Short Story

5/15/12

12:00 PM

Page 1

cathy carron

Crafts ■ Knitting

cathy carron

shortstory 35 chic knits for layering

shortstory

Cathy Carron is one of the most popular and prolific knitwear designers today. Her designs have appeared in Vogue Knitting, Knit ®

Simple, Interweave Knits, and Knitscene magazines. She is the author of the bestsellers Hattitude, Cowl Girls, Hip Knit Hats, and

chic knits for layering

Long story short, cropped sweaters are the hottest designs on the runway and on the needles. Never content to knit by the book, Cathy Carron takes basic shapes—cardis, cropped pullovers, shrugs, and more—and creates novel ideas that speak volumes.

Praise for Cowl Girls and Hattitude by Cathy Carron: “Filled with photos and visual cues about how-to-wear, Cowl Girls can be used literally as a pattern book or stashed as an idea resource from which to improvise your own collection of totally tubular accessories.”

—Vogue Knitting

BLUE = Live area

Knitting Sweaters From the Top Down. Cathy lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Photography by Rose Callahan

sixthandspringbooks.com PRINTED IN CHINA

“Knitters who are already fans of the cowl concept are sure to enjoy Cathy Carron’s Cowl Girls, and those who haven’t jumped on the balaclava bandwagon will likely become converts to the cowl cause after a quick flip through this book.”

—About.com “[In Hattitude] Cathy Carron gives us 40 women’s hat patterns that will fly off of your needles. She approaches hats like a chocolatier with the understanding that simple changes to a good base can create astonishing variety...”

—Knitty.com

shortstory

SHORT STORY_cover _FINAL:Layout 1

$19.95 U.S. $23.95 CAN

chic knits for layering

CATHY CARRON

cathy carron

shortstory chic knits for layering

In Hattitude, Cathy Carron brought you hats to fit your every mood; in Cowl Girls she created an almost infinite variety of infinity scarves, gaiters, and cowls.

Now, in Short Story, Cathy works her magic with cropped tops. In this cutting-edge collection, you’ll find everything from cute cardis, to tiny Ts, to sexy shrugs, and more, including: ■ Miss Match: Striped on one side, lace on the other, this stylish crop tells both sides of the story.

■ Block Party: Build a better bolero out of chunky knitted blocks in shades of gray.

■ Eyelet Candy: Knit in luscious alpaca and wool, this ruched wrap punctuated with bands of lace will satisfy any sweet tooth.

■ Snow Wonder: Step into a wintry

$19.95 U.S. $23.95 CAN

ISBN 978-1-936096-459

wonderland when you wear this cozy topper adorned with ribbons, bobbles, and lace.

51995

■ Bohemian Wrapsody: This free-spirited hooded poncho puts the “hip” in hippy.

Every one of these 35 original

9 781936 096459

designs is the cream of the cropped!

shortstory chic knits for layering

CATHY CARRON

NEW YORK

161 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013

acknowledgments Short Story is the third book in what is turning out to be

Editorial Director JOY AQUILINO Senior Editor MICHELLE BREDESON Yarn Editor RENEE LORION Instructions Editors PAT HARSTE BARBARA KHOURI Instructions Proofreaders CHARLOTTE PARRY JUDITH SLOAN Copy Editor LISA SILVERMAN Technical Illustrations ULI MONCH Photography ROSE CALLAHAN

a series. The process gets easier each time because the team at Sixth&Spring Books works as a finely tuned machine under the guidance of publisher Trisha Malcolm. The gears that make my world work there are Renée Lorion, once yarn master, now technical advisor, and my editor, Michelle Bredeson, whose forbearance during my wackier moments is noted and much appreciated. Not to be forgotten are the people who take my work and make visual magic: Joe Vior, the creative director, and stylist Sarah Liebowitz. Technical editors Pat Harste, Barbara Khouri, Judy Sloan, and Charlotte Parry ensured that the instructions are error free and

Stylist & Bookings Manager SARAH LIEBOWITZ

easy to follow. Kudos to you all!

Hair and Makeup ELENA LYAKIR

Except for the yarn credits in the back of each book, I have never explicitly thanked the folks at the yarn companies

Vice President, Publisher TRISHA MALCOLM Creative Director JOE VIOR Production Manager DAVID JOINNIDES President ART JOINNIDES Copyright © 2012 by Cathy Carron All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means— graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage-and-retrieval systems—without written permission of the publisher.

The written instructions, photographs, designs, projects and patterns are intended for the personal, noncommercial use of the retail purchaser and are under federal copyright laws; they are not to be reproduced in any form for commercial use. Permission is granted to photocopy patterns for the personal use of the retail purchaser.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012937689 ISBN: 978-1-936096-45-9 Manufactured in China 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 First Edition

who’ve kindly supplied all the yummy fibers for this and my earlier books. It’s understood that yarn companies work with designers to get exposure for their products.

However, the grace and speed with which the stuff comes through the door is much appreciated. I’d especially like to call out Tricia Anderson of Tanglewood Fiber Creations in Oregon. Trish makes extraordinary yarns, and is also one of the most personable and enthusiastic people in the business. Another shout-out goes to Eugene Wyatt of Catskill Merino Sheep Farm. I inadvertently stumbled upon Eugene’s yarn while rushing through the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City. I grabbed his card and made a point of contacting him, because he makes amazing yarns, and because I am a strong proponent of the locally grown movement. To him, and to all the yarn makers who contributed to this book, I am grateful.

4

shortstory

contents 8 10 14 18 22 26 30 34 38 42 46 50 54 58 62 66 70 74 78 82 6

shortstory

introduction:

Short Is Sweet

brief encounter: out of the blue tie one on

A Quick Look at Short Tops

Wide-Collar Ribbed Pullover

Tie-Front Cardi

grecian turn

Cuffed Wrap

merry go round miss match

Striped Pullover

Stripes & Lace Crop Top

coco chenille

Faux Tweed Pullover

painter’s palette going green tee time

Shawl-Collar Crop Top

Striped Cropped T-shirt

a cute angle iron lady

Ruffled Bolero

Ribbed Poncho

Bobbled Bolero

at first blush all tucked in

Cashmere Shrug Tucked-Hem Crop Top

hyacinth bouclé block party

Patchwork Bolero

spring fling

Two-Tone Pullover

short ’n’ sweet belle curve

Bouclé Bolero

Cowlneck Capelet

Button-Front Cardi

86 90 94 98 102 106 110 114 118 122 126 130 134 138 142 146 150 157 159 160

in the pink

Basketweave Bolero

high contrast

Brioche-Stitch Poncho

cream of the crop

Wrap-Front Shrug

bohemian wrapsody silver lining criss crop

Crop Top & Cowl Set

Lattice Cable Crop Top

bold & beautiful snow wonder eyelet candy

Bulky Fair Isle Shrug

Bobbled Pullover Ruched Wrap

crème de la crème blue by you luxe life

Hooded Poncho

Drop-Stitch Poncho & Arm Warmers

Striped Lace Pullover

Lacy Capelet

take a ribbing swing time

Ribbed Cowlneck Pullover

Horizontal Rib Cardi

shawl we dance? café con leche

Shawl-Collar Poncho

Drop-Stitch Crop Top

mo’ better blues

Scarf-Front Shrug

abbreviations & techniques resources index shortstory

7

introduction

Short Is Sweet After designing hats for heads (Hattitude) and cowls for necks (Cowl Girls), it just seemed logical to work my way down to covers for shoulders, hence the focus for Short Story. Aside from the logical progression, there were many other reasons this type of collection appealed to me.

First off, I really like to have my neck and shoulders protected no matter the season. Of course, during colder weather there’s always that need for a little extra something, whether I’m inside or out. While padding around our house in the hills, I don’t always want to carry around the bulk of a full sweater, so I’ll toss on an extra little capelet or cropped top to protect me from drafts.

Even in warm weather, I’m apt to wrap unless it’s truly sauna-like outside. Summer nights in northwestern Connecticut can be chilly. And the ubiquity of air conditioning necessitates keeping some kind of shoulder covering on hand; while shopping during warmer months or in warmer climes, I often feel as if I am walking into a refrigerator rather than a store! Short tops and sweaters are just the thing.

Another appeal of short tops is their versatility. The opportunities for creative variations in shape, stitch patterns, and fiber are endless. As you’ll see in the photos throughout this book, there is an almost infinite number of ways to style these abbreviated delights. And finally, short is sweet in both time and money: Smaller projects cost less and take less time, so instant gratification is just around the corner. Because fit is not critical for a number of projects, such as the ponchos, they would make ideal gifts. Of course the sweetest gift is often the one you give yourself, so pick your favorite and start knitting!

shortstory

9

miss match Stripes on one side and a lacy texture on the other create a top that tells both sides of the story.

30

shortstory

belle curve The unusual construction of this lovely cardi creates an arched front and a gently curved back.

82

shortstory

shawl we dance?

You’ll be the belle of the ball any way you wear this versatile wrap.

142

shortstory

cafĂŠ con leche A two-toned neutral palette and a richly textured stitch pattern create a delicious look for any fashion taste.

146

shortstory

5/15/12

12:00 PM

Page 1

cathy carron

Crafts ■ Knitting

cathy carron

shortstory 35 chic knits for layering

shortstory

Cathy Carron is one of the most popular and prolific knitwear designers today. Her designs have appeared in Vogue Knitting, Knit ®

Simple, Interweave Knits, and Knitscene magazines. She is the author of the bestsellers Hattitude, Cowl Girls, Hip Knit Hats, and

chic knits for layering

Long story short, cropped sweaters are the hottest designs on the runway and on the needles. Never content to knit by the book, Cathy Carron takes basic shapes—cardis, cropped pullovers, shrugs, and more—and creates novel ideas that speak volumes.

Praise for Cowl Girls and Hattitude by Cathy Carron: “Filled with photos and visual cues about how-to-wear, Cowl Girls can be used literally as a pattern book or stashed as an idea resource from which to improvise your own collection of totally tubular accessories.”

—Vogue Knitting

BLUE = Live area

Knitting Sweaters From the Top Down. Cathy lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Photography by Rose Callahan

sixthandspringbooks.com PRINTED IN CHINA

“Knitters who are already fans of the cowl concept are sure to enjoy Cathy Carron’s Cowl Girls, and those who haven’t jumped on the balaclava bandwagon will likely become converts to the cowl cause after a quick flip through this book.”

—About.com “[In Hattitude] Cathy Carron gives us 40 women’s hat patterns that will fly off of your needles. She approaches hats like a chocolatier with the understanding that simple changes to a good base can create astonishing variety...”

—Knitty.com

shortstory

SHORT STORY_cover _FINAL:Layout 1

$19.95 U.S. $23.95 CAN

chic knits for layering

CATHY CARRON

cathy carron

shortstory chic knits for layering

In Hattitude, Cathy Carron brought you hats to fit your every mood; in Cowl Girls she created an almost infinite variety of infinity scarves, gaiters, and cowls.

Now, in Short Story, Cathy works her magic with cropped tops. In this cutting-edge collection, you’ll find everything from cute cardis, to tiny Ts, to sexy shrugs, and more, including: ■ Miss Match: Striped on one side, lace on the other, this stylish crop tells both sides of the story.

■ Block Party: Build a better bolero out of chunky knitted blocks in shades of gray.

■ Eyelet Candy: Knit in luscious alpaca and wool, this ruched wrap punctuated with bands of lace will satisfy any sweet tooth.

■ Snow Wonder: Step into a wintry

$19.95 U.S. $23.95 CAN

ISBN 978-1-936096-459

wonderland when you wear this cozy topper adorned with ribbons, bobbles, and lace.

51995

■ Bohemian Wrapsody: This free-spirited hooded poncho puts the “hip” in hippy.

Every one of these 35 original

9 781936 096459

designs is the cream of the cropped!