Most tube socks rely completely on the stretchiness of  the knit fabric to contour the sock to the foot. This  design steps up the fit a bit by adding ribbing in the heel area. Because the heel is not  truly shaped at a given distance from the toe, these are much easier to fit than traditional socks..
2 gauges are provided.
YARN, GAUGE  AND MACHINE:  A Japanese standard gauge with ribber or Passap 5mm  double bed machine  is needed for the  finer version. Use  stitch size 4-5  throughout to get a  gauge of 8  stitches/12 rows  per inch in stockinette. Before beginning, check to make sure that the stitch size will knit well in 1X1 rib and stockinette as  well as getting the gauge. Walkaway sock yarn from Hobby Lobby was a wool blend with  stretchy fiber incorporated into it. It made the 2 smaller sizes with one skein. Sadly, this  yarn has been altered and is no longer the same blend or size of skein but Regia and Mary  Maxim do make similar yarns. For the thicker version, use a bulky or mid-gauge machine  with a ribber. Lion Fisherman’s Wool at a smaller stitch size than one would knit it for a sweater gets a gauge of 5 stitches/7 rows per inch. On my Brother 260 the stitch dial  set at 2.2 produced this gauge. Most mid-gauge machines can also get this gauge.