I just can't count!

This was my purse project so I had my little yellow tag with the basic information that I needed to make the second sock. The tag said to knit 16 rows of ribbing and 52 rows stockinette for the leg then start the heel flap.

Okay, I did that. Except when I had a chance to compare the socks the leg of the second one was about and inch longer than the first one! What did I do? I thought I had counted right.

Oh well, I am the only one who will notice so on I went. Turn the heel, knit the foot 65 rows...uh, oh....not much yarn left. Will I make it? Shape the toe and graft! Yea! It's done! Just enough yarn.

Out comes the first sock again so I can wash and block. But something doesn't look right here. Why is the second one shorter in the foot?

I pulled out the yellow tag again. Hmmm, there seems to be a note here at the bottom. (I used the same yellow tag for a previous pair of socks and made notes of the changes for this pair... I think.) The note says, "denim stripe foot-75 rows." Oh dear, it really is shorter!

Now, this yarn is machine wash and dry which I love and I know that it does shrink so I always make the socks about 1/2 inch longer because of that. I have had to take out the toe on another pair that became unwearable. So, I tried it on...nope, this is not going to work.

I don't have enough yarn to simply knit it longer so with the foot too short and the leg too long I had no choice but to frog it back to the leg. If I make the leg shorter I should have enough yarn to make the foot longer. Right?

When I was frogging I started counting again. I counted 52 rows on the leg again and held it against the first sock...too long. So I counted the rows on the first sock. Oops, there were 42 rows on that one...I didn't even count that right!

I think I will ask my 5 year old to count it for me next time! It might come out better.