Proof of Knitting

I told you I had indeed been knitting, and here is the proof:

This is my latest version of Francis Revisited. It's a simple, top down, raglan, cowl neck. Mine does not actually follow the pattern; just the idea. My Flame D'Amore was also based on this pattern, and it's one of my favorite and most-worn sweaters.

I've had this great Cascade Eco Alpaca Duo in my stash for quite a while. I got it in a Rav destash for a great price and I've been wanting to use it for a long time. It's 100% alpaca and extremely soft and warm--probably the softest yarn I've ever felt. Since alpaca stretches and drapes like crazy, and since I knew this yarn would likely stripe, I wanted a very simple pattern in plain stockinette that would look good even if it stretched out. Francis seemed to fit the bill.

This version is truer to the original than my first, including the moss stitch hem. It's a bit floppy, but I suspect it will be fine after washing, when the rest of the sweater grows to match.

And I'm going to give this one a larger cowl than my first as well, since I've found my favorite sweaters these days have cowl necks. I have always avoided them, because my mother hates them, but I bought a few last year to wear with suits and quickly realized they suit my lanky shape really well.

This sweater has progressed rather slowly, as I've been distracted by other things, including Mosaic Madness:

As you can see, I'm up to 12 of 20 octagons. I have yet to start the connecting squares, both because they look boring and because I don't understand the pattern for them. How is it possible not to understand the directions for a four-inch square? I don't know, either, but I still don't understand them.