Toe up socks or from the top down?

[bronxie]

I just finished knitting up my first sock. It was fun but it got me thinking, would it be faster to knit from the toe up. Sock knitters, which do you prefer? Toe up or from the top to the toe?

[Scarlet]

I prefer top to toe, but that is because i taught myself to knit socks (and the hee) and i am not sure how easy it would be to "turn" the heel knitting it in the other direction...

Maybe one day i will -
a) Have a go at knitting toe to top
b) follow a pattern

 

[kadreath]

toe up socks seem really fast to knit to me.  i also really like being able to try on the sock from the get go.  i've used both methods for sock making, and the toe up ones tend to fit me better, i think cause they are so very easy to try on.  the one thing that i kind of don't like is the lack of a heel flap.  the heel is super easy though--it's just like a toe--and you don't have to pickup stitches from a heel flap, which is pretty sweet, too.  i'd say give toe-up a try.  This is a nice generic pattern.

[czarina]

I also use wendy knit's pattern. It's super easy, and the resulting sock is really professional. You get to avoid kitchener and that seam in front.

I've seen people do both though. One of the women at my stitch and bitch always makes lacy socks top-down, and I imagine having the pretty lace that she wants to wear really keeps her going to the end. It's really just a personal preference.