Personal preferences

There have been some polls floating around on the socknitters list, but I thought I'd post my thoughts here.

My favorite type of double pointed needles are either Pony Pearls or steel Inox (for small sizes) and Brittany birch (for large sizes, especially with "slidy" yarn).

for "back and forth" knitting, I almost always use circular needles. I like how the cable supports the growing sweater, or shawl, or whatever. I have a few pair of single-points but I seldom use them except for things like dishcloths.

I vastly prefer to knit with a set of 5 needles. I find a 90 degree angle (when the sts are on 4 needles) is far more comfortable than a 45 degree angle (which is what you get with stitches on 3 needles).

I've never tried toe-up socks, but since I find doing a good cast-on easier than doing a clean bind-off, I think I'll stick with cuff-down. When I want to do a lace pattern or something, I've not had too much trouble "inverting" it if it's one that needs to go in a particular way. I just graph it out and work from there.

My favorite sockyarn is dear departed Socka, which you used to be able to get in an amazing range of solid and variegated colors. I guess when Schoeller absorbed Stahl that was one yarn line that was largely eliminated. I like Lorna's Laces, too, which seems to be increasingly hard to find from retail sites (the Lorna's Laces website is apparently 'wholesale only'; individuals can't order directly from it). I loved Socka cotton, too, and jealously guard the few socks I have made from it.

My favorite "sweater" yarn is 1824 wool. Gorgeous colors, feels good in the hands, high quality.