I cast on with a US size 4 needle, worked 1st row of ribbing using US size 3 needle by accident, but decided to leave it so that they might be easier to get on over the foot for an elderly lady.

Picked up 36 stitches along the sides of the heel, I believe - might have been 35. First one was easy to find the stitches, but the 2nd, I ended up adding several stitches to make it even along the way & not real sure why. Maybe the light last night as I was trying to pick them up, but I did have to make some adjustments as I went along on the 2nd (which was the first I started).