Review of Knitting and Tea and New Pathways for Sock Knitters

A lot of knitting books come across my desk and some are about techniques, some are on specific topics, and some are just different. The books Knitting and Tea by Jane Gottelier (which was sent to me by the publisher) and New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi (which I purchased locally) are just a bit different.

First, Knitting and Tea by Jane Gottelier is a lovely book that melds two different, but complementary activities. There is nothing I like better than to sit down with a cup of tea and my knitting after a long hectic day. This book explores that world. The patterns are fairly traditional, but with modern styling and the essays on tea, where it comes from and where to drink it are very interesting. At first I picked up the book because the title intrigued me, but then I got lost in it. I have earmarked at least two patterns, the Somerset Cable Sweater and the Builders Cable sweater for a closer look. Many of the patterns have charts (especially the intarsia sweaters and cables) and all of the chapters explain why the author feels knitting and tea go hand-in-hand.

The second book New Pathways for Sock Knitters by Cat Bordhi is a whole new way to look at socks. Cat is definitely an expert on the construction of socks. She explains making socks in new ways and she hopes that by the time you are done following her method you will devise your own. Socks formerly had only a few ways of being made, but in Bordhi’s book there are 8 master patterns and many ways of combining the parts. If you never made socks or would like to experiment this is a great place to start.