The heel of Natalia Vasilieva’s Smokey ZickZacks (page 140 of New Directions in Sock Knitting) is “completed” by removing the waste yarn from the provisional cast-on in the heel. This is quick and easy!
Begin by pulling the knotted tail of the waste yarn through the “V”. This is shown in the photo on the top left, where the yarn is being pulled to the left. There will now be an open crochet loop, as shown in the photo on the top right.
Pull the free strand to the side that has the purl bumps of waste yarn, then pull on it to “unzip” the chain.
Ta-da! You have something that doesn’t look anything like a heel!