Women’s Knit Socks with a Boomerang Heel (No Wrap & Turn) – Cable and Texture Pattern

Socks with a boomerang heel (short-row heel without wrap and turn) are worked in the round using double-pointed needles (DPNs). The design features textured stitch patterns and cable details, created through a combination of knit and purl stitches.

The boomerang heel (also known as a short-row heel) is worked back and forth without using wrap & turn or double stitches. The upper heel section is shaped by decreasing stitches (k2tog), while the lower section is formed by picking up stitches along the edges to restore the stitch count.

The foot is worked with slipped stitches and textured knit/purl patterns, and the sock is finished with a classic wedge toe.

Materials, Tools, and Knitting Techniques

Finished Sizes

1. Foot circumference: 8¼ (8¼, 8¼)” — 20.5 (21, 21) cm.
2. Foot length (heel to toe): 9¼ (9¾, 10¼)” — 23.5 (25, 26) cm.
3. Fits women’s US shoe sizes: 5–6½ (7–8½, 9–10½); EU sizes: 36–37 (38–39, 40–41).

Yarn and Needles

1. Sock yarn: Lang Yarns Jawoll — 2 balls × 50 g
   Fiber content: 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon (Color 95)
   Contrast yarn for cuff and toe: small amount (Color 168)
2. Double-pointed needles (DPNs): 2 mm (US 0) — for smallest size; 2.25 mm (US 1) — for larger sizes.
3. Cable needle.
4. Tapestry needle.

Gauge

1. 33 sts × 42 rows = 4″ (10 cm) — smallest size.
2. 32 sts × 40 rows = 4″ (10 cm) in stockinette stitch — larger sizes.

Stitch Patterns

• Stockinette stitch
• Ribbing: k3, p1

Pattern 1 (Main Leg Cable Pattern)

(Worked over 42 rows — repeat as instructed)

Row 1: k4, yo, ssk, p1, k23, p1, k2tog, k4

Row 2: k6, p1, k21, p1, k6

Row 3: slip 2 sts to cable needle in front, k2, k2 from cable needle;
k2tog, yo, p1, k5, p1 repeat 4 times, p1, yo, ssk;
slip 2 sts to cable needle in back, k2, k2 from cable needle

Row 4: k7, p1, k3, p1, k1, p1 repeat 3 times, k3, p1, k7

Row 5: k4, yo, ssk, p1, k3, p1, k1 repeat 9 times, k2, p1, k2tog, yo, k4

Row 6: repeat Row 4
Row 7: k4, yo, ssk, p1, k5 repeat 4 times, p1, k2tog, yo, k4
Row 8: k7, p1, k21, p1, k7

Row 9: slip 2 sts to cable needle in front, k2, k2 from cable needle;
k2tog, yo, p1, k1, p21, k1, p1, yo, ssk; slip 2 sts to cable needle in back, k2, k2 from cable needle

Row 10: repeat Row 8
Row 11: repeat Row 1
Row 12: k7, p1, k10, p1, k10, p1, k7

(Continue in the same established pattern up to Row 42.)

Pattern 2 (Lattice Pattern)

Repeat pattern 11 times:

Row 1: p1, k5
Row 2: k1, p1, k3, p1
Row 3: k2, p1, k1, p1, k1
Row 4: k3, p1, k2
Row 5: repeat Row 3
Row 6: k1, p1, k3, p1
Row 7: repeat Row 1
Row 8: repeat Row 2
Row 9: repeat Row 3
Row 10: repeat Row 4

Pattern 3 (Instep Pattern)

Row 1: k10, p2, (k1, p1) × 3, k2, p2, k10

Row 2: k3, p1, k2, p1, k3, p2, k2, (p1, k1) × 3, p2, k3, p1, k2, p1, k3

Row 3: k10, p2, slip 3 sts to cable needle in back, k1, (p1, k1, p1) from cable needle;
slip 1 st to cable needle in front, p1, k1, p1, then k1 from cable needle; p2, k10

Rows 4–8: repeat Rows 2–1/

Knit Socks with a Boomerang Heel (No Wrap & Turn) – Cable and Texture Pattern

Cuff

Cast on 66 sts. Distribute evenly on 4 DPNs: 17 sts on needles I & III, 16 sts on II & IV.

Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches. Work 20 rounds in k3, p1 ribbing.

Next round: knit all stitches, increasing 8 sts evenly = 74 sts total.

Leg

Work Rows 1–41 of Pattern 1 (2 repeats). In Row 42, decrease 8 sts → 66 sts.

Work 1 purl round and 3 knit rounds. Work Rows 1–10 of Pattern 2. Then 3 knit rounds and 1 purl round.

Redistribute stitches: 17 sts on needles I & II, 16 sts on III & IV. Place stitches from needles III & IV on hold.

Socks with a boomerang heel (Short-Row Heel without Wrap & Turn)

Work heel on 34 sts using short rows.

Upper Heel

Divide stitches into 11–12–11 with markers.

Row 1 (RS): knit all, k2tog at end
Row 2 (WS): k1, p to end, k2tog
Row 3 (RS): knit all, k2tog

Repeat Rows 2–3 until only center stitches remain.

Turning Rows

Work 2 rows without decreases:
RS: slip 1, knit across
WS: slip 1, purl across

Lower Heel

Increase stitches from edges:

Row 1 (RS): slip 1, knit to end, pick up 1 stitch, turn
Row 2 (WS): slip 1, purl to end, pick up 1 stitch, turn

Repeat until 34 sts are restored.

Foot

The foot in socks with a boomerang heel is knitted according to pattern 3. Return held stitches to needles (32 sts).

Work:

• instep (top of foot) — Pattern 3
• sole — stockinette stitch

Continue until foot measures: 7¼ (7¾, 8¼)” — 18.5 (19.5, 21) cm

Toe (Classic Wedge Toe)

Round 1: k32, k1, ssk, k28, k2tog, k1

Round 2: k1, ssk, k26, k2tog, k1
Repeat for instep.

Continue decreasing:

• every 4th round once
• every 3rd round twice
• every 2nd round three times
• then every round

until 4 sts remain.

Cut yarn, pull through stitches, and fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in all ends. Block socks using steam or wet blocking. Knit socks with a boomerang heel are ready.

Conclusion

Socks with a boomerang heel, cables, and textured stitches is a great project for intermediate knitters. With clear step-by-step instructions, you can easily create beautifully fitted handmade socks.

Read our materials:

1. Women’s socks with hearts 5 spokes.
2. Men’s socks with 5 needles step-by-step description.
3. Warm Socks from the remnants of yarn.
4. https://vaizaniespicami.ru/category/noski/.