Sock It To Me!

Several months ago I purchased Crochet Socks! 16 Fun-To_stitch Patterns from Amazon. I really like this book, the instructions are easy to follow, the pictures are good, and the patterns are cool (ie I would actually wear them). My only complaint is that I can't figure out which directions I should follow for the size I need. I wish that part was a little more clear. Each pattern gives the dimensions for the finished sock, but not which dimensions fit a particular size foot. Does that make sense? Here's an example, you know how in patterns they are sometimes written something like this: sc in each of next 5 (5, 6, 6) sc. I understand that for the particular size I need, I would need to follow one of those four numbers. However, my problem with this book is that I'm having trouble figuring out which number to go with. I realize that the sizes get bigger as you read from left to right. This wouldn't be a problem for me if like, I said before, the dimensions of the finished product weren't presented at the beginning of the pattern like this: Cir of leg (unstretched) 7 1/4 (8, 8 1/2, 9)". How do I know which size would fit my big ol' foot correctly? I'd rather have the finished dimensions along with something like this: Women's shoe size 5 (6, 7, 8, 9. etc) Men's shoe size..... you get the idea. That would be much easier on my poor brain. I'm sure that if I go back and read the beginning of the book again the answer will pop out at me and scream "you moron!!" I just don't have the gusto at the moment to do that. I started several socks from this book but have had to frog everything for various reasons. My latest trouble has come from a pattern requiring slip stitches around the body of the sock, but then it says to switch to a bigger hook and I just can't get the bigger hook into the smaller hooks stitches without a lot of finessing. So my easy, relaxing little project has turned into something a little less so. I wanted something fairly mindless and easy before I dive into the Christmas gift afghans I've been planning. Maybe I'm thinking too much any way.

What a glorious mail day for me!! Not only were there ZERO bills in my mailbox, but there was a RAOK and some yarn!!! First off, the RAOK!! The sweetest little bunny rabbit hopped his way into my box all the way from Illinois!! No, not a real live one but a real live origami bunny. Thank you so much Maryellen, he is living happily beside my peace crane courtesy of Julia.

Holy crap I think we just had an earthquake!! I'll finish this post later.....