Firsts all around: My first sock(s), my first tabi, my first extensive (for me, at least) modification, my first successful kitchener!

I started this and of course had gauge issues. The crochet CO was also a nightmare. Since on most patterns I have to increase my needle size by 2, I started with size 3 needles here. The leg portion turned almost into a knee-sock!

So then in summer 2013, I downsized to the recommended needle size, and noted that my in-the-round gauge is way different than my flat gauge. After having fixed the gauge issue (more or less), I switched to the open provisional CO. These were still really big on me. So I frogged again.

Then it occurred to me: I have really narrow feet and skinny, bony ankles (as opposed to the rest of me ahem). So I decided to modify this because I just love the look of these socks so much! My final gauge on size 1 needles turned out to be 7.5 st and 11 row = 1 inch. I only used 1 needle size for the entire sock.

MODS:
CO 50 st.

on Eyelet Lace Border omit rows 8-9 initially, then for rounds 15-23, do the rows 8 and 9.

on Leg repeat rounds 1-16 2 times instead of 3 times.

For Heel Flap without first knitting two st as the instructions state, I divided the round into two groups of 25 st and worked until there were 14 selvedge st on each side, omitting the sl st on the last purl row.

For Heel Turn

1. sl 1, k 15, ssk, k1, turn
2. sl 1, p 9, p2tog, p1, turn
3. sl 1, k to stitch before last turn, ssk, k1 turn, 4, etc. resume as rows 3 and 4 in pattern 17 st remain

For the Inset and Gussets there will be 74 ts in the round. Work as directed until st count returns to 50. For the instep pattern in this section, work as specified in the Leg section, beginning with Row 11 in order to get the eyelet flowers in the correct positions and maintain the pattern.

For the Toe I decided to do a tabi toe, since my feet are always cold, but I like to be able to thow on a pair of flip flops to go into the garden, etc. I basically followed the instructions I found online here.
For big toe: k9, (place rest of st on spare yarn), CO 9 using open provisional CO, k 9 from sole. Work 18 rounds. K 1 k2tog around. k 1 round. k2tog for a round. k2tog for another round. draw yarn through remaining st and pull inside, weave in.
For remaining toes: join new yarn, pick up 1 st on each side of new CO area and ktbl, decreasing st in new co area by k2tog to maintain an even st count. All odd rows: knit. On even rows, on outside toe edge of instep, end by k2tog and k1. On sole, k1, slip 1, psso. Work this way for 21 rounds, ending with a row of straight knitting w/o decreases. kitchener closed the last 22 st on each.

First sock completed July 2013. Hoping I can duplicate it.