Fiber #40 // 50s Inspired Sweater

Hang on ... THREE posts in one week ... AND a finished object??? What is going on over there in the Land of Jessica? (Although, hang on, it's about time isn't it? That was considered normal just a year ago)

So here's a sweater that's endured endless tinkering, retinkering, and then languishing as I couldn't figure out the last 0.5% of the project to make it wearable. It's a modified version of Mata Hari, a beautiful pattern which caught my attention not only because it reminds me of those 50s blouses with the ballet neckline at front and deep V in back, but also because the sweater is reversible. Hello.


You'll see from the Ravelry link that the original sweater does not exactly have a boatneck collar, which was the first of my difficulties in tinkering with the pattern. Even if you have some experience with short rows, including some heavy winging-of-it in modifying a sweater pattern to fit your mother, I do not really recommend offroading for a boatneck if you are using inset sleeves and haven't quite figured out the depth of armholes you need and are knitting this bottom-up, especially not if you are delusional about how deep of a sleeve cap you require (I keep forgetting that knit patterns tend to size proportionally, so that smaller sizes generally correspond to petite-r armhole depths, unlike many sewing patterns where I have to make a petite adjustment in armhole length).


I also opted to raise the v-neck by about two inches. Mostly for modesty sake when wearing the sweater the other way around, as I don't really go for plunging necklines over camisoles and wanted something I could wear to work. Unfortunately this means the v-neck from the back isn't nearly as sexy as in the original pattern, but then again, that may not be a bad thing for a work environment.


Here it is the other way around. Sorry for the color quality in the photos, this is a beautiful, deep, luscious, vibrant blue Noro yarn that photographs terribly. I'd had it in my stash forever, trying to find a pattern where I wouldn't mind if the single ply, wool/silk/nylon blend eventually stretched out and sagged. This style should look fine form-fitting or loose, I think.


And the neckline from the back.

I love this style of blouse so much, I am rather tempted to make another one (but with a better boatneck of course). However, it's rather a distinctive style, no? Maybe with tiny cap sleeves as a springtime blouse? I seem to have the best success sneaking one pattern into multiple garments if I can split them between seasons ...