Customer Reviews

Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters: Book Two in the New Pathways for Sock Knitters Series

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My quest, for the last two years, has been to find the perfect and easiest knitted sock pattern so I can knit socks quickly and without stress. I have been frustrated with the lack of knowledge regarding how to knit the best gap-free, hole-free, shortrow-free, gusset-free sock. We're living in the 21st century; shouldn't sock knitting have advanced to fit the times?

Well, now it has. Ms. Bordhi has written the perfect sock book with a sock so easy to knit, a beginner knitter could do it. I have just finished a sample pair of socks and they are stunning! There are no gaps or holes at the heel and I was able to knit a sock in a day! When I blocked them, they were flawless. I must admit I was terrified of cutting the "mouth" for the cuff but that was effortless with Ms. Bordhi's wonderful suggestion of a lifeline. The instructions were so clear and, for once, right on the money. If you are a knitter and follow the instructions as written, you cannot fail!

I'm done with my quest. Making socks with Ms. Bordhi's instructions is now a way of life for me. I am working on my third pair and will always have socks in progress. Thank you, Cat. I don't know you, but I love you!

I am not a sock knitter.

I feel almost ashamed to make that admission because I feel that sock knitters are the main reason the recent resurgence of knitting has been so long-lasting and deep. (Once you work up a small garment on size 1 needles, you know you can knit ANYTHING on size 6's!)

But I don't knit socks very often, and hardly ever for myself.

After reading this book that will change. I'm selecting yarns for a new pair of socks for myself right now!

Cat has a way of making perfect sense of the sock mystery. Her clear concept of a way to measure your foot, to take into consideration the rise of your instep, and the very interesting patterns make this a book that MUST be on the shelf of every sock knitter.

(And also on the shelves of the sometimes-sock-knitters, too!)

It's always wonderful to see a designer take into account that one size does NOT fit all, even with socks, and offer an excellent plan for creating a well fitting sock.

I love making socks. It is in fact why I decided to learn to knit. I don't find turning heels at all intimidating so I wasn't sure I'd even want this book. But, I have both of Bordhi's "Treasuries of Magical Knitting" and I refer to them a lot so I thought I'd at least take a look.

This method of sock construction is wonderful because you can avoid a lot of the things that I consider a hassle in knitting.

1- minimal row counting for the foot section.
2- no heel turning (which I know for some is a huge factor)
3- extremely stretchy leg opening which is particularly important for people with diabetes or have water retention issues.

Bordhi is fantastic about making sure that no matter what your needle preference is, this system works for you. She shows how you can use it with one large circular using the magic loop method, how to use it with the two circ method and how also to use it with dpn's. While the double knitting method isn't covered, I believe if you start the two socks separately and knit a few rounds, you can then merge them onto one set of needles to continue in the traditional double knitting method.

The other reason this book is great is because some of the patterns are very much one of a kind. I haven't seen anything like it anywhere else. It's worth the money and I think I will be holding on to this book forever.

One of the best things to happen to knitting lately has been the influx over the last decade of the twenty-something knitter. Even though I'm in my fifth decade and qualify for female codger status, needles and yarn in hand, I am canny enough to realize that young knitters have brought great new blood to the craft, plenty of creativity and a desire for new and innovative patterns and ideas. I hope this trend continues; knitting has never been more fun. Likewise, sock knitting has taken off over the same period of time. This has always been one of my favorite passions in knitting (first thing I ever did knit) and now there is even a SOCK SUMMIT, a convention just to gather sock knitters to exchange ideas, yarns, patterns and techniques. Sock projects are handy; they fit in purses for take-along and they are relatively quick to make up and take little yarn. Socks are universally admired as gifts (even Pablo Neruda was moved to tears, or at least odes, by a gift of handknit socks.)

Cat Bordhi has been putting out one "different" sock book after another and has championed new methods of knitting. In this book, she not only shows a new way of making socks, foot-first, so to speak, but she includes several methods of working the sock in the round so that you can pick your favorite method and not be boxed into something you don't cotton to, or else be forced to revise the pattern to suit your own knitting tastes.

The beginning of the book teaches you how to make up a sock footprint; this is kind of a shoe-last for socks, a template. Making this footprint pretty much insures the sock will fit, so you can have fun times getting the footprint of family and friends and keeping these relics around for sock making as well as general merriment. (My guy at home wears size 15's so you can imagine the fun we can have singing "Your Feets Too Big" by Fats Waller. Of course, I wear 11's, so I'm hardly one to point and laugh.)

Then you can choose your method of working in the round. This is so kind of the author. She gives toe-up cast on methods (worked by Turkish and Eastern European knitters) Then there is the two-circular method--since one circular doesn't bend sharply enough to make a small circumference such as a sock foot or a leg tube, knitters use two short circulars to make a "hinge" between them and knit around on the two needles to make a seamless tube or the cup of the foot. Personally, I don't like this method and I'm fine with double-points--straight needles (really they don't bend AT-ALL, so you use three or four in a triangle or square and knit around this arrangement. Classic. Pre-circular, works fine.) And then there is the "Magic Loop" method, using one circular. Wait! Didn't I just say one circular can't handle the small circumference? But lo, it can, if you use a very LONG cabled needle and pull a long loop of cable out between the front and the back of the tube. You knit off one needle, pull the loop and knit the back needle to make a seamless tube.

So the knitter has a choice here. The book really is meant to be used as a how-to, follow the leader. You make a test sock, using familiar yarn, making a footprint and using it step by step until you've complete a perfect-fitting foot. Then you start at the foot opening (where the leg begins) and then up the cuff to the end. After that, you are competent to branch out into the beautiful textured and patterned socks included (I liked the Seeking Sunlight sock.) Not all the socks use exactly the same technique, and there are different heels, such as a sort of star heel that is very pretty. Some templates--footprints can be made of cardboard, paper, laminated paper (I own a laminator for my work, here's some fun) or even a jigsaw and wood for the craftsman--make some permanent "footprints" and even sock dryers while you are at it.

If your sock knitting is getting a bit boring and stale, I promise you, you will be absolutely diverted by this book. As for me, my guy needs socks and doing his feet first makes sure I know I've made them large enough for his size 15's. And yes, my 11's. So this method is for me. Off to create footprints. This book is great.

If you already knit socks and are happy, then I wouldn't recommend this book, but if you are like me (I knit -sort of-- but I've never made a sock before) then this is a great place to start. I was worried about fit and gauge, casting on, working the heels. I thought maybe a class would be the only way. Then I found a video by Cat. She SHOWED me what I was having trouble seeing in the book. Knowing there was help if I needed it made me brave enough to buy the book and start a sock. Her ideas of different, her techniques simplify the scary heel, and the videos give me the extra visual I need. I'm thinking this book is the answer to my sock making woes. I gave 4 starts instead of 5 because without the video support from YouTube, I still didn't understand the techniques.

I have most of Ms. Bordhi's books, and I really like this latest book from her and recommend it without any reservations. The first book in this series, "New pathways for sock knitters", left me scratching my head; it was too esoteric for me, despite the fabulous out-of-the-box ideas contained in the book. "Personal Footprints" on the other hand makes absolutely perfect sense. I am knitting the sample socks right now and so far, the instructions are really clear. There are many mouth-watering patterns in this book and I'm afraid that I will be knitting most of them. Get this book; it is a completely different take on sock knitting that anybody can master. If you have never knitted socks before, use the method that Ms. Bordhi outlined in this book and you will be hooked on knitting socks forever. Thank you Ms. Bordhi for your latest creation and for bringing such joy to us sock knitters.

The title should be taken literally; the book is actually about 'footprints' in the literal sense, as the book requires that you make physical (flat) duplicates of your footprint. The text is great, the instructions clear, and the finished product wonderful. The variety of patterns is good, and you can go from beginner to accomplished by following the patterns. However, I personally am not as interested in a sock that is custom-fit for my foot (and for none other); I'd rather learn more about how to adjust a pattern to fit different measurements. If you have unique feet (extra long big toe, or maybe wider heel), then this book is for you. Cat Bordhi is deservedly highly respected, and her ideas translate to other patterns as well. For me, I'd rather make socks I can send to my daughter 3,000 miles away and rely on her measurements; the fit will be just fine....but on the other hand she does not have any atypical variations in her feet. I'm keeping the book, though, as it contains many helpful instructions and really good drawings of the foot and the sock.

There are legions of Cat fans out there. I have not been one, until I saw this book. I was not crazy about her last sock book (I thought the socks were not wearable or flattering). But this is a whole new story! Lots of great patterns -- fun and pretty. She makes you sit up and pay attention. While I have always admired Cat's technique, this is book proves that her out-of-the-box thinking can create some beautiful projects. This is not a book for first-time sock knitters (at least it would not have been for me). If you know your way around dpns, or magic loop-- you'll do fine.

Creativity marries functionality -- Yay!

Cat Bordhi is innovative and this book is no exception. Even if you decide you don't like the footprints method of sock making, there are a number of attractive stitch patterns that could be incorporated into a conventional sock.
However, this approach will appeal to only a limited number of knitters. You cannot knit these by shoe size or by foot measurement - you have to make a blueprint first for which you need numerous try-ons so these socks could only be knitted for someone to whom you have such access.
Furthermore, the blueprint is very specific--it only works for a specific gauge. Different yarn--different gauge--you have to make a new blueprint.
This will appeal to you if you don't like a flap heel but have a high instep so that regular afterthought heel socks are tight around the ankle.
However, you could incorporate the idea of additional instep increases in the foot into a more conventional approach as well.
Glad I borrowed this from the library first - I wouldn't use it enough to justify purchasing it on my limited budget of both $$ and bookshelf space.
However, it is definitely worth reading.

While working my way through my first "Discovery Sock" I had a little difficulty figuring out where Cat was going with it. Once I took the time to work it out, however, I could see the genius of this new approach.

Cat provides a couple of really helpful videos via YouTube to assist the knitter in some of the more difficult aspects of the design (like the cast on and bind off she recommends in the book). I was incredibly appreciative of this feature, as I have referred to the videos on several occasions to refresh my memory.

There are several beautiful sock patterns in the book itself, but it isn't just a sock pattern book, it's a brand new approach to constructing a sock. Those looking for mindless knitting may be disappointed, as Cat wants you to pay attention to what you are doing. How you will achieve your perfect fit requires more attention than you would expect, but it is a worthwhile investment of your time. But if you're looking for a challenge, or are simply dissatisfied with your previous attempts at socks, give Personal Footprints a try!

P.S. My discovery sock looks incredibly awkward but it fits fantastically! Don't be put off by the aesthetics because it will be the best-fitting pair of socks you will ever own.