Finished! Monster socks & Sockapalooza Questionare

Notes:
*I have no clue what yarn this was. I received it in a swap without a ball band.
*I knit them using the toe-up method because I wanted to use the whole ball.
*I knitted them on size 1 Susan Bates DPNs.
*They were 66 stitches around until I hit the ribbing where I went up to 72 stitches and then halfway up increased another 4 stitches.
*The socks come up to just under my knee but they do not stay up. Elastic is considered or just to wear them slack around my ankles like all the cool japanese kids do.
*Oh yes, and they took about a month or so to casually knit up whenever I felt like doing straight stockinette whilst studying or watching the telly or something.



When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?
I started socks while I lived in Utah (so about two years ago). I taught myself though really it was just carefully following a pattern. I had to learn THAT after checking out all sorts of sock-knitting books over in Borders and pouring over Google. Y'know, sometimes mental blocks are really quite funny.

What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?
My first 'pair', if you can call them that, was made from one skein of KnitPicks Garden colors in Zinnia. I made one cuff down and with the remainder, squeezed out a toe-up. The toe-up fits so much more snugly but I have not worn them since I tried them on. They're just an experimental set.

What would you have done differently?
I wouldn't have wasted all that time fussing over how to turn a heel. All patterns give pretty decent instructions about such things. Of course, sometimes I just need an excuse to visit Borders.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?
So far, I'm in most love with Moutain Colors Bearfoot. So soft! However, the skeins I owned turned into a scarf. And a lovely thing it is, too. I've yet to make actual socks out of the stuff.

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?
I use DPNs. They do not frighten me and they impress everyone else. I have never tried two circulars or the Magic Loop method but that's due to the fact that I find those methods to seem awfully fiddly to me.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)
Short row heels are more snug to me and actually hug the heel and make them stay on better in my opinion.

How many pairs have you made?
Not enough, I still have sock yarn left!