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

by Cat Bordhi (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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.

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: 48 pages
• Publisher: Passing Paws Pr (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970886950
• ISBN-13: 978-0970886958
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #66,006 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

514 of 525 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!

217 of 219 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 (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

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!

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Put down your double-pointed needles and pick up 2 circulars, September 25, 2001

By	Diana Kaaha (USA) - See all my reviews

Socks Soar is one knitting book you simply must have! It will end up beside the Elizabeth Zimmerman and Barbara Walker classics on your bookshelf, because it is just about that revolutionary and wonderful. It has Elizabeth Zimmerman's humor, too. The book is about socks, but the techniques Cat teaches so well (she is a schoolteacher, by the way, and you can tell because she explains things in more than one way to be sure everyone gets it) can be used for any knitting you have ever used double-pointed needles for, like round necks, cuffs, even glove fingers! She seems to have thought of everything. If you want to change a favorite sock pattern to this method, she teaches you how. The appendix is chock full of tips and tricks no one else has thought of. Many of them can be used for things other than socks. There are beautiful sock designs in the book too, and one is the only really life-like cat sock design I have ever seen. I'm working on it right now, using some yarn I spun from my Bernese Mountain Dog's brushings (!!!) to knit the cat design on a cinnamon background. I'm probably going to use this cat graph for a sweater, too. People were fighting over the last copies of this book at my local yarn store. I had to laugh because the owner was complaining that she didn't even get a chance to read it before they were all gone.