Too big?

After I knit Carole's lovely sock pattern, I was really excited to get another pair of socks on the needles.  I had purchased some Summer Sox on sale at my LYS in a shade of green that I love.  After starting the toes, I decided I didn't want to bother creating my own pattern so I found the Coralicious Socks pattern.  It was the right number of stitches for what I had already done, it was for a larger sized foot like mine, and the pattern gauge matched my gauge...until I started knitting more.  For some reason my gauge loosened up and the sock feels rather loose.  And I think I should have started the heel flap sooner.  When I pull up on the socks, it looks like this:

So my question is this:  Are these too big or will they shrink some if I wash them in warm water (ball band says to machine wash gentle, machine dry)?  I really don't want to rip the sock out but I also don't want to end up with a pair of socks that are too lose to wear comfortably.

Comments

[Carole]

I don't knit toe up so I can't say if they will shrink but I will say that when I have tried to knit toe up they have always been looser. Weird, huh?

[Sheri]

Ooo, but they're so pretty. That's why I'm not good at knitting socks. They either don't fit right or I never make the second one. Those are very pretty, color and pattern.
Sheri

[Mary]

I am also no help at all. Except that depending on the yarn (Schaffer yarn for me) some shrink a little with every washing...so much so that after this next one I may have to send them off to my mom...so maybe looser is better?

[Jingle]

cute socks.

[Jingle]

http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/08/08/sunday-news-flash-plus-awards/

knitting is cool,
writing is fun too,

if you write poems,
let me know.
awards for you.