I have knit my first set of hose (I know about pictures, I haven't had occasion or time to do so yet) and really learned alot. The pattern I chose had cables and lace stitches. To push my "learning" experiment even further I knit the first according to the pattern (top down) and the second toe-up. I discovered that I greatly prefer the toe-up method. I am currently knitting a pair of socks for my wife and I have come up with a question with this pattern that I am hoping some of you more experienced knitters can help me with. I know that this doesn't currently have anything to do with the kilt, but the answer to the question impacts future hose projects I hope to take on.

Here is the question: The pattern I am working is written top down. I have taken the chart and turned it over and have started following the patter from the toe. After a period I realized that when you flip the pattern, all the SSKs remain SSKs and same for the K2TOGs. If I am knitting toe-up instead of top-down as written, should I change SSK to K2TOG? I ask because as I knit, the sock doesn't seem to have the same "texture" as the example in the pictures. I know that this could simply be due to my knitting abilities but I don't have enough experience yet to know the difference. The first hose I knit didn't have this problem as the pattern was the same forward and backward. (Well okay, there are some small differences but you wouldn't notice while I am wearing them.)

Thanks in advance for your advice!