Mary Jane (Mae) West shocked and delighted audiences of the 30s with her outrageous and seductive manner. Although best known for double entendres and free sexuality, West’s career included writer, musician, and comedian. She championed other artists, and used her fame to promote their careers as well. She drove the studios to cast Cary Grant as male lead opposite her, and insisted the studio hire Duke Ellington as musician/accompanist. For her contributions to American cinema, the American Film Institute named West 15th among the greatest female stars of classic American cinema.
Though she had many admirers (Diego Rivera, Frieda Kahlo, and F. Scott Fitzgerald among the most prominent), she also made a serious enemy of William Randolph Hearst. He was once heard to say: “Isn’t it time Congress did something about the Mae West menace?”
One of the more controversial movie stars of her day, West encountered many problems, especially censorship. She bucked the system, making comedy out of prudish conventional mores, and the Depression Era audience admired her for it. Asked about the various efforts to impede her career, West replied, “I believe in censorship. I made a fortune out of it.” While true, she also suffered greatly because of it, even going to prison for her right to freedom of speech. Some of her words have now become part of the American vernacular. West gave us quips such as “Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you happy to see me,” and once when an admirer exclaimed, “Goodness! What a lot of diamonds!” West responded, “Goodness had nothing to do with it!” This shawl is a tribute to this bold, engaging woman.

Skill Level: Intermediate, due to lace and chart work, a provisional cast-on, and increases.
Materials: Approximately 1,200 yds (1,100m) of fingering weight yarn. Yardage can be adjusted, but finished size will change.
Needles: US 3 (3.25mm) circular needle with at least a 32” cord (40” or 47” would also be fine— there are a LOT of stitches)
Tools: Cable needle, if necessary; crochet hook & waste yarn (for provisional cast-on); 12 stitch markers