twistedloops

Spiraling Coriolis

It’s another project from the backlog.

I picked up a copy of Cat Bordhi’s New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One from the library because I was interested in seeing the new ways she handled sock architecture in it.  I wasn’t completely sure I’d like the book, and since the local library has a good knitting book selection, I decided to give it a try.

After looking through the book, I really liked the Spiraling Coriolis socks, but I wasn’t sure about them.  Like many of the socks in her book, they were knit toe-up.  I usually stick to top-down socks, mostly because of my terrible wrap and turn short rows.  In fact, I’ve been known to rework patterns that are written toe-up into top-down so that I don’t have to deal with it.  This book set me straight on short rows.  Following the instructions that Cat provides, I finally understood how to wrap and turn.  The instructions just made sense.  Thank you Cat!

As I mentioned in my previous post on these socks, they did have a few challenges that I had to work through.  What you can’t see in any of the photos is how tight this sock is.  The spiral bands are much tighter than the rest of the sock, and make it a little difficult to get the socks on and off.  But, they also help to keep the socks up, which is something I worried about for my first pair of mostly stockinette socks.  But, overall, I’m really pleased with the way they turned out.

I’ve added this book to my wish list.  I think the ideas it contains are really interesting, and I’d like to explore a few more of them.  And, if nothing else, it contains a great set of instructions for short row wrap and turn.

I really like this last photo because you can easily see how the bands spiral in opposite directions.  Depending on how you wear them, they can spiral towards or away from each other.

Pattern: Spiraling Master Coriolis
Designer: Cat Bordhi
Source: New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight (360 yards/128g)
Color: Chapman Springs
Needles: US0 (2.0mm)

Started:  June 17, 2008
Completed:  July 30, 2008

Pattern modifications:
Since the patterns in this book are so customizable, there was little I needed to change.  However I changed the following things

• Increased the spiral band to 4 stitches all the way around
• started out with Magic cast-on
• Modified the slip stitch heel so that the heel flap is in the Eye of Partridge pattern
• Adjusted the decrease/increase rate on the leg to better fit the shape of my calf