Question about sock pattern

[pammysue]

I've only started knitting socks using dp's, so far I've made two pair and that was using the same pattern but now I want to venture out to a new pattern.

Most, if not all of the sock patterns I have (except for the one I used) the directions say for instance "1st needle  knit to last 3 sts. K2tog. K1.  2nd needle Knit.  3rd needle K1. Sl 1. K1. psso. Knit to end of needle"

So how do I keep track of and know which is my 1st, 2nd and 3rd needle?

Also, does anyone have good instructions on  how to graft a toe?  I'm not sure I'm doing it the right way.

[krisinmi]

I always clip a stitch marker to the first stitch of the first needle after beginning to work in the round (first row after cast on) when I'm making socks. Then, unless instructed otherwise (such as heel flaps or gusset decreases for foot), I just count my needles in order of how I work them: needle with marker is 1st needle. Next needle is 2nd needle, final needle is 3rd needle. That's assuming I'm (and you're) using 3 needles instead of four.

I usually do kitchener on the toes. This is a pretty good tutorial on how to do it  kitchener grafting

[pammysue]

May 7, 2015 16:52:14 GMT krisinmi said:

I always clip a stitch marker to the first stitch of the first needle after beginning to work in the round (first row after cast on) when I'm making socks. Then, unless instructed otherwise (such as heel flaps or gusset decreases for foot), I just count my needles in order of how I work them: needle with marker is 1st needle. Next needle is 2nd needle, final needle is 3rd needle. That's assuming I'm (and you're) using 3 needles instead of four.

I usually do kitchener on the toes. This is a pretty good tutorial on how to do it  kitchener grafting

Thank you very much krisinimi.

[Muller's Lane Farm]

Use a stitch marker like krisinmi suggested! I also use stitch markers between pattern repeats and use a different color or size marker (or 2 markers) to designate the first stitch of the first needle.

I use the markers between pattern repeats to make it easier for me to find out where I goofed up when I'm off on a stitch count. Let's say you cast on 60 and you have have a 12 stitch pattern, so 5 repeats. I use a special marker between the first & second stitch of the first needle to mark beginning of the round, then a marker between stitches 12/13, 24/25, 36/37 & 48/49. Actually, that is not true since I make sure not to split a pattern repeat over 2 needles, so ... I'll have two repeats on the first needle and on the second needle and only one repeat on the 3rd needle, with a marker between the repeats on the first & second needles.

When you get to the gusset is when you really need to designate your needles. With the scenario you have, your round begins at the center of the heel flap.

Assuming you are making a standard gusset heel, when you divided up the stitches to make the heel flap, you had 30 stitches for the instep & 30 stitches for the heel flap. You worked back & forth for the heel flap and then short rows to cup the heel. Before I pick up stitches on the side of the heel flap, I identify & mark the center of the heel stitches. This then becomes the beginning of the round. The first needle contains stitches from the beginning of the round and the picked up stitches of the heel flap. All those instep stitches designate the 2nd needle. The 3rd needle starts with the stitches picked up on the other side of the heel flap until I get to the marker I placed on the heel.

Clear as mud??

[pammysue]

Cyndi I think I understood most of it, thank you.