The Frances Sweater

I’ve been lucky to have my work appear in Knitscene magazine several times over the past few years, but this is the first time one of my designs has been on the cover!

 

Copyright Knitscene/Harper Point Photography

 

The Frances Sweater is worked seamlessly from the top-down in reverse stockinette stitch, with a big, bold cable traveling down each sleeve and across the neck opening. I really love designs that look more complicated than they are, and I think this sweater accomplishes that. The cables framing the neckband travel seamlessly into the sleeves, and the shoulders are shaped with decreases rather than short rows. There is a construction diagram included in the pattern so you won’t get lost.

 

Copyright Knitscene/Harper Point Photography

 

The yarn I used is Swan’s Island All-American Worsted, a 2-ply alpaca and Rambouillet wool blend. This combination makes a soft yarn that also has a lot of memory; an excellent choice for cables, and it’s very forgiving worked in reverse stockinette if you have slight tension issues.

 

Copyright Knitscene/Harper Point Photography

 

The shape of this sweater is unique. My original concept for this design had a drop-shoulder construction, but Hannah Baker, Knitscene’s editor asked me to make a dolman sleeve instead. I did some research and sketched a design that we were both happy with. By extending the drop shoulders further down the arm I added more volume at the bust allowing the body of the sweater to taper neatly to the narrow waist, creating a silhouette that’s both comfortable and flattering.

 

Copyright Knitscene/Harper Point Photography

 

All of the designs in the Unexpected Cables story are beautifully styled and photographed in an old movie house. The Fall issue of Knitscene magazine is available in stores and online now.

Thank you for knitting!