FWIW, i usually do better with live/video instruction, but this text/picture tutorial for judy’s magic cast-on was what finally made the whole thing click for me – http://www.creativeknittingmagazine.com/printer.php?mode=article&article_id=2706 – hope that helps somebody else down the road - X 
:yay: You found something that works for you. That’s great. Once it clicks, you’re well on your way.
i decided on liat gat’s “toe-up socks with heel flap” at http://knitfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Toe-Up-Socks-with-Heel-Flap_v1.4.pdf .
i didn’t use JsMCO after all. even with my eureka! moment the other day and practice i still found it very fiddly(?) for my first time out. and the 'knit regular or knit through the back if needed" was just one more thing for my brain to short circuit on.
the turkish cast-on worked better for me, albetit after about 6 different videos and some practice. and now, TA-DA, the cast-on of 16, the initial rounding, and most of the increase rows are done, so i’m up to 32 stitches with more increase rounds to go. then i’ll be ready for the next part of the pattern which is just knitting in the round until it’s time for the heel.
since i’m doing them at the same time, just on separate sets of DPNs, i can work on the 2nd sock tomorrow, but it’s already cast-on & has its initial rounding, ready for the increases.
these will not be perfect. but they will be made with best intentions and according to the directions, and that’s not nothin’ 
a question: can i just weave in the tail from casting on now (so it’s not in the way). follow-up question: if i do that, is there a special way with socks to minimize bumpiness on the inside where toes will be?
i had a 2nd, bigger question but i answered it myself: the pattern is for small-medium/7" or medium-large/8" around at widest point. i need a larger circumference, so YES i SHOULD just keep doing increase rounds until i get the right measurement.
- X
I think Jan used the Turkish cast on and liked it. I think she did her socks on circs but worked separately, much as you’re doing with dpn. If it works for you then it’s the right way to do it. It sounds like you’re doing fantastic. Is your mom close enough that she can try them on? I skim the yarn under the purl bumps on the top of the sock rather than the sole; sometimes I’ll use the end to duplicate stitch a problem spot. I guess it’s superstitious and silly but I feel like working in ends is tempting fate, somehow whenever I do it before the cast off I end up frogging. The fact that I end up frogging when I don’t weave in the ends earlier is totally beside the point. :mrgreen: When for whatever reason I end up frogging something I don’t like having the ends already taken care of, it just makes frogging that much worse. As soon as you have enough sock worked to weave in the end you can do it.
GG - yeah my mom is right here in town, so trying them as i go isn’t a big hassle. and you’re right, i’ll wait just a bit longer for weaving in the cast-on tail. just in case. doing it now tempts fate and almost invites gremlins… - X
so instead of muddying up this forum with my sock updates, i created a ravelry project page for it: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/XtopherCB/basic-toe-up-socks-with-a-heel-flap---fingering-weight-yarn
with pictures and comments (all mine so far, progress updates).
no picture of this stage yet, but i’m already 4 rows in on the patterning. decided on a k2 p1/k3/p1/k3/p1/k3/p1 k2 repeat k2 pattern… it fits in the 32 stitch amount i had. (see, i’m purling. and i’m practicing ribbing!) i’m only on the 1st sock to this point. the 2nd sock is 4 rows behind with the toe finished but waiting for patterning.
also, i’m doing magic loop… just got my big boy britches on and said “TRY IT ALREADY!”
so anyway, that’s the update, and the link where more updates will be.
- X
Lookin’ good! I’m so proud of you in your big boy britches. This is really good purling practice. You’re making excellent progress.