I have a 2-parter today. First, I’m going to be talking magic loop, as in that’s the technique I’m using. Second, I want to say that I have abandoned socks with stranded colorwork. 
I have a big issue with the 2 “corners/joins,” whatever you want to call them. Since I’m on magic loop today, there’s only 2. Okay, so… In a last ditch effort to Not abandon my poor colorful socks, lol, I’ve decided to try again knitting them inside out. Soooo, just speaking of socks in general the traditional way, not stranded colorwork, I always cinch up at the corners, using the second stitch to tighten the first. Works great and no lines or ladders. So my question is for you inside out knitters, am I able to cinch up, as I normally would, if I’m knitting stranded colorwork inside out being that the yarn is traveling further Or do I still have to try to keep everything spread thereby jacking up my corners? Bc honestly, they look like crapola.
Second component here, as an added element I’m also wanting to introduce LBJ to this mix for stretchier stranded socks. 
But anyway, my main gripe here is the dreaded corners. I’m a perfectionist (sorry to whomever that annoys lol) and I can’t standdddddd obvious messy lines of demarcation in my corners!! So am I able to cinch up on those corners in these circumstances or no?
Thank you 
Colorwork at corners or needle joins doesn’t have an easy answer. I use dpns so the problem comes up multiple times in colorwork in the round. It’s a contest between not tight enough to prevent ladders and so tight the colorwork puckers.
Experimenting with tension until you find the sweet spot worked for me. Sometimes I also move the corner or join to the next needle. It can always be shifted back if needed.
LBJ, ladderback jacquard? I’m not sure that’s going to work with socks without catching toes but I’ve never tried it on socks.
Sock knitters, @Beth_Leatherman, @engblom, @GrumpyGramma what do you think?
Ladderback jacquard in socks? I agree with salmonmac, not toe friendly. Maybe after my coffee I can think of something that might be useful. Right now I’m hung up on sock corners. lol
LBJ became president of the US when I was a small girl.
Hi, yes, for socks! I watched a really great tutorial on YouTube by EllyndriaKnits. Check it out. She has a pattern for her demo also. Oh and she also has a separate video on working them inside out. The ladders appear “snug” enough to the inside of the sock. And they’re adorable 
She’s even working it on the InStep.
All of my sock that are not stranded work are awesome. I found that sweet spot you mentioned and surprisingly I do even better with 5 DPNs (not a fan of the triangular 4). But anyway even though there are more opportunities to jack it up lol with DPNs as there are more corners/joins, they look even better. I really just feel it’s due to the fact that your last stitch is sitting on a needle and not dangling on a cord.
Stitches distributed on 4 needles make it easier to avoid stretching stitches between the needles and reduce laddering tendencies. My problem with dpn is I’m always and forever dropping and losing the empty needle. If you have a link to the aforementioned video I’ll take a look.
Completely agree on the DPNs. I can’t stand the uneven feel of working with only 4. If I haven’t picked up my DPNs in a while and I’m used to my cord, I tend to do the same thing for a while bc my hand just wants to let go of the DPN when it’s free, hahaha. But then my brain gets a clue after a round or two. 
@salmonmac, this is beyond me! I do my socks inside inside and don’t do stranded colorwork! High instep and heels challenge me enough!
Haha Well thank you for taking the time to read and comment Try your socks toe-up… I think they’re easier than cuff down bc you’re not having to pick up stitches And definitely choose a pattern with a gusset for your high arches. I have them too so I get you, haha.
I have always knitted my socks toe-up! I don’t know why anyone would knit cuff-down! Come to think of it, I did some cuff-down socks quite a while back and hated picking up stitches and closing the toes. I don’t mind Kitchener, but I’d rather Turkish cast on 8 than any 64! I started with knitfreedom.com’s any size and any weight yarn. I recently adapted to her high instep instructions. They do slouch a little around the top crease of my foot though. I guess I don’t need the high instep if I use a stretchy stitch. I’ve been in a rut of K3 P1 though. Now I’ve lost a little weight and they’re getting too loose at the top!
Yay!.. a fellow toe-up addict lol 
I knit cuff down too but I prefer toe-up. I use the modified Judy’s Magic CO for my toes though. I have a book recommendation for you (if you don’t already have it). It’s called Custom Socks, Knit to Fit Your Feet by Kate Atherley. It is a goldmine of information to tweek and customize your socks for just about any scenerio you can think of. It has allowed me to really fine tune my socks so they fit perfectly. I think I’ve just about bought up every single sock book currently in print just kidding but I’m definitely getting there lol. Ohhh! I’m also loving a new-to-me book called Socks From The Toe Up by Wendy Knits 
Lots of really beautiful socks! Highly recommend. You might also like Toe-Up Two-at-a-Time Socks by Morgan-Oaks. I always check Thrift Books first.
I currently have these on my needles. Hope that link works. Dunno 
I was just expecting to see the image when I inserted it instead of a link. Anyway I’ve had that yarn forever and I finally decided to use it. It has 3 different color changes, and without a plan, I just went with it and started knitting And I’m just going to keep going with the same cake when I start the other sock. So they’ll be mismatched misfit socks. How fun!! 
Have a great day!
Oh haha the image just popped up when I posted the reply. Okie dokie then haha
Very good looking fraternal twin socks! Thank you for the book recommendations. Kate Atherley is terrific.
Thank you I think they will block out nicely. I’m excited to see the lace and cables in their glory, hehe. 
You’re welcome. She’s amazing! Bar none one of my most valuable books. I’m a bit of a book nerd/collector so, very humbly, I feel like saying that is a lot. She’s so clear and concise and her formulas are spot on and easy to follow.
Thank you! I will check those out! Speaking of fine tuning, I graduate needles sizes in the cuff for “custom” fit!
My library has all of those books! I can read them on my iPad. I know you need physical books for the patterns, but I can browse the e-versions.
Aww great!! Just a couple of my favs
I found a really interesting article on bind offs. I was mainly interested in it as it pertains to socks. Crap, let me see if I can find it. I can’t remember exactly whose blog I was on. Hmm 
I have a couple books for COs and BOs but I thought the article was a good roundup type summation. I have tiny ankles so I generally just dec and use a smaller size for leg and cuff.