Eureka!

The pattern has you turn the heels by shortrowing. This is the same technique that Priscilla Gibson-Roberts talked about in "Simple Socks: Plain and Fancy". And also in Interweave Knits, Fall 2000 issue, I think. Now, I've got a sock that has been paused at this point for the past 3 years because I couldn't figure out the instructions, which were very wordy. Even the illustrations in the book didn't help much. I prefer real photos (which is the only real annoyance I have about her books coming out from Nomadic Press - all the illustrations are line drawings and I have kept the old Sweaters the Old Way edition rather than buying the new edition because of this fact).

The instructions from the Here be Dragons pattern is so clear and simple to follow. Short, sweet, and to the point. It also helps that Purlwise had a series of pictures illustrating each steps. Now, it'd be great if someone could produce a quick vid of the process. After turning heel, it was just fast race to the end. And I immediately started second sock.

Today I went to Borders to see if the new issues of VK and Interweave Knits were in - nope. So over to Barnes & Nobles - paydirt! VK finally has patterns that are sane and which I wouldn't mind wearing. I'm simply fascinated by the sock patterns. I like the pattern that Meg Swansen's written up . . . but what I really want is the pattern of the brown socks that she wore in high school. Luckily, I recognize the patterns used, so I can figure something out. And also shorten the length - I don't go for knee-his (unless I'm living close to the Arctic Circle).