I went to my local yarn store and picked up the first yarn that said sock on the label (On Your Toes Bamboo) and picked up a size 4 (3.5 mm) set of five double pointed needles. I have since found out that Size 1-2 are the the most common sizes in sock patterns (at least on Ravelry.com).
Size 1 (2.25mm) - 4,016
Size 1.5 (2.5 mm) - 3,901
Size 2 (2.75 mm) - 3,221
Size 3 (3.25 mm) - 1,375
Size 0 (2.00 mm) - 1,360
Size 4 (3.5 mm) - 975
I wound up picking a pattern that called for a smaller needle and larger yarn, but since I was only trying to "make a sock", not necessarily a "wearable" one I was not hesitant on the alternate supplies.
I started with the knit pattern Starter Stockinette from the sock shaped book Knit Socks!: 15 Cool Patterns for Toasty Feet which turned out to be a great beginner pattern. The first thing I learned is sock patterns are knit many ways but the two main are from top down (leg to toe) and toe up (from toe to leg). This pattern called for the sock to be knit top down so it started with a cuff made of rows of the rib stitch.I cast on using even large needle and then moved the stitches to 4 of the double pointed needles and worked the sock going down the parts from top to bottom: Cuff, Leg, Heel Flap, Turned Heel, Instep, Foot and Toe. I made sure to just take it small section but section and before I know it I had one sock and then two! In the end I like the pattern, the yarn and love the bamboo needles, but would change the yarn and needle size to match the pattern or use a different pattern with the yarn and needles. The socks, due to the large needles and smaller yarn, came out more like a slipper sock then a normal, everyday, in your show sock. They do look great and are comfy and taught me the basics of sock assembly.
