[Prudence]

I personally prefer the double pointed needles for socks. The worst part is getting started, but once there's a couple inches of sock hanging down, I find it goes pretty smoothly.

I've looked at a bunch of casting on instructions lately and realized that I don't do it like any I've seen. *I* think my way is plenty easy, and way fast, but I'll have to wait until I get home and can play with yarn to describe it.

One thing to try, though - I never try to cast on to the different needles. I cast on to one needle and then when I have the total number needed I move the loops onto the other needles as appropriate. I find this helps minimize the big gaps and whatnot.

Picking up gusset stitches is confusing because there's no one way to do it. When you make the heel flap, the reason you slip a stitch at the beginning of the row is that you're making this sort of chain stitch down the sides. what part of the "loop" you pick up is basically a matter of taste. If you pick up the back loop, you get ridgy bits on the outside and smooth inside. If you pick up the front loop, it's reversed. Sometimes I change depending on the yarn. Don't worry about that now - we'll deal with that when you get there.

OKay - I'll try to remember when I get home to post a description of my casting on method. I'll look at the patterns you're thinking of, too.

And if it makes you feel any better - last night I realized I screwed up something about 8 rows back (I reduced a stitch at the wrong end of a needle - in the middle of the heel instead of the gusset edge) so I'll have to undo some tonight.