Don't rip back without a lifeline!

Little Man insisted I take a picture of him fitting his sock. He watched me work on it. Somehow I missed a step in the toe decreases (forgetting the knit rows in between) and realized it when I was almost ready to Kitchener it.

Decision point: Do I continue with a messed up sock (and make a matching messed up sock)? or do I rip back and do this correctly?

Little Man has been patiently watching the progress on his sock. I could not give him a half-assed sock. So I ripped back without a lifeline. Big mistake! I ended up dropping the stitches and had to start back from a few rows prior to this shot. Aargh! He was sooo disappointed to see his sock unravel before his eyes. Poor guy, I thought he was going to cry. I almost cried myself.