Customer Reviews

A Treasury of Magical Knitting

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As with so many knitting or crochet books, you've got to take a good look at this one before you purchase it. The book is devoted to the use of the Moebius strip in knitting patterns, a Moebius strip being a loop of knitted fabric with a twist in it. If you are a freeform knitter who is interested in the Moebius construction or who wants to incorporate its unusual structure into your knitting, then this book may intrigue you. If you are a more traditional knitter, you may find the book to be a rather expensive one-trick pony. Likewise, scan the patterns carefully to determine whether they are to your taste. I personally can't imagine making any of them, but that's just me -- yet another compelling reason for looking at the book before you purchase to decide whether, say, necklaces made of miniature knit socks are something you'd like to wear to the office on Monday. The production values for the book have gone up dramatically since the "Socks Soar" book: color photography, nicer paper, more sturdy binding, but so has the price.

I've never reviewed a book before but this one deserves it.

Of all the knitting books out there (and there are so many now) this one stands alone. For a knitter like me (weary of seeing either another sweater pattern or too many exceedingly young and hip designs) this book contains a new world of excitement. It took a leap of faith to believe the method would work because it seems like it can't possibly. Luckily the author explains everything in such friendly detail that it becomes easy. After a weekend with the book I had the unusual sensation of feeling like I knew the author, like reading a good novel and feeling like you know the characters. That is how clear and friendly the writing and instructions are.

The book is very beautiful too. Throughout are nature photos that take my breath away. The model is enchanting and shows the scarfs, wraps, felted boots, and capes very clearly. The print size is large enough to read really easily and the book lies open pretty well. It's the kind of book you can knit from and enjoy reading too. I rushed right into the knitting because I was impatient but later I went back and read the first chapters where there is a story about how the Moebiuis was discovered in Germany more than a hundred years ago. It's a funny story and I'll leave you to read it for yourself.

I highly, highly recommend this unusual book. The knitting is absurdly easy once you get going.

OK, knitting fans; here's another strange technique to add to your repertoire of "How the HECK did they figure THAT out" knitting. Cat Bordi has figured out how to do a moebius strip knit technique without grafting. Now, the late great Elizabeth Zimmermann made a moebius scarf by knitting on a provisional cast on and then grafting the scarf with a half twist to get the single sided mathematical puzzle we call a moebius. But Ms. Bordi figured out how to cast on over a doubled, long circular needle and get a moebius in one seamless garment.

There are patterns for, yes, scarves, but also some interesting hats including the very Sumerian looking "Tresses" cap, some shawls with shaping that turn the scarf into a poncho or capelet, and FELTED boot socks. These are amazing. If you like interesting knitting, this is absolutely a must.

I bought the second book before I bought this one, so obviously almost all of it was redundant. I would recommend buying the second and skipping the first. The second has many more ideas, whereas the first one has only one thing to contribute really.

I am one of Cat's long time fans. I learned to knit socks from her book Socks Soar. I took a class with her in Seattle years ago and she was the best teacher ever. I learned about this book (the Treasury) from the Socknitter's List where Cat is very well known and respected. I expected something similar to Socks Soar. Something good, original, clear, friendly. But all I can say is WOW!!!! This is way more!

This book is awesome. You've got to see it for yourself. Its got patterns in it that I'll bet no one in the world has ever thought of before, just out and out brilliant. I can't wait for the next one, which is supposed to be out in January. The instructions are great. I learned the MCO (mobius cast-on) in one minute and now I've knit 4 scarves and 2 hats and a cape and am working on a pair of felted boots that are way cool. Tthese magical designs get going and you can watch TV or do anything because they sort of take care of themselves while you just knit. I love it. If you go to her website which is the usual www. in between her name and the .com you can see really alot of pages from both books.

Ms. Bordhi has taken the magical Moebius strip and done things with it that take knitting into a whole new world. The Moebius is a loop with only one side, which may sound impossible but believe me it isn't. In fact it is so simple and so appealing that I can't believe everyone doesn't know about it.

And the book just happens to be drop dead gorgeous too. You can tell a lot of care and love went into every detail.

It amazes me that the author can go in so many directions with this one idea! If you want things to wear she's designed capes with Moebius collars. She's also made a whole menagerie of scarves. Some are simple enough for a beginner and some are better for an advanced knitter.

There's a second book coming out which you can see on her website with even more Moebius creations like baskets and bags and so on. This is some of the most amazing knitting I've seen since Debbie New.

Some other knitters have written about how to knit a Moebius scarf. Don't make the mistake of thinking that this book rehashes what you've seen before. The scarves are only the beginning of all the delightful designs Ms. Bordhi shares in this book. Scarves are where you begin but not where you end!

I purchased Volume 2 first and found this a bit of a let down, even though there are some very nice patterns in it. I had already experimented with the moebius form and I'm into freeform so find Cat's techniques and ideas inspirational, but I could also have lived without this particular volume, especially with international postage on it! That said, if you have never ever played with a moebius, or find the instructions on the web too confusing, this is for you! Her instructions are brilliant, so that even a novice knitter can follow them easily. And I certainly learnt an awful lot about knitting and following patterns, and self-discipline ( rueful grin).

I love this book. I have been knitting for over 40 years and have never seen anything like this book. Once you get going you can't stop. It is so easy and the scarves turn out beautifully. I have made more than a dozen already and when people see them they ask where to get one or if I will make them one. The instructions are great and the pictures even more amazing. If you want something more than the standard scarf, this is the book for you! Well worth the price.

We were doing Mobius strips in school and then my mom got this book for her birthday. In case you don't know the book is all about knitting stuff that starts out as a magical Mobius. So I all ready knew how they worked. That's what I thought anyway! I learned a bunch of new things from Cat's book and I emailed her to tell her some stuff and she wrote me back. Now I'm knitting a Mobius scarf and all my friends think its way cool. If you like magic tricks and you love to knit this book will make you jump up and down with happiness.

I eagerly read the book to get an idea what this "magic" technique was! I found the reading very enjoyable and understandable. I also greatly appreciated the introduction with the friendly kindergarten-cut and paste geometry behind it. It really is quite simple - a twist and so easy to do! I followed the instructions for the Mobius cast on and the beginning rounds - my how clear the instructions were and how easy to follow and do it! I made a dozen conventional scarves last year for gifts and next year everyone is getting a Moebius scarf - let them try to figure out how I did it! I have the second Treasury on order and can't wait to see what magic it will bring me. So nice to find something truly new in knitting after all these years!