I've knit a lot of stockinette (or nearly stockinette) sweaters recently, and by mid-summer this year I was itching to cast on something different. I wanted cables and lots of texture, but with a modern feel, and maybe a dash of drama. I pictured a slightly oversized and boxy shape, just a bit cropped, with a super-wide ribbed neckband, and cables that ran from shoulder to cuff. Oh, and a deep ribbed hem.
Enter Clio, my take on the classic fisherman sweater, with cables and texture aplenty, but minus the bulk that often comes with that style. Worked from the top down, Clio uses a unique combination saddle-shoulder/drop-shoulder construction. Saddle-shoulder pieces allow the cables to run continuously from neckline to wrists, and the steeply sloped modern drop-shoulder shape eliminates excess fabric under the arms—even with the oversized body—to make for a truly great fit.
I've been wearing my cropped Clio pretty much non-stop since it came off the needles. In fact, it's not really all that short, hitting right at the hipbone—but the added ease in the body makes it look more cropped than it is. I wear mine over a long tank that fits closely at the hip. This creates a wide-over-narrow silhouette that is surprisingly flattering on a range of body types.
But in case a cropped shape is just not for you, the pattern has instructions for a second style that's longer, with less positive ease, and a more conventional fit. This version has an optional split hem, with the splits shifted slightly toward the front of the garment to create a more flattering line.
I used Phoebe, Quince and Co's heavenly new DK weight yarn, for this design. Its lovely drape keeps Clio's boxy shape fluid, and the yarn's subtle tonal variations add surface interest without obscuring your stitches. Love.
