The problem is not, as I originally hypothesized, that after you finish the toe you aren’t done yet. That actually really didn’t bother me much. If anything, there was a bit of excitment that after picking up the heel stitches I could finally try on my sock again.
No, the problem lies in doing the foot. It just seems to take so much longer. With my usual heel flap I get a nice break between leg and foot. You have the heel flap and whatever design you put on that (I am particularly fond of the partridges’ eye). Then you turn the heel and you get to pick up stitches for the gussest.
By the time you finish reducing down the gusset stitches, you are a good part of the way through the foot and the end is in sight. I have completely underestimated what the change of pace contributes to speedy sock completion.
The 30 seconds or so it takes to place half a row on waste yarn for the afterthought heel doesn’t compare. This little pale line is the only marker between leg and foot.
It’s just a whole lot more of the same. I’ve got a plan to keep myself going though: a motivational photo of how good they are looking, trying on the half finished sock one last time before I get to the toe and undo the placeholder stitches:
I have done my best to keep grubby toes and unshaved legs out of the picture. You’re welcome.