A delicious project start for a cold, sunny January day.
My great-grandmother, Maxine Elliott, was a flapper in the Roaring Twenties. She drank, smoked, and burned the candle at both ends. I do none of these things, but I do love a beaded shift in rosy silk and merino, with sparkling beads like bubbles in a flute of champagne.
This is generally what I'm going for with the Maxine shell, although I haven't decided whether to include the circle sleeves or not. They're really more 1930's than 1920's, although i do like them. The deep V isn't open; that section is "on the grain" (regular knitting), and the two side panels are bias-knit and beaded along the drawn lines. So far, I am loving the work on this design; the combination of yarn (Sundara's Fingering Silky Merino, held double) and beads feels amazingly indulgent. It's a reminder that spring will come...eventually.
Your description sounds so indulgent. I'm looking forward to the final product. I think the flared out sleeves would be an excellent addition to your design although most "flapper" type dresses were sleeveless... Don't you think they got cold.. brrr!