I am bad about paying attention to gauge, even though most of my patterns say in all caps and bold “TAKE TIME TO CHECK GAUGE”.
It could be your tension or even the type of yarn/wool you are using. If you are using the same or comparable yarn that the pattern states and the size needles suggested I would put money on the tension being the issue.
If the socks you are knitting are feminine, then you could possibly knit an inch or so strip of lace and attach at the top. That is what I am doing to increase a halter top that I didn’t gauge which ended up too short.
Hope this helps,
Tracy