Reddit reviews Susan Bates 14099 Knit-Chek for Knitting Needle, 3 by 5-1/2-Inch

You can buy a needle gauge. They're actually really cheap and a great tool to have around! You just stick your needle through the holes until you find the hole it fits.

That sounds a little dirty, now that I type it.

Yup....first get a needle gauge (like this one). That way you can check what gauge your needles are, even if the number are worn off. I have this one and it works great for me.

I've only knit a few socks, but generally you want very thin yarn for socks that you would wear every day (like fingering or sometimes called "sock" weight. It's one step above the lace weight yarn. See this image for what to look for on ball bands from stores like Michael's or JoAnn's. If you go to a yarn store or buy yarn online, often it will be called sock yarn or fingering weight yarn.

The pattern you use should suggest a needle size and tell you the gauge you should get. Start there, then go up or down in needle size to get the gauge they suggest. Usually socks knit in sock yarn are done on small needles (size 2-4 or 5).

I knit my first pair of socks in Knit Picks Mighty Stitch (Worsted Weight yarn) left over from something else on size 7 needles. They are more of slipper socks or super cold weather socks since they are so bulky. My next pair will be with sock yarn on smaller needles for a more everyday sock.

Things I find useful.

Small snips - they are small siccors typicly used in sewing they keep a sharper edge because the blade is small making it easier to cut yarn.

A hook, and gauge tool I recoment the Susan Bates brand because its crochet friendly, other brands dont always list the crochet hooks ect. Its an important tool because most patterns will tell you what the gauge is and this tool makes it dead simple.

Yarn Needles Not to be confused with sewing needles, these have a larger 'eye' so you can thread yarn threw so she can weave in the tail ends of her projects.

Bonus-- not nessary.

A project bag like this or like the one I have which my SO gave me last year for christmas, matieral looks cheap but it has held up fantastically threw several BIG projects it holds all my hooks and project yarn (I can fit over 20 skeins in it). Project bags are nice so you can have a place to put your yarn and tool, keeps the kids/pets/dust out. Also makes it easier to tote around, I often take my crochet with me to our friends house when we game.