Are your hydrangea socks really small?

Hi all,

I'm confused and hoping someone out there can help. The Calla Lily socks started wtih 63 cast on stitches, and they fit me perfectly. The Hydrangea pattern calls for 72 cast on stitches. If the yarn is the same (it appears to be), shouldn't the sock be bigger?

The pattern says that the finished leg circumference is 6", unstretched. When I first read this, I assumed it was a typo. Why? 2 reasons:

1. The gauge says the knitter should get 18 st/2" in pattern, and 72 st at 18 st/2" works out to 8" circumference, not 6".
2. A 6" leg circumference is tiny. My very average size female ankle is 8 1/4" at its smallest point. My 4-year-old son's ankle is 5 3/4" at its smallest point.

I decided to knit the pattern as written, thinking that the specified 6" leg circumference should have read 8", and that it would easily stretch to my 8 1/4" ankle (and hopefully a little more since my ankle is 8 1/4" at its smallest point).

I'm 4-5" into my sock now, and the finished size is definitely 6" in circumference (3" flat). I can barely get it over my heel, and it doesn't stretch much at all. If I knit the cuff any longer, I won't be able to get the sock up any further.

Clearly, I must rip and reknit. I don't really mind doing this. I'm just confused, and that bugs me! Everything is exactly as Sundara's pattern says it will be, but I don't understand why. How can I be getting 18 st/2" in pattern but still only have a 6" leg circumference with 72 CO st? The only thing I can figure is that it has something to do with the twirly diagonal nature of this stitch pattern. I'm still not exactly sure how it spirals as it does - it's magic to me. Pretty, magical... but won't fit my foot. And my son will not want to wear these particular socks. :)

Is anyone else encountering this issue?

I could post a photo, but I daren't be the first - at least not until I get the okay to post hydrangea photos.

Thanks in advance for whatever help you can offer!