I finished this WIP on a trip to Virginia Tech this past week. While sitting in the car as hubby was driving to a conference and while relaxing in the hotel room between activities, I knit. I had both socks on the needles at the same time so I could knit on them alternately and be sure they came out the same.
They begin at the top with a loose cast-on and half-brioche stitch. It's a very stretchy rib, great for 80s style "slouch socks." The stretchiness means they can accommodate the heel without shaping, so here's to tube socks. Vacation knitting should not require dividing for the heels and counting increases and decreases.
After the ankle and heel, I switched to plain stockinette stitch because my first brioche tube socks, though I love them, are not comfortable in shoes because the rib pattern is too bumpy under the balls of my feet. Flat, tiny, close stitches make a more comfortable sole. I made a regular toe with the decreases at either side of the foot, so the sock is not radially symmetric, but it has no top or bottom so it should wear well. I find a round toe just doesn't fit well with my wide feet.
The color scheme began with the self-patterning brown/blue/white yarn left over from an old project. I had some light brown acrylic baby yarn and some blue sock yarn left over from other projects as well. The match was good enough, so I had fun, changing colors occasionally to keep things interesting.
As soon as I finished, I cast on another pair of socks in a nice dark green. I finished the top ribbing and am deciding if these will be plain socks, striped socks, or a riot of fair isle patterns.