Knitting advice for socks!

Hello everyone! I recently stumbled across a cute pattern for colowork socks. I've never knitted socks before (only scarves, a vest and a tiny sweater), even less with stranded colorwork and I don't really know how to read a chart.
Does anyone have useful advice for a first timer in this/ video tutorial you'd recommend or creator that explains for beginners?
How long do you think it may take for a beginner to knit a pair of socks?
Do you recommend circular needles or straight?
How do I secure a float?
Thank you!!

lycisy

Oh, that's a challenge for you.

Start by knitting a pair of normal socks to familiarise yourself with the terms cuff, leg, heel, maybe with gusset, sole and toe. You can decide whether you want to start cuff down or toe up.
There are tons of free patterns on the world wide web.

I prefer to use circular needles with a length of 80-100 cm and work with Magic Loop. Of course you can also knit with DPN.
Try it out. Everything is your decision.

If you are good at knitting socks, try out how you get on with stranded knitting.
The best way to do this is with a cowl and a simple not so big chart. Best way to learn reading charts.
Especially with socks, the colour you don't need is ‘trapped’ after a maximum of 3 stitches on WS.
Make sure that you keep pulling the knitted piece onto the needles a little so that the tension threads on the back have enough space. Best way for colourwork socks is to knit inside out.

Restlesserin

I love DPNs for socks. Sock knitting is Not quick - I take a week

BluBrd

Definitely go with double pointed needles. Magic loop stays messy whichever way you use it.
Also maybe start with something more simple than colorwork, especially if you are not familiar with it. Managing the tension in colorwork is pretty tedious in itself, maybe practice it working flat before using it in the round?

bubblesandrum

Thank you for Sharing!

toomuchreading

I would start with Ann Budd's book "Getting Started Knitting Socks".  It's on the site here: Here is the link.]https://www.pindiy.com//forum.ph ... .]Here is the link.

This book will take you through knitting your first sock.  It explains the various ways to knit socks with circular and double pointed needles.  It also has patterns for knitting socks with any type of yarn.  It's really well written with lots of illustrations and pictures.  This is how I taught myself to knit socks and recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to knit socks.

kurukurokurin

Answering this as a non-sock knitter I think the advice so far is good when it pertains to trying different methods as what works for one person might not work for another. Also, pick a pattern you really want to make. I find learning a technique is much easier on a project I really want to complete and wear even if it is a bit trickier.