Tell me the truth now.

[kitkat]

How many of you do gauge swatches for your socks? Or is the sock itself in fact your gauge swatch?

I had a little sock issue this past weekend. I was using Socks that Rock (compliments of feministmama from a year or so back) and was trying something new. I normally do a ribbing throughout the sock.....I have friends who do ribbing at the top then switch to stockinette....boring but fast and with STR, who needs a pattern, the yarn is so pretty without it!. Well, something went awry, and in hindsite, I think it was the heel - probably the rest would have been ok....anyway I ripped it all out. When I do-over - I will cast on with the same amount (56) on the same needles (Inox size 2's) as the top part was fine......

So I posted a question on the socknitters list. Many of the responses I received had to do with gauge and math and all those things that make my head swim......

So....back to the original question - do you swatch for socks????