From Margarita to Vonica

From Magarita to Vonica - sounds like a song title.  But no, it is my latest knit.

Last year you might remember that I knit Margarita with Black Zooey - a linen/cotton combo that I purchased  in Florida.  Although I loved the lace panel down the back of Margarita, I didn't love the way the sweater hung in front.  It was one of those 'stick to the armpits' sweaters.  The pattern declared it to be open-fronted but gave instructions for extra width to fill in that gap a bit, if desired.

I did knit it with the extra width, but still, when wearing, it drifted always to the armpits and stayed there.


This spring, I decided to rip it out and knit something else with it.  I chose Vonica, a Chicknits pattern.

I have knit a few other Chicknits patterns and even though Vonica is also open-fronted, I felt I could trust the designer to give me a non-armpit-clinging garment.  And she did!

It is a lovely sweater.  And a quick knit. Started April 1 - good thing I'm not superstitious - and finished on April 23.

The construction is unique.  It starts at the centre-back collar with a provisional cast on (See how I did this on  my ravelry page)

 and continues first down the fronts, then the back to the underarms.  There the  fronts are joined to the back and the knitting continues to the bottom ribbing.

Sleeves are picked up and knit down.  Sleeves are a modified drop

 with a snugger fit that the drop-shoulder sleeves of our past. They look very sophisticated.

The only modification I did was to use 2x2 ribbing instead of the 1x1 the pattern suggested.  I made my standard size - the 40 (W)x 22.5(L) inch rectangle that seems to suit my body shape.  I love it so much, I think a white one is in order.