Knitting Pattern Help - PLEASE!

[Carhootel]

OK, So i'm trying to knit my first pair of socks for DS for xmas and I'm having a hard time with one part of the pattern - I'm getting so frustrated I want this to work! ARGH!

I'm on the heel and I have 22 stitches on a needle and the rest are set aside for the instep. With the 22 stitches I have these instructions

row 1 - k14, sk, k1, psso, turn
row 2 - p7, p2tog, turn
row 3 - k7, s1, k1, psso, turn
(and then repeat row 2 and 3 5x)

my problem is that these rows don't have instructions for all 22 stitches! the first row is 14 knitting, one slip (knit), one knit, psso... so that's a total of 16 stitches - I have 8 more to do something with! what?! and then the next row only has instructions for 9 stitches. Am I supposed to repeat this pattern until the end? for row 1 do I k14 and then (sk, k1, psso) and repeat the parenthesis section to the end? arrrhghghhghgh frustration!

[JamieCatheryn]

That confused me on my first pair too. Trust the pattern, you knit just over halfway across, turn around and go back, knit a little more than last time (slipping and purling together to get farther and pick up where you didn't get to yet). This is how you accomplish the turned heel. Just trust it, makes since once you get into it.

[Mackenzie]

Yup... You don't work all stitches every row =)

[coyotemist]

Yep, Jamie is right. You are doing "short rows" meaning, not knitting across the whole row before you turn around and go back. If you just keep following the pattern, eventually you'll pick up the other stitches that you haven't knitted for a while, and that will make your heel!

[Mackenzie]

I actually love short rows... it makes the knitting zoom by... lol

[Carhootel]

Ok, still not sure I get it but I'm going to try. I did something else first so I'm going to have to carefully remove some stitches first

Thank You all for your quick replies!

[Mackenzie]

Really, just do what it is saying. Work the first 16sts then turn it. You will have sts on both needles. You will then start working the stitches as you normally would any new row with whatever the pattern says. Don't get hung up on not working them all... You will begin to see what it is doing after a few rows

[Carhootel]

Thanks mommas! I got the heel done!! here it is if you want to see. Now I just have to figure out how the next part goes - picking up stitches along the sides... yikes! I may be back with more questions later - you all are amazing for helping me out - thank you!!!

[Mackenzie]

I love knitting socks... I'm just not good at articulating how to do things without showing...

[mich]

Nice looking heel, good job!