Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles: a Manual of Elegant Knitting Techniques and Patterns [Paperback]

Cat Bordi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2001

This is the first sock knitting book devoted to teaching the simple mysteries of two-circular-needle-sock-knitting, a vastly more efficient and easier method which is rapidly gaining converts. Eleven original designs, clearly worded instructions, photographs, charts, a section on translating traditional patterns to the two-circular method, and abundant tips and tricks have been put together with great care and a generous sprinkling of humor. The author answers all of those subtle, almost unframeable questions a new sock knitter has, as well as delighting seasoned sock knitters with innovative sock architecture and techniques.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cat Bordi has been creating and designing in the textile field for over forty years. Her work first began to show up in international collections in the 80's, and has been featured in museums, calendars, cards, books, and magazines. Her second collection of designs for socks on two circular needles, due out in October, 2002, will include even more innovative sock architecture and extensive sections on everything from fitting unusual feet to generating and applying brand new designs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 44 pages
• Publisher: Passing Paws Press (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970886950
• ISBN-13: 978-0970886958
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (116 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

579 of 590 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rises above all other sock books September 29, 2001

By A Customer

I am a minority, a man who knits. More and more men are taking up this age-old art, though. In my office (I am an architect) two other men knit also. Centuries ago it was men, not women, who did the knitting. Anyway, I have been knitting socks for my size 14 feet for several years, laboriously following the traditional methods and using the same tools as those men did centuries ago: sets of double-pointed needles. They have certain small advantages, but nothing compared to the amazing speed and opportunities the two circular needles offer. I will never use double-pointed needles again.

It takes literally moments to learn Cat's method. So why do you need her book? It contains handsome patterns for both men and women, and explains clearly how to translate the old kind of pattern to her method. That way you can still use your favorite sock patterns (one of mine is a Nancy Bush design). It's so simple (Cat even says so) that you scarcely need the book. But you do--because of the vaariety of patterns she offers, as well as pages and pages of tips and tricks that you'll use later for socks and collars and sleeves and all kinds of other knitting.

One more thing--she is funny and gentle, and she understands that you need good explanations. The photographs are so beautiful you could frame them. Get this book, and your feet will have more socks!

231 of 233 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have knitting book if you love to knit socks June 6, 2002

By Joanna Daneman #1 HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Amazon Verified Purchase

I keep a list of "must-have" knitting books and Cat Bordi's "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles" has SOARED to the top of my list. Here's why:

1. The technique of using two circulars to knit a sock in the round is easy to do, but rather hard to explain. Author Bordi does this with clear pictures and great step-by-step explanations. I was totally flummoxed by this technique until I read her book.

2. Knitting on two circulars rather than 4 double-points results in a smoother gauge. This is especially important for colorwork knitting.

3. The pictures are clear and show some beautiful technique. The cover is in color, and the photos inside are a very good gray tone that shows detail. The patterns are endlessly adaptable, using them as a template with your own colorwork or textured knitting designs.

4. There isn't just technique in this book. Bordi has a number of really lovely patterns including some textured work, color work and picture knitting. Charts are large and easy to read. Only the leaf-and-tendril is not charted (it's row by row.)

5. Here's a list of the sock patterns:

a. Simple Sock in three Sizes (easy)
b. Indoor Felted Boot (easy)
c. Gardener sock (easy)
d. Columbine Peak (intermediate, textured)
e. Two Alert Cats (intermediate, cat chart really useful!)
f. Cable Top (intermediate)
g. Alpine Meadow (intermediate, nice colorwork)
h. Bavarian Twisted Stitch (intermediate, lovely textured)
i. Leaf and Tendril (textured, advanced.)
j. Not mentioned in the contents, but there is a "fleet foot" sock with a design like Mercury's wings on the cuff.

There are only 44 pages in this book, which makes it seem a bit pricey, but every page is loaded with content. This is a book with NO fluff that I know I will be referring to, again and again. (Well, actually there IS some fluff--one pattern incorporates yarn made of an angora-like fiber spun from dog fur. It's pretty fluffy!)

Bordi mentions that when she teaches classes, the knitters sigh over two of the sock patterns-- the leaf-and-trellis and the alpine meadow. I had the same reaction when I saw them in this book. If you love to knit socks, you will be muttering "four needles good, two needles better" rather like the animals in Orwell's Animal Farm!

103 of 105 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A good book, with some faults November 20, 2002

By A Customer

I would hesitate to recommend this book to an absolute beginner because Bordi assumes you already know how to knit socks. I was astonished at her lack of clarity in certain steps, such as picking up the gussets and closing the toe with kitchener. It takes just one paragraph to explain Kitchener clearly so even a child can follow it, why did she waste all that space telling us how to do an awkward grafting trick when Kitchener is so easy and superior? She tells us to look Kitchener up in another book! (Look it up using google, there are very clear directions for Kitchener, with photos, on the "Socknitters" -- one k -- website.)

There are also errors in the Basic Sock pattern, which I find almost unforgiveable. I know errors in knitting magazines and books are inevitable, but if I were writing a sock knitting book I'd go to extraordinary efforts to make sure the beginner's sock is error-free. Luckily you can find the corrections on the net, just go to google and search for "Corrections for Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordi." (Use the quotes and type in exactly that, only one page will show up and that's the page you want.)

Another complaint I have is the lack of uniformity among the patterns. She sometimes uses different words to describe the same step from pattern to pattern, which could be confusing to beginners, and sometimes her directions slip into silliness, such as the "bloops" in the felted slipper pattern. However I do enjoy her overall conversational tone and it doesn't grate on my nerves (though I can easily understand why it would bug some people).

The two circular method is GREAT and very simple and I now knit all my socks/sleeves/hat tops/etc using it, but I learned it from the Summer 2000 Knitter's magazine, I didn't need to buy this book to figure it out. (There are also websites that explain how to do it, do a google search for: Joyce Williams two circulars.) One thing is for sure, I will never knit a sock or sleeve on double-pointed needles again.

I have no problem with the grayscale photos, they look great and I can use my imagination to color the socks, with the help of the small color photos on the cover and back cover. I also have no beef about the cost of the book, I appreciate and support independent publishers. I translated a dpn pattern to the two circ method on my own before I bought this book so it's rather easy to do in your head as you follow a dpn pattern, but Bordi takes up an entire page and explains how to do it in detail so I'm sure many people would find that information helpful.

Despite all my complaints above I do think this is a good book, especially if you already know how to knit socks. Also, please take the time to look up the corrections on the web (which is good advice for just about any knitting book actually). I certainly don't regret buying Socks Soar, I've referred to it many times and I like several of the patterns.