

They haven't been washed in this picture--they're right off the needles onto the feet. And the feel is wonderful, exactly what I like.

And here's how they look laid out on the bench of the picnic table.

They've now been worn a day, washed (no problems there) and are in their plastic bag in the sock drawer, part of the regular rotation...now ten pairs are in that rotation. As usual, they softened a bit in washing, but they didn't go all limp and wishy-washy like the purple ones did (the purples are still comfortable, however.) I have enough yarn for four more pairs like this. The next pair of socks, a soft blue-green, is on the needles, still on the cuff ribbing, and the pair after that (another emerald green) is also started, but under an inch long. Purple will probably follow the blue-green, and one of the yarns on order will follow the emerald. I have four pairs to go to reach fourteen--the two-week rotation. Then another seven pairs to reach the three-week rotation, and so on. I'm guessing that different yarns of different brands will produce socks with different durability...some may last only 50 wearings, and some will last 100, maybe even more. But the more pairs, the fewer wearings per year, and thus the more years that pair will last. And eventually, I'll have enough socks to slow down on the knitting of socks (and do something else as well) and just knit replacements for longer rotations.
And I really, really, REALLY like these socks. They're very comfortable for my feet.