This is the third pair of socks I have made since January. I don’t know what is about socks, but if I start with one pair I end up making 10 pairs. I think I need to learn how to magic loop two socks at once. Why is this? Well look at the picture real carefully and you let me know…
Did you spot it? The aqua color is most certainly NOT even at the toes. Whoops! That is what I get for not counting rows properly. I could frog one back, but I am kind of too lazy to do it right now.
I knitted these from the Basic Sock pattern from Learn to Knit Socks by Edie Eckman. The yarn is Cascade Heritage Sock Yarn in Deep Plum and the aqua is an alpaca blend that was in my stash (sorry no yarn info). The pattern is a cuff down pattern with a heel flap construction. I haven’t used this pattern in awhile, and I remembered why. 1) I always cast on too tight and then have to jam my foot in the sock cuff and 2) I hate picking up the stitches around the heel flap. I defiantly going to shelf this pattern and look for some more complex socks to make in the future.
What is your favorite sock pattern to make?
knitsbywhit 
I really like http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanilla-latte-socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes – I use this as a starting point for many socks, changing the stitch pattern for fun. I also really enjoyed making http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/reverso by Mary the Hobbit – these are more complicated, but in a good way.
I really like both of those. Thanks for the suggestions!
My personal favorite is Hermione’s Everyday Socks: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hermiones-everyday-socks by Erica Lueder.
I have made several pairs and am working on a pair right now. It’s a very easy pattern to follow and it works well with both variegated and single color yarn. I’m with you on the frogging. I always move on and learn from my mistakes. No one is grading my work (except me perhaps)!!!
I just added those to my Ravelry queue! Thanks for the suggestion
About the tight cast-on: if you are using a long tail cast-on put your finger in between the stitches as you cast them on, to space them a bit more apart. Holding the tail yarn double also helps.
Thanks for the tips!