Francis Revisited

So now that I'm going to commit to blogging again, I think it makes sense for me to start with my most recent finished object, Francis Revisited.





Once I started to find my knitting mojo again, I pulled this pattern out of my "to knit" pile and cast on with yarn from my stash (Cascade Pastaza). What a bonus ... finding a pattern that would work for yarn I already had and like.

So mid-September I cast on and off I went. Earlier this year I learned the magic loop technique for socks (fodder for another post) and used that to do the sleeves. Let me tell you, sleeves have never been so painless.





I have to say, you can't beat a top-down sweater knit in chunky yarn. It doesn't take a lifetime to finish ... instant gratification (or at least 6 week gratification in this case) is what I like!





I used Cascade Pastaza for the sweater. I had a seen a few other people use this on ravelry. It was a great choice. I got gauge and I really like the slight halo I got from the lama content. I'm definitely shedding a little bit, but nothing like my part angora sweater (which I honestly should just frog so it stops taking up closet space).

Looking for a quick, easy sweater to get yourself going? Want something that looks soft and smooshy? You may want to try out this sweater in a nice fuzzy yarn.

My rating: Gold star!

Francis Revisited by Beth Silverstein
US 10 and 7 circulars (sleeves done magic loop)
Cascade Pastaza (6 skeins)
(50% lama, 50% wool)
Colorway: (lavendar) 300 (lot 8189)
Cast on September 16, 2010
Finished November 6, 2010 (funny... that's exactly one year after the last project I posted here on my blog... spooky!)

Mods: I did full length sleeves with no increases/decreases. I just knit straight down from the picked up stitches and then ended with 12 rows of seed stitch. I also did 12 rows of seed at the bottom of the sweater.

Ravelry details here.

A one year absence anniversary

Wow... one year! How the time has flown. Today, the anniversary of my last post, I feel compelled to post and to try to start blogging again.



Lots has been going on over the past year (and nothing too). Work has been crazy busy and that's the primary reason this blog has sadly been abandoned. Over the past few months I've slowly starting carving out a little time for recreation though. Interestingly, this has come less in the form of knitting and more in the shape of spinning! Yep, that wheel I bought some years back has been getting some exercise and I'm really loving it.

My last post showed that I finished the cinnamon bay bag. To be honest, finishing the blanket killed my knitting mojo for quite some time. Too much stockinette in the same color, over, and over, and over (and over). =]



Switching into spinning, and then get this, actually knitting with my own yarn -- that my friends is inspirational! In later posts, I'll catch you up and show you some of what I've done.

Yesterday though was one of those great fun days (and spinning and fiber related). The Torrance Fiber Festival happened and I went with a great group of women (the Southern California Fiber Fiends on ravelry. We got to see and touch all kinds of beautiful fiber and yarn, had a great lunch, and got to laugh and talk about all kinds of great topics. I'm so glad they let me join them in all the fun. I came home all energized and excited about life.

And those feelings my friends certainly beat out stressed and demoralized (which is what I often get at work)!

Looking forward to posted here again in the near future.

p.s. today's lovely pictures are purchases from the festival this weekend. To-Ply's handpainted BFL roving in oranges and Mendenhall merino washed fleece. Goodies for future fun!