I’m working on my first pair of socks (as some know) and the ribbing is a little over an inch long. When I look down at it, the cuff looks like it might be a [I]little[/I] big. Will blocking them shrink it down a bit so that they do fit?
:think: usually when I block it stretches some…but you might be able to pin it in…if it looks way to big then I’d prolly change needle sizes 
If I was you I would try it on. Cuffs that “look” right are tight for me. Cuffs that look quite a bit large fit right.
If it is too small I would frog it and start over or I would do something to change the size with the plan of either folding the large section over when worn.
Odds are blocking will not shrink it (but there are some fibers that steaming will shrink).
Depending on the fiber the blocking may be permenent or the sock could revert back to it’s knitted shape after washing.
I only steam block except for reshaping after washing.
Standard Red Heart type acrylics seem to take a permanent block that only reblocking with more steam will change. You may be able to pin that smaller and get it to hold the smaller shape. But it probably wouldn’t have much body at the smaller shape and by blocking the ribbing you would “kill” the normal body the ribbing would have at its knitted size.
Wool seems to take the steam blocking well but when washed goes right back to what it was. So the blocking will help even out the stitches but won’t permanently change the shape.
I’ve had an acrylic/nylon blend that shrunk from steam. Steaming and stretching does not seem to undo the shrinkage.
If you are only an inch into it, I think the needles are still influencing the diameter. I find the longer my cuff gets from the needles the more it draws in and looks like it might even be too narrow. I would give it a couple of more inches before getting to worried.
Ah, thanks guys. 
I’ll keep going with it and if they’re big, meh, I’ll give them to somebody. My legs are on the thicker side anyway, so it should be fine.
Question, though. I’m gonna make a pair for my boyfriend who has [I]teeny[/I] legs. For him, would I just use smaller needles?
And with the fiber, this stuff is 52% bamboo, 43% superwash merino, 5% combed silk.