense a theme?) that I did not tension or pay enough attention to what I was doing.   I am hoping the heel on the second sock is...less painful.

Yes...it would be  MUCH easier just to do a heel flap and gusset....but I did not want to.