1955 Lace Yoke Evening Blouse

[atherleisure]

I wanted to find a sweater that I could knit out of the three and a half balls of yarn that I had left over from a 1930's linen/cotton blend sweater I made a couple of years ago. I found a pattern for a lace yoke evening blouse from 1955 that was really cute. I knew it was a boat neck, and I knew I might not like it because I don't generally have good luck with boat necks. (Yes, it's meant to be made of a light wool instead of a rougher cotton, but I wanted to use what I had.)



So I made it, and it is definitely cool and airy.



But the neck is not very cooperative. The shoulders keep creeping up so that the neck stands out from the body.



Naughty sweater.

I'll wear it a few times and see if it continues to annoy me. If it does, it can go in the giveaway pile.

Comments

[hharris]

It's lovely. That nice blue/grey color looks great on you too.

[atherleisure]

Thank you.

[danabren]

It's adorable!

[atherleisure]

Thank you.

[marianme]

Cute! I wonder if this is another case of modern posture versus earlier posture. Like when I tried the extant versus retro remake of the 1960s pattern and the remake had adjustments for slouchy shoulders. Some of those older styles if I roll my shoulders back and down and do the perky bust thing, the style looks better.

[marianme]

Also, I might have thought that's what the neck/collar was supposed to do without being told differently...

[atherleisure]

That's an interesting point. I read a book on pattern drafting from the 1940's that had pictures of the ideal posture and an over-erect posture. What was surprising to me was that the over-erect posture was what I would consider the posture of someone standing up straight. I've only made one dress from a genuine vintage pattern, and I found that if I stood up straight, the back was too long, while standing with my shoulders in what feels like a more natural position make it fit better. I've found the same to be true with the Vintage Vogue patterns I've used, but I don't know what, if any, modifications have been made to those patterns.

[marianme]

The fun part was having both patterns and being able to lay them over each other. The modern re-make/retro pattern has a deeper neckline and armholes.

[atherleisure]

It's cool that you have both versions. Interesting that the new one (I assume the one on top is the reproduction) has such a different side seam as well. (I'm assuming they're the same size.)

[mala_14]

It's really pretty! That colour looks great on you. Sorry to hear that the neckline is being annoying, though.

[atherleisure]

Thank you.