Men Who Knit Promoting and inspiring the art of knitting amongst men.

....  I need some opinions from those that have come before me.

I am finishing up a pair of clogs for Jim and the size if pretty straightforward, size 11.  I am about to start a pair for his mom who is a size 8.5.  The pattern is written for a womens size 6, 8, and 10.

My question is, do I knit a size 8 and felt it less producing a softer fabric or do I go for a 10 and felt it more for a stiffer one.  (and I have already thought of the "go for the stiffer one" joke).  I'm using Classic Elites' "Inca Alpaca" (100% alpaca)  So I assume that if I knit the larger I can get it down to size.