Marilyn,
Terrific!    Sounds like they were a big hit...I'm so happy for you!
Melanie  (known to the cat as "Rowr" or "Rowr Rowr") =^.^=

I got to deliver these socks to my niece over the weekend. They fit, and she wore them all day Sunday.
Marilyn

Marilyn,
Hmm...I've never had an objection to the clicking sound...never noticed it, to be honest!
True, true...knitting in the round IS quite different from flat knitting.  I'd have to agree with swatching in the same way one is going to be knitting.  Argh, but I'm like you...I'm too antsy to get going, swatching is such a pain, anyway, and it's so much easier to swatch flat than in the round.  Glad to know that hasn't worked against you, either!  And you're absolutely right...there's always a first time, sigh...
Melanie  (known to the cat as "Rowr" or "Rowr Rowr") =^.^=

I once heard a woman say that she didn't like the sound of metal needles clicking against each other, so she had converted to bamboo needles.  This was several years before I tried them the first time.
The '2 different size needles' wasn't my idea. I read about it in a book.    
I didn't think to mention that I've only done that with flat knitting. Ya know, when you're knitting a row and purling a row.  Sometimes the problem is that people don't knit and purl at the same gauge.  I guess I need to work on it, but even when I know I'm going to be working in the round, I do my swatch flat.  I've read that if you're going to knit in the round, you should swatch in the round. Most of the time, I'm too anxious to get started on a project to go to the trouble of swatching in the round.  So far, it hasn't worked against me.  But there's always a first time.... 
Marilyn

Marilyn,
You're absolutely right...gauge IS what really matters!  What an ingenious idea, to use the two different sized needles to "make" the size you need!
Glad you got a great bargain on the bamboo needles from eBay. 
I don't have problems with my hands sweating, but now I want to try bamboo needles!  They sound quite interesting. 
Melanie  (known to the cat as "Rowr" or "Rowr Rowr") =^.^=

Melanie,
I learned to knit on aluminum needles and used them for years. Then I started having trouble with my hands sweating, which would make the needles sticky. In the late 80's I bought a set of Denise needles. They seemed to work okay, even with sweaty hands.  My first bamboo needles were made by my dad from chopsticks I found on sale at the grocery store. He also made me some out of wooden dowels.   Somewhere along the way I bought some plastic dpn's made in Australia from milk protein.  .....I think it's the same protein that's used to make yarn now.
The needles I've been using the most here lately are some cheap bamboo needles I bought off eBay. I haven't noticed them changing sizes, but the size 1 needles are staring to take on a curved shape. 
I'm not too worried about needles being a certain diameter. As long as I get the right gauge for what I'm working on, I'm okay. There have been times when I've worked with needles of 2 different sizes at the same time. One size was a little big and the other a little small, but using one of each, it averaged out to get the gauge I needed at the time.  And isn't that what really matters?? 
Marilyn

Marilyn,
LOL!  I guess it depends on someone's definition of "lady-like"?  ;D
Hee hee, when I wrote about that, not only did I think of the potential "mess" if one wasn't planning on knitting the item with chopsticks, but also the discomfort of wearing such a garment...though I understand it's less for comfort than it is for, well, "show."  LOL, am I getting too old and set in my ways?
I don't use plastic needles; only have aluminum.  (Except for the very large needles, from about size 19 on up, because as far as I know, those aren't available in aluminum!)  That said, even my never-flooded needles would not be used if I were to knit a sticky item or food product.  I'd probably buy a pair of plastic needles for the purpose, if chopsticks weren't available or suited to the purpose.
Why did you switch to bamboo needles?  Are they really that much better than aluminum, and don't they need to be replaced at times?  (This is from distant memory...something about the sizes not staying the same, perhaps, due to the bamboo wearing down?)
Melanie  (known to the cat as "Rowr" or "Rowr Rowr") =^.^=

Melanie,
I love my bamboo needles. I haven't used aluminum needles in a very long time. .....And you're right, I think it would be easier to clean plastic or aluminum needles. ....Yep, I saw the pattern for the thong made from the string candy. I wasn't sure if mentioning it was ...well..um...ya know...'lady-like'. 
Marilyn

Marilyn,
UGH!  Though someone did put a pattern on Knitty, I want to say, for a thong panty made out of that string licorice you mentioned.  They suggested using chopsticks to do the actual knitting (sigh of relief!).  LOL, to answer your question...NO...I can't imagine cleaning that off of knitting needles!  (Though perhaps it would be easier to clean off of, say, plastic or aluminum needles than bamboo?  Not that I have any bamboo needles.)
Melanie  (known to the cat as "Rowr" or "Rowr Rowr") =^.^=

Melanie,
On the topic of yarn from food...  I have a book with a pattern in it where a person used something similar to Twizzlers--the separate strands--to knit a small sock.  Can you imagine what a pain that would be to clean the sticky off your needles??
Marilyn

Marilyn,
LOL, you don't have to be in love with it to do it well...and you did! 
I'll see if I have some Chili in my stash.  I want to say that's one I have, but I may be thinking of something else, a "spice" name, perhaps.  Darn these foods/spices!  Too bad we can't go into the kitchen and whip up a batch of yarn from food, huh?!
Melanie  (known to the cat as "Rowr" or "Rowr Rowr") =^.^=

Melanie,
The yarn I used is Deborah Norville's sock yarn. I'm pretty sure the color is Chili. The second photo above is probably the closest to what the yarn really looks like.
Thank you for your kind words. I'm still not in love with the kitchener stitch, but I think I've figured out a 'manageable' way to do it. 
Marilyn

Marilyn,
DAMN, now I need to make a pair of these!  I love the colorway you used...what is it?
IMO, your kitchener is flawless!
Melanie  (known to the cat as "Rowr" or "Rowr Rowr") =^.^=