FO – Frances for warmth

I decided to try and participate in NaKniSweMo this year. I was told that Francis knits up super quickly and that I would be able to get it done. That was no lie but I put Francis aside toward the end of the month to knock out some Christmas knits and with the hope that I would magically get more yarn out of the original 3 skeins. 🙂 One can dream right?

When I blocked it the first time I was able to block the sleeves to almost full length. However, I kind of really disliked how the sleeves turned out on mine. This is in part due to me adding stitches to allow for my massive biceps and still increasing where directed. 😀 I ripped them back and re knit from the increases by doing no increases and actually decreasing around an inch as I went down the forearm. That gave me almost enough yarn to make them full length. If I block it hard the sleeves go all the way to my wrist but I tend to bunch them up anyway.

I must confess I have worn this a few times since I wrote up the blog post but I finally got around to snapping photos of it on me today. I am quite pleased with how the waist shaping worked out for me. Turns out my torso is a smidgen long so I knit an extra inch before decreasing and it worked out beautifully. Also, I just realized I was a lazy knitter and never sewed the cowl down. Oh well 🙂 You can see it in the pictures a bit. I do enjoy wearing this sweater and with my new full length sleeves I will wear it whenever I need a sweater unless it’s colder than 10F. Then I am sorry but I have this big thick white sweater from 6 or 7 years ago that I swear by. Thankfully it’s not usually that cold here. Ok enough rambling enjoy the pictures. 😀

Frances for warmth

Description: Frances for warmth {I know I am spelling Frances wrong, but that’s my grandmother’s name. 🙂 }
Pattern: Francis Revisited by Beth Silverstein
Yarn used: 3 skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash Colorway 819 (100% Superwash Wool) 100 g / 220 yds
Care Instructions: Machine wash cold, lay flat to dry
Needle Size: US 10 (6.0 mm)
Modifications: I didn’t make gauge so I just fudged it. My gauge was 4sts/in on US 10 needles. I made a size between the XS and S. My stitch count at the widest point was 176sts. I also made full length sleeves by decreasing gradually by an inch on the sleeve instead of doing the increases near the elbow.
Finished Size: Umm to fit me? 32.5″ bust with about 5″ negative ease at the bust.
Date Started: 11/6/2008
Date Completed: 12/19/2008
Notes: If I were to knit it out of this yarn again, I would buy a 4th skein and go down at least one needle size. This gauge is very very drapey and kind of see through around the shoulders. (Note the photos with the flash…) Since I never wear a sweater without a camisole it doesn’t bother me. 🙂

With the flash, note the necessity for a camisole

2nd shot with the flash

See the waist shaping? 🙂

Side view