Socks, like most everything has parts. Most folks don't know quite what these parts are or how they work on a foot. It is not something you think about very much so it is not important....until you have to make a sock!
There is the top or the sock or what is called ribbing. That is the elastic part of the sock that stays up on your leg as you wear the sock. Then there is the leg of the sock. That is the part that goes down your leg to a part called the heel flap. That is the part that covers the back of your heel. A good heel flap matters because it takes a lot of abuse from the shoes you wear.
The next part is the bottom of the heel or the cup. That is the part that the bottom of your heel sits in. There is the heel gusset. that surrounds the sides of your heel and ankle. The foot of the sock covers the long part of your foot and then there is the toe of the sock which covers your toes.
There are several ways to knit a sock. You can knit socks from the toe to the top (ribbing) or you can knit a sock from the top down to the toe. You can knit a sock in a tube and put the heel in later and that can be done from the toe up or from the top down. You can knit socks on circular needles, double pointed needles or with two straight needles. You can also knit a sock with one very long circular needle.
That is the start! More later.
Barb R.