Light & Layered Knits: 19 Sophisticated Designs for Every Season

Best-seller Vicki Square returns, this time focusing on a lighter layered look that will appeal to knitters of all ages. Working with lighter weight yarns in fibers such as silk, linen, cotton, and bamboo, Vicki creates garments that work in all climates, that can be layered and removed at will, that are equally at home in a casual or workplace setting. These are knits that are meant to be worn every day, knits that combine polish with comfort, practicality with style. These are versatile wardrobe staples—shells, fluid tops, draped tunics, light cardigans and wrap sweaters and more. These are knits that reflect the way that women dress today.

Vicki takes a holistic approach to knitting here: her goal is to offer the reader a functional, multi-purpose wardrobe, not merely a collection of individual patterns. Many garments are customizable—sleeves can be added, lengthened, or removed. Garments can be worn alone or layered over one another. She offers graphic color through intarsia, slip stitch, and stranded-knitting detail, and also shows readers how they can simplify the design by using only one or two colors instead. She offers a variety of shaping techniques (increases, decreases, gauge, and stitch patterns) to help create a garment more or less fitted, as the wearer prefers. Short-rows are also used to help shape a garment—adding volume and drape. She shows how by using a variety of yarn weights one can create visually interesting details, and make the garment lighter and more comfortable at the same time. A restrained use of ribbon, ladder, and other novelty yarns create interesting textures with little effort. Finally, techniques such as applied i-cord, 3-needle bind-off, and slip-stitch crochet seaming give the projects a polished finish.

In addition to the 22 patterns, sidebars will discuss warm-weather fibers and their properties, creating texture, working with color, and stitch selection.

Create fluid, fashionable garments you'll wear over and over again!

Best-selling author Vicki Square returns, this time creating beautiful garments made from comfortable fibers and light yarns. These are more than simply projects to make-they are truly knits to live in.

The 19 patterns of Light and Layered Knits work in all climates, can be layered and removed at will, and are equally at home in a casual or workplace setting. Working with lightweight yarns in fibers such as silk, linen, cotton, and bamboo, Vicki creates pieces that will appeal to knitters of all ages.

These versatile wardrobe staples-shells, fluid tops, draped tunics, light cardigans, wrap sweaters, and more-reflect the way that women dress today. What's more, most of them are conveniently sized for up to a "46" to "48" bust circumference.

Vicki Square is the author of Knit Kimono, Knit Kimono Too, Folk Bags, Folk Hats, and the best-selling The Knitters Companion with DVD. She is also a contributor to Lace Style, Simple Style, and Knitting Green. Vicki regularly designs knitted pieces from elegant basics to unique art to wear. Her artistry in color and aesthetic are stated boldly through her engineering of unusually shaped garments and accessories. Magazines such as Interweave Knits, Knitters and Spin-Off have featured her work, and she has won awards for her innovative designs. Vicki has been designing and teaching knitting for more than twenty years, and cross-trains her creative passions with drawing, painting, and mixed media pursuits. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Introduction

Projects

Keyhole

Sport Zip Jacket

Big Lapel Cardigan

Renaissance

Rolled V Collar Pullover

Ruffle Shell

Stacked Bracelets

Uru Jacket

Wrap Blouse

Zig-Zag Top

Peplum Shell

Origami Flower Shell

Long-Sleeved Tee

Lace Collar Shell

Lace Cardigan

Fair Isle and Lace Tunic

Euro Lace Tunic

Eros Jacket

Celtic Queen

Big Cable Pullover

Slip-Stitch Tee

Confetti Tee

Maze Tee

Glossary

Sources for Supplies

Index