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!