Pattern of the Week: Frances Sweater
So, yellow yarn. Do you love it? Do you hate it? At the Interweave office, we’ve had many conversations about knitting with yellow yarn and if it inspires people to knit and wear yellow garments. We are collectively under the impression that women generally shy away from wearing yellow garments, because we are all somehow convinced yellow doesn’t look good on us. Fun fact: Anyone can rock a yellow sweater! It’s just a matter of finding the right yellow for your particular skin tone. We included two yellow sweaters in knitscene Fall 2018 to encourage women who are hesitant to wear yellow to be bold and give it a try.
One of these yellow sweaters is right on the cover: the Frances Sweater by Kephren Pritchett. The focal point of this sweater is the beautiful cables at the neck and sleeves. It’s worked from the top down, beginning with the cabled neck and shoulders. Stitches are picked up along the edges of the neck and shoulders for the front, and the other side for the back. The front and back are worked separately to the underarm, then joined to work in the round. Sleeve stitches are picked up from the armholes and the sleeves are worked in the round. This pullover is uniquely shaped to allow for ample ease at the bust, and then waist shaping helps give you a light little hug at the waist.
I love a sweater that is an overall simple pattern, with some alluring techniques in it so I don’t lose interest. The cable in this sweater is the star, balanced by a reverse stockinette stitch body that requires much less concentration. I also truly do love a yellow sweater. And of course, you don’t have to knit this sweater in a yellow yarn. But I sure would like to see some yellow Frances Sweaters in the future! Give yellow a try and cast on the Frances Sweater right now!
Pattern Details
DESIGNER Kephren Pritchett
DIFFICULTY Intermediate
FINISHED SIZE 32 (35¾, 39½, 44¼, 48, 51¾)” hip circumference. Pullover shown measures 35¾” on a model with a 31″ bust.
YARN Swans Island All American Collection Worsted (75% Rambouillet wool, 25% alpaca; 210 yd [192 m]/2¾ oz [80 g]): #AAW412 lichen, 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 8) skeins.
NEEDLES Sizes 7 (4.5 mm) and 8 (5 mm): 24″ circular (cir) and set of double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
NOTIONS Markers (m); waste yarn for provisional CO; cable needle (cn); stitch holders; tapestry needle.
GAUGE 17 sts and 25 rnds = 4″ in rev St st on larger needle. 8 sts of Chart A or B = 1½” wide.
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