When new knitters get started, they are often under the illusion that a simple project to knit would be socks. Because socks are small, people tend to think they are easy. Which is a big mistake!
Socks are a fitted item, so any discrepancy in gauge can have an effect on the finished garment. Plus, socks are usually knit using fingering weight yarns, which are finer. And 3rd, knitting socks require the knowledge of short-row shaping, or making gussets, which are more advanced techniques!
If you take the time to look at a hand knitted sock, you will realize that they require THOUSANDS of stitches. That's a lot of hours of work!
Knitting adult-sized socks in fingering weight will require 40+ hours of dedicated work, which is about a month of knitting time for me. Not for the faint of hearts! I can knit a whole sweater in worsted weight yarn in the same time it takes me to knit a pair of fingering-weight socks!
Sock knitting requires dedication, and the knowledge that little by little, you will get there. So these projects are not for beginners or people who love instant gratification. If you want ideas on beginner knitting project, I have created a shortlist of my favorite beginner-friendly projects to get started here.
If you are still hold up on getting started with sock knitting, there are a few things you can do to help you out:
1- Knit baby-sized or kid-sized socks. They will obviously require fewer stitches and time, yet will still teach you the techniques needed to knit an adult-sized pair of socks just like full-sized, adult socks would.
2- Consider knitting house socks, i.e using a thicker yarn weight, suck as DK, worsted weight, or even aran weight. Those socks might be more uncomfortable to wear with shoes, but can still make a great house sock/slipper to wear around the house when it gets cold.
3- Choose a pattern that has a toe-up construction. This way, the fiddly part is at the beginning, and you can expect the pattern to get easier as you get further along. Plus, you can try it out as you go, which makes ensuring that your socks actually fit a lot easier. Nobody likes to knit useless garments!
Let me know how it all works out!