Techniques I’ve Learned from Sock Knitting
Casting on
German Twisted Cast On (top down – extra stretchy for sock cuffs): http://tinyurl.com/germantwistedcastonvideo
Judy Becker’s Magic Cast On (toe up): http://tinyurl.com/magiccastonvideo
Picot Hem Cast On (top down; my favorite decorative edge): http://tinyurl.com/picotcaston
Casting off
Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off (toe up, for the top cuff – good for any project that needs a flexible edge, even a sweater or a hat): http://tinyurl.com/stretchybindoff
Increasing and Decreasing
Paired increases (make one left, make one right, invisibly – for when you want an increase that doesn’t show the extra stitch being made): http://tinyurl.com/pairedincreases
Joining Knitted Pieces and Edges
Grafting (sewing two rows of live stitches together, as at the end of a sock toe): http://tinyurl.com/graftingvideo Using a “sock chimney” might make this even easier – it provides a guide to follow while you’re grafting: http://tinyurl.com/sockchimney
Three Needle Bind Off (joining live stitches on two needles with a third needle – one option for finishing a sock toe, also great for joining the shoulder seams of sweaters): http://tinyurl.com/3needlebindoff
Magic Loop Knitting in the round (using a needle with a long cable to knit in the round – great for sweater sleeves as well as socks): http://tinyurl.com/magicloop
Reading Charts
If you’re unfamiliar with charted knitting, socks can be a great way to get practice reading smaller charts over fewer stitches – here’s an excellent guide to chart reading with lots of examples: http://www.knitfoundry.com/tutorial/HowToReadCharts.pdf