i learned the magic loop method of making sox last year [just before i turned 70] using silver's tutorial:
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/2circsocks_start.htm for toe up sox [good pictures, easy to follow] and
http://www.knitaddicted.com/files/MagicLoop.pdf for
knitting top down. [google magic loop for sox for more tutorials
knitpix.com has very good circular needles for $5-6 with really good pliable cables. either wood or nickel-plated. they also have lots of free, pretty sock patterns.
i'v made sox for everybody; now i'm making sox for myself using bamboo, silk, bison, qiviut, cotton, soy, alpaca, cashmere, chitin, corn, possum, mohair, yak, and all kinds of wool in all colors, but mostly green!