Short answer: Yes, absolutely.
Longer answer: Yes, of course they can. An adventurous beginner can tackle pretty much anything. They will only think it’s hard if you tell them that it’s hard.
I wrote a blog post a while ago called ‘Death by Scarf’ and it never fails to generate comments. So often the received wisdom for a new knitter is that they should start with a ‘nice long garter stitch scarf’, which has always been baffling to me. Why, for heavens sake would you want to beat the enthusiasm out of a new knitter so comprehensively?
Why not start them with a fun hat, knit in the round with some pretty yarn. They might need a bit of help with the cast on, but let’s face it, you’ll often need to help them with that anyway, but once that’s done they can zoom around with gleeful abandon until a short while later they learn a decrease and have their first triumphant finished object.
And socks are just the same. At their simplest you can just have them knit a tube sock with no shaping and a rounded toe (with no grafting). My BOB socks have a rounded toe like this (and a short row heel) and are really popular with beginner knitters who want to start knitting socks.
But honestly, there is no reason why a new knitter can’t learn to knit socks. The advice for them remains the same as it does for someone who has been knitting blankets and garments for years but has never knit socks. Let’s bear in mind that some people stick with flat knitting for all of their adult lives and never venture into knitting in the round at all. Years of experience does not necessarily equate to the ability to knit a sock.
Be patient, take it one step at a time and (unlike with other patterns) don’t read ahead. Socks are different - you are manipulating a fabric through 90 degrees and reading ahead about the heel turn won’t make sense until you get there. So just stick to the line ahead of you and take it slowly.
In no time, you’ll have a finished sock on your hands and a real sense of accomplishment. And if not? Well, you are back where you started with yarn and needles except that this time you have more experience and learned something which you can apply to your next attempt. Your first sock is unlikely to be perfect, but that’s fine. It’s a learning process and soon you’ll be cranking out handknit socks with the best of them.
Resources for new sock knitters
My free sock patterns: The basic one is cuff down and the Have Fun socks are toe-up
Winwick Mum Sockalong Facebook Group & Book
Socks knit flat on two needles - if the idea of knitting in the round does not appeal. Hanna of Germander Cottage Crafts does a fabulous tutorial for socks on two needles.
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