I love you. I hate you. I wear you.

Socks.

Unless it's summer or you're wearing heels, then you probably wear these little buggers quite often.  Probably white, and it came with 6 other pairs for two bucks from Wal-Mart.  If you're in a position to make socks, then I'm sure that unlike me, you have a whole drawer full of charming handmade feet covers some place in your home, from the every day wool garter stitch socks to the special silk-cotton blend that you break out twice a year on special occasions.  And you probably enjoy making them, to some degree.

Again, here's where I can't yet fit the stereotype.

I love making socks.  I love the little project that fits perfectly in a bag and that doesn't require much space to work on.  I love that I memorized the pattern so I can hold a conversation while I work.  I don't even mind knitting on a size 2 needle.  Knitting mind you.  Purling?  Fucking. Hate. It.

I don't know why, but purling with those small needles is a special kind of hell for me, which means that my cuff ribbing is as short as possible and looks like crap, and my heels are a tad wonky and I hate every minute of it.  I get through that part as fast as possible so I can just do the rest in plain garter stitch and whip out a pair of every day socks.

Which would be totally awesome, but I would like to some day incorporate patterns into my socks.  Maybe a cable here or a hint of a lace pattern there...which all requires purling...or at least a stitch manipulation.

Is there any way to make purling on sock needles easier?  Traveling Ann (Who is all kinds of awesome.  And understands my zombie obsession) gave me a different heel pattern to try.  And since these are Jeff's hiking socks, I'm 90% certain that he won't mind one heel being different.  I'm also 90% certain that he won't notice....

Seriously, if anyone has any suggestions about purling shortcuts, or just how to make it less painful, I'm open to suggestions.