How to Knit the Heel Stitch

As the name suggests, the heel stitch is a great knit stitch for working the heels of socks. It's similar to stockinette stitch; however, there are a slip stitches in this particular stitch that add some extra thickness and durability to the fabric. The piece of fabric you'll have in the end will be great for spots on your knitted garments that need to take a lot of wear and tear.

Check out our video for how to knit the close stitch for a garter stitch version of this essential beginner stitch. The right side rows of these two stitches are really what make them great for heels and elbows. Every other stitch in the right side rows is slipped, which essentially "pulls" the stitch up from a row that's lower down, reinforcing this part of the fabric. While this stitch does have slightly less stretch than regular stockinette, it will still stretch enough to be useful in socks and sleeves.