KnittingPatternCentral.com is the best place to find free patterns of all kinds. You can check out their Directory for lists and lists of patterns.

Men's socks using fingering yarn (sock yarn) using only one strand can be found on their sock list-

www.knitlist.com/97gift/menssocks.htm

I will look. Thanks. So many sock patterns are huge, and I want to find a pattern that I can use to make men's medium size socks with my needles and yarn that I have. All my kids have inherited their dad's small feet. My sons wear the same shoe size I do--which is convenient when I am buying them slippers at Christmas.

http://www.princeton.edu/~ezb/sockform.html
just plug in gauge and measurements

Sheila, I use Ann Norling's Basic sock pattern, instructions for 3 different weights of yarn, for all my socks, men's included. I think it says to cast on 64 sts, without looking. I have a size 9- 10 shoe size, with a large ankle and calf, and cast on 72 for mine, then decrease at the bottom of the ankel to the 64 for my foot. DH wears an 11-11 1/2 and I cast on 68 on size 2 needles for both of us. You can use any basic sock pattern, as they usually call for fingering/sock yarn. Ann's pattern also give directions for sport and worsted.

Tami

I use Ann Budd's pattern, from The Handy Book of Patterns. It's a set of instructions with different gauges and different size feet. Pretty much all you need to do is make sure you measure the person's foot right.

I also like Wendy's basic toe-up pattern.

Both of these are formulas, rather than actual patterns, so you can decide on your own stitch pattern.

~ Kit

Here is a link that might be useful: Generic Toe-up Pattern

Kit,

I have heard that it is real easy to make the top row of the sock cuff too tight with a toe-up pattern. Do you have that problem? Have you worked out a trick to be sure it doesn't happen?

If you do toe-up, the cuff can be bound off with an elastic bind-off like Elizabeth Zimmerman's sewn bind-off. Scroll down to bind-offs in the link below. This site is also great for links to other sock knitting sites and alternatives for heels and toes. Another elastic bind-off is as follows: Work 2 st in pattern (k or p), *transfer the 2 worked st from right to left ndl, k2togTBL, work 1 st in pattern*, rep from * to *. I like toe up because when you do Magic Loop or 2 circulars, you can try the sock on as you go.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sock techniques