Vickey, swatching is easy, just not what we want to do, because we want to get right to the project!

Cast on about 20-30 sts. follow the pattern directions on what sts they want you to use to get gauge. For socks like that, probably stockinette st. If you are doing them in the round, it might be a good idea to do your swatch in the round. Are you using yarn and needles that you've used in the past for socks? If so, you already have your swatch, just measure 4", count the stitches in 4" and divide the total by 4. Otherwise, knit the cast on 20-30 stitches until you have at least a 4" swatch. Then measure it as above. If you have more stitches than the guage says, go up a size and try again. Less stitches, go down in needle size and try again. Did I make sense to you? Hope I helped.

Tami

And the nice thing is that if you do have to change the needle size, no need to cast on again, just switch needles and continue. Seems obvious, I know, but not to me when I was first learning - LOL