Strong Heel and Vanilla is the New Black Heel

 In my What I Knit on Vacation post, I said I wanted to compare the heel from Vanilla is the New Black with the Strong heel. I first came across this style of heel in the socks knitted here - I know not a good photo. In that pattern the heel isn't given a name but I now know it as a Strong heel, named after the designer. (Note: I do not know if the heel in the Gansey pattern was developed independently of Ms. Stong's heel.)

The obvious difference between the two heels is that one is in stocking stitch and one is in rib. This texture does make it harder to compare the two socks but I felt that the ribbed heel was wider. It was easy to compare the two patterns. The Gansey Sock pattern has the increases on every third row and increases the stitches by 20; which is about 3/4 of the back stitches. The ribbed heel increases are worked every other row and 32 stitches are added; which is equal to the number of back stitches. I also incorporated this style of heel into a sock I knitted in 2021. That heel was definitely wide and was executed by increasing every other row until 2 stitches less than double.

Looking at these patterns and finished socks, I like the slower increasing as it makes for a longer heel flap which I prefer but I also do not need to add the full amount of stitches. 

I had planned to work this style of heel on all my holiday socks so that I did not have to be picking up stitches at not the best time. In the end I only did it on the first pair. I have been knitting socks for so long that working a heel flap and picking up stitches is not a problem unless the light is poor. But I think I will have to remember to replace a short row heel with this style as I don't like working short row heels and although they fit, I don't think it is the correct fit as that style is a shallow heel.

Did I Buy Yarn

 I have said that I want to work through my stash and I am not desperate to add to it. Also, when travelling there are so many things we want to do or see that adding in a visit to a yarn shop would take away from that. Add in packing light and the delight of visiting a yarn store soon turns into a sight seeing trip.

But I am likely to check out where the yarn stores are located in case they are convenient or they have something completely different. I will probably look into the window of a store as we pass but I am not buying for the sake of buying, unless I know there is something unique to a local yarn store.

This was the case in Lisbon, Portugal. I had done a quick search of yarn stores, and the recommended store was Retrosaria. We had spare time in Lisbon and set out one afternoon as it was about a 30 minute walk from where we were staying. The interesting part of this was walking through a different part of the city that we would not have go to see if we weren't on a shopping trip. 

The shop was busy but not crowded and there were a few North Americans in there. I was immediately drawn to a lovely pink yarn - no surprise that it was Malabrigo. I did not buy it as I can get that in the US and I was interested in the shop's own sock yarn. Shopping for something different. This local store specializes in Portuguese wool and it's line is that softness is overrated. The yarn I purchased is definitely not soft but will be sturdy for socks; it would also be great for outer garments. It was also reasonably priced which was a surprise as they are sourcing locally and ensuring fair pay. An unusual colour for me.