Didn't I just turn a heel?

[Puddinpop]

Hi everyone,
I am knitting my first sock. I am at the heel and the pattern says to knit 20 st on a needle, row 1-sl 1, p19, row 2-sl 1 k19, repeat 2 rows until there are 17 rows. Then it says to Turn Heel, row 1, etc. I hate to ask this, but couldn't understand the search I found; don't I turn the work every time I get to the end and start again using the other needle? What is so different, when you get to Turn Heel?

Also, on my dormant stitches, I have 2 extra stitches on one needle. Can I just knit 2 together when I get to it? Will that work o.k.?

I will appreciate any help.

[Cynamar]

You are making the heel kind of "cup". That's what they call turning it.

[Koehnae]

This video goes through the steps and might help you make more sense of the heel.
http://www.knittinghelp.com/apps/fla...layer/play/4/1

[Puddinpop]

Cyndi, so it has nothing to do with turning your work? Why don't they say turn after every row? Why do they start saying turn after the row on the Turn Heel section and not the first part, (after you divide stitches for the heel)?

[Puddinpop]

Earth Whispers, thanks. I see that you turn before you get to the end of the row, right? I am trying to do this without going to a class. There are none close to me. Thanks so much. This is exciting!

[Cynamar]

You are making the heel turn so it's not really the same as when you turn it around to go back. I guess they're both turning but different. You are doing short rows and then knitting across all of them (sort of) so it makes it turn or cup.

[Puddinpop]

Thanks, Cyndi!

[Denise in Michigan]

I am at the heel and the pattern says to knit 20 st on a needle, row 1-sl 1, p19, row 2-sl 1 k19, repeat 2 rows until there are 17 rows. Then it says to Turn Heel, row 1, etc. ...
Also, on my dormant stitches, I have 2 extra stitches on one needle. Can I just knit 2 together when I get to it? Will that work o.k.?

It sounds like you're working a heel-flap sock from the top down. The first part, where you sl 1 then p or k, you are making a flat flap that covers the back of the heel. The next part actually changes the direction (or turns) the fabric from covering the back of the heel to covering the bottom of the heel. You'll then pick up stitches along the sides of the heel flap to start the gusset.
As for the 2 extra stitches, 1 K2tog changes 2 stitches into one. You need to lose 2 stitches, so you'll need 2 K2togs. If you're doing the top of the foot (the instep) in a stockinette stitch, this should work well and not be noticeable. If you have a pattern stitch on the instep, losing those 2 extra stitches might take a little creative fiddling!