knitting different shapes?

Question

how to you knit a socks shape, (not knit a sock but the shape)

Answer 1

It depends whether you are knitting it free-standing or as part of a bigger item like the back of a sweater. If it's part of a bigger item, you make a chart and then follow the chart, changing change colors in the middle of the rows, back and forth until you have a picture of a sock in the middle of your work. Here is a Mary Maxim blanket where they did it with birds.
http://www.marymaxim.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_10054_3074457345616709239_-1_15033_15035
If it's free-standing, you can do it by increasing and decreasing, or make it in pieces. You could also knit a rectangle, felt it and cut out the sock shape, or knit a rectangle, iron it to interfacing and cut out your sock shape.
.

Answer 2

I would use some simple short rows. Cast on enough stitches to make the sock shape the size you want across the top where the cuff usually would be. Knit down in any stitch you like till the shape is as long as you want before it turns for the foot.

Here is the short row part. With the shape's right side facing you, knit across to the second stitch from last. Turn the work, leaving one stitch on the other needle unknit. knit back across all remaining stitches. turn the work back to the right side and knit across leaving 2 stitches the left needle this time. continue in this fashion, leaving one more stitch un knit on each right side row until you only have 2 or 3 stitches left.

At this point you simple knit all the way across, and the piece will have a corner in it now for the heel shape. you can just knit until your sock shape has the foot shape you like and then decrease at the end of each row to round off the toe.

If you make two of these you can sew them together for a holiday stocking.