Women’s lace socks with a replaceable heel are a beautiful and practical knitting project that combines elegant openwork patterns with a comfortable fit and functional construction. The delicate “Peacock Tail” lace creates a graceful textured fabric, while the separately knitted heel makes the socks more durable and easy to repair if needed.
These socks are worked from the cuff down in the round using the Magic Loop technique. Thanks to the detailed instructions and decorative heel shaping, the project will appeal to knitters who enjoy stylish handmade accessories with thoughtful construction and refined details.
Materials, Tools, and Knitting Techniques
Sizes
The pattern is suitable for foot sizes
- 36–37 — US 5.5–6.5 — UK 3.5–4.5;
- 38–39 — US 7.5–8.5 — UK 5.5–6.5;
- 40–41 — US 9.5–10.5 — UK 7.5–8.5 .
Yarn
Hand-dyed sock yarn by Gazzal — 100 g. (330 m / 100 g.).
Fiber content: 75% natural merino wool, 25% polyamide.
Color 3241 — red, blue-green, and yellow shades.
Waste yarn.
Needles and Tools
- 3 mm circular needles with an 80 cm cable
- Large safety pin
- Scissors
- Ruler or measuring tape
- Tapestry needle
- Stitch markers
Gauge
29 sts × 42 rows = 10 × 10 cm.
Stitch Patterns and Techniques
- Stockinette stitch — knit all rounds.
- 1×1 Ribbing — K1, P1.
- Cast-on techniques knitting
- Magic Loop: Knitting Two at a Time.
- Kitchener stitch.
- “Peacock Tail” lace pattern — repeat of 14 sts × 11 rows.
- Centered double decreases with a decorative center stitch.
How to Work a Center Double Decrease (CDD) (also known as “s2kp2”)
Slip two stitches together knitwise to the right needle (Figure 1), knit the next stitch (Figure 2), then insert the left needle from left to right into the two slipped stitches and pass them over the knitted stitch. The result is a symmetrical double decrease (Figure 3).
How to Knit Women’s Lace Socks with a Replaceable Heel
These short women’s lace socks with a replaceable heel are worked in the round using the Magic Loop method. The heel is knitted separately in circular rounds. Heel decreases are shaped with a decorative center stitch.
Cuff
Using 3 mm circular needles, cast on 56 (60, 60) sts.
Work in 1×1 ribbing for 5.5 (6, 6) cm.
Continue as follows:
14 sts of “Peacock Tail” lace pattern, 0 (1, 1) knit st.
Repeat from * to * three more times.
Work 2 vertical repeats of the “Peacock Tail” pattern (18 rows total).
Foot
The beginning of the round is located between the first sole stitch and the last stitch of the instep.
The sole is worked in stockinette stitch, while the top of the foot is worked in the wavy lace pattern.
At the point where the heel will later be placed, knit one round using waste yarn. To do this, take the waste yarn and a 3 mm double-pointed needle. Knit 28 (30, 30) sole stitches with the waste yarn. Do not fasten the yarn; leave tails approximately 10 cm long on both sides.
Then return to the end of the needle where the working yarn is attached and continue knitting the wavy pattern with the main yarn over the waste-yarn stitches. Work the instep stitches according to the “Peacock Tail” chart.
Work the foot as follows for each size:
- 36–37 — sole: 43 rounds in stockinette stitch; instep: 4 repeats of the wavy pattern vertically + rows 1–7 of the pattern.
- 38–39 — sole: 45 rounds in stockinette stitch; instep: 5 vertical repeats of the wavy pattern.
- 40–41 — sole: 48 rounds in stockinette stitch; instep: 5 vertical repeats of the wavy pattern + rows 1–3 of the pattern.
Rounded Ribbon Toe
The toe is worked in stockinette stitch.
Round 1 : K1, K2tog, knit 22 (24, 24), SSK, K1. Repeat from * to * for the upper side of the foot.
Rounds 2–4: Knit 26 (28, 28). Repeat from * to * for the upper side of the foot.
Round 5: K1, K2tog, knit 20 (22, 22), SSK, K1.
Repeat from * to * for the upper side of the foot.
Rounds 6–7: Knit 24 (26, 26). Repeat from * to * for the upper side of the foot.
Round 8: K1, K2tog, knit 18 (20, 20), SSK.
Rounds 9–10: Knit 22 (24, 24). Repeat from * to * for the upper side of the foot.
Round 11: K1, K2tog, knit 16 (18, 18), SSK, K1. Repeat from * to * for the upper side of the foot.
Round 12: Knit 20 (22, 22). Repeat from * to * for the upper side of the foot.
Repeat Rounds 11–12 until 6 stitches remain on each needle.
Join the remaining stitches from the upper and lower needles using Kitchener stitch.
Heel with a Decorative Center Stitch
In lace socks with a replaceable heel remove the waste yarn.
Count half of the sole stitches. Place them onto the working needle and pick up 1 stitch from the strand between the sole and instep. Knit this stitch through the back loop.
Place half of the instep stitches onto the working needle. You should now have 29 (31, 31) knit stitches. Slide the stitches onto the cable.
Place the second half of the instep stitches onto the working needle. Pick up 1 stitch from the strand between the sole and instep and knit it through the back loop. Then place the second half of the sole stitches onto the working needle.
Join the yarn at the beginning of the round and secure it firmly. Knit 3 rounds.
Next, work centered decreases every other round using the decorative center stitch.
The stitches picked up between the upper and lower sections of the foot become the center stitches.
When 7 stitches remain on each needle, rearrange them so the center stitches are positioned at the beginning of the round.
Cut the working yarn, leaving a tail approximately 25 cm long. Thread the tail through a tapestry needle. Insert the needle into the center stitch and secure it firmly.
Then graft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener stitch.
Work the second sock in the same manner.
Conclusion
This article explains how to knit elegant women’s lace socks with a replaceable heel using circular needles. Detailed step-by-step instructions, stitch patterns, and shaping techniques will help you create comfortable, durable, and beautifully textured socks with a decorative lace design.
Such socks make a wonderful handmade accessory or a thoughtful gift, combining practicality, comfort, and timeless knitted elegance.
Read our other articles about knitting socks with a afterthought heel:
- Socks with a Separately Knitted Heel and an Elegant Zigzag Pattern.
- Patchwork-Style Socks with a Propeller Heel Knitted with Needles.
- How to Knit Toe-Up Socks from Self-Striping Yarn with an Additional Cast-On for the Heel.
- Beautiful Striped Knitted Socks with an Afterthought Heel.
- Cozy Men’s Socks with a Peasant Heel in 1 Evening.
