My Socks by Cat Bordhi

I could say that I’m knitting socks because it is socktober but that would be a lie. I’m knitting socks because they are my go-to when I’m thinking about a new design or procrastinating on another project or just restless and need to cast on something, anything, new. Someone needs socks, right? My daughter just dug out her winter clothes and counted 12 pairs so she’s good. My son-in-law is working in his basement where it’s cooler so he could use another pair. My husband is talking about buying socks so he’s definitely in the queue.

Cat Bordhi has left us. To honour her, I have made a pile of all her books. I am trying to learn one of her sock systems because my dream of taking a class from her is gone. First up is the New Pathways for Sock Knitters book.

I have knit several pairs so far: the Spiraling Coriolis which are toe up, Bartholomew’s Tantalizing Socks which begin at the cuff, and lastly the Ocean Toes which are also worked cuff down.

I’m still working on these socks because I have learned:

  1. You can place the gusset stitches anywhere on the sock: on the top of the foot, under the foot (I love this idea) or even only on one side of the sock. Wow, that opens things up, doesn’t it?!
  2. You can work the gusset stitches with two knit rounds between the decreases (or increases if toe up). That means the gusset section is longer so these socks give you more room along the instep (the arch on the top of your foot between mid-foot and ankle) which I really need for a good fit, bonus!

I’ve knit six socks so I have this system down, right? I mean six is enough. Now to do it with the book closed (feels like high school exams). The first sock went pretty well until I turned the heel and realized that I had worked the Short Rows for the heel starting with long rows which got shorter. No, no, no, rip, rip, rip. Started the heel again with Short Rows which started short and got longer. OK, look at me, I got this. Everything looks great.

I cast on the second sock a couple of weeks later. Finished the heel and guess what, it doesn’t look like the first sock. It’s close but now quite right. What happened?! Picture me looking clueless.

It’s back to the drawing board to figure out where I went wrong. Rip, rip, rip. I feel like the little engine that could. I can do this. I can do this.

I’m changing my name to Deb Persistence Gemmell. Has a nice ring to it.

Cheers. Keep on, keepin’ on.

Any Gauge and Gauge-Free patterns by Deb

Cabin Fever patterns by Deb and Lyn

Deb on instagram

Author: debgemmellmods

I'm a Knitter. The capital K means every day, everywhere. I'm co-owner of Cabin Fever with my sister Lyn. We have published over 100 patterns and 11 books. I'm also working on a new set of patterns for Any Gauge knitting. Dive into your stash and cast on for a Top Down sweater that fits, or an accessory to use up those odd balls of yarn.

16 thoughts on “My Socks by Cat Bordhi”

    1. Thanks for your kind words but I am often clueless, ha, ha!! My husband ready my blog and said I can just hear you saying “no, no, no, rip, rip, rip”. So you know he’s heard it several times, lol.

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  3. And this is why I learned ONE, well two, METHODS, got them firmly in my brain & use them over & over again!! I never have to kick a book across a room again, nor do I need to call a friend 14 times in one evening for help even though I have the book in front of me . . . . I buy interesting yarn instead. I will admit to trying to learn the “SKEW” sock that Knitty had one season though.

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  5. Hi Deb,
    I have Cat’s book “Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles” and I’m also sad I never got to meet her. I tried several times over the years to knit socks on dpn’s and just couldn’t get it right , always ladders!!! Then one year my best friend and I were at the St Jacobs Market and a lady was knitting socks on two little circulars. She said it was easy so we bought needles and yarn, she also wrote on a piece of paper that we should look on You Tube for the Cat Bordhi tutorial “casting on with two circular needles”. I have not looked back and have knit loads of socks successfully and have passed on the info of her tutorials to many who have trouble with dpn’s. RIP Cat and thank you Deb also for all the great info and inspiration you post here.
    In Sock Solidarity,
    Peg Bird X

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