Plus size patterns
Greetings fellow crocheters! I'm new to the forum and have been crocheting for about 15 years. I just got my new book, Crochet Me, yesterday, and immediately sat down to devour. Such beautiful, creative things!! I was surprised, however, to find that not a single wearable was offered for plus sizes. As a big gal who crochets, I'm always on the look out for sweater and top patterns that have the capacity to "ample" up. I'd like to challenge all you designers out there to add additional sizes on your patterns. If you need help with the adjustments, let me know. I (and about 500 of my ample crocheting friends) would be happy to help. Looking forward to a successful new year.
Susan Testa
Alexandria, VA
I received my copy of Crochet Me the other day and was surprised at how limited the sizing was on many of the projects and how they seem to be more geared towards the teenage set. I'll probably pass this book on to someone younger.
Tina, Chicago, IL
Interweave Knits/Crochet has been getting an earful from us 'real' gals on sizing, and I think it's had an impact. At least a few of the garments in the Interweave Crochet Winter issue went up to a 50" bust. Not really there yet, still has room for growth (hee hee), but an improvement. Hey Kim - more and bigger with non-wispy models!
Just wondering: does the Lily Chin book teach you how to enlarge patterns?
Lily Chin teaches how to make your OWN patterns. It's easy to go from there to adjusting an existing pattern. Well, designing and modifying aren't really easy, but she gives you tools and guidance.
Thanks, Pauline, that's good to know. I've been tossing up whether to get the book and this has finally swayed me. It sounds like the difference between a cookbook that teaches you how to cook and one that teaches you how to make recipes, know what I mean?
Margaret Hubert has a new book-Plus Size Crochet! She will signing copies of it Friday at TNNA just in case your there.
Check it out at the Craftside blog posted below! (there is a free butterfly pattern too!)
http://sweatersurgery.blogspot.com/
http://craftside.blogspot.com/
http://www.crafttvweekly.com/
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A fabulous book on making garments for large sizes is "big girl knits" by Jillian Moreno and Amy R. Singer. I was very impressed with their suggestions on styles and sizing. I've been hiding out in boxy shapes, but their advice is flaunt your good stuff. If you want a tent, join a circus! Dare a little negative ease. The first four chapters are all about what to wear, how to modify, how to make a garment make you look good. They don't promise to make you look skinny. They tell you how to look good.
True, the book is about knitting, not crochet, but I think it's worth getting just for their design and style ideas. The sweater shapes can be converted to crochet if you're feeling brave.
I strongly recommend this book for it's concepts.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gf/002-5146953-2977613?url=search-alia...
I have Big Girl Knits, and it is excellent. She does a great discussion on short row shaping, which is actually easier to accomplish in crochet than in knitting. Her thoughts on fit and design are also good. But a plus-size pattern is not just a small pattern made bigger. It needs to be bigger in the right places. I've had some success with patterns that were close, by using heavier yarn and a bigger hook. I like the Gourmet Crochet patterns that are made by the measurements rather than by the stitch count. You can use any yarn, any hook, and just take measurements at critical points.
The Art of Tangle sweater I posted in the finished projects is a great example of a pattern that can be ampled-up. It's top down, so you can try it on as you go, and has an easy pattern repeat that can be easily increased under the arms.
Susan Testa
Alexandria, VA
Good sewing books about fitting the human body can help refit for we plus sized ladies.
Its so nice to know I'm not alone looking for stylish wearables anymore.
Plus Size Crochet Fashions is pretty neat!
i do my own patterns too. i've done two longsleeve hooded cardigan sweaters for my office... one using two boucle yarns (joann fabrics rainbow boucle in the red/burgundy and i think a TLC amore in black), the other using two worsted-weight strands (a caron one pound in black, and varying worsted weight blues, in navy, variegated, and light blue). they're just done in a double-crochet stitch and measured against my body for size. the pieces are all basic - large rectangle for the back (measured across the shoulders), smaller ones for the front with an allowance for overlap (neither of them have closures yet), sleeves worked in the round with increases at about mid-forearm, elbow, and bicep. hoods are done with about 5-6 rows even, 4-5 rows decreased, 4-5 rows increased, then 5-6 rows even again and stitched.
the cardigans are meant to be large, so it doesn't matter much that the shoulder seam is a good 3" down my arm.
the one that was done in the black and blues has stretched quite a bit... mostly because my tension was loose but also because i've beaten it up. it's less of a cardigan and more like a 6' afghan with sleeves and a hood. the red and black hasn't stretched as much, and has large patch pockets done with 2 strands of caron simply soft in black and dark red.
red meat isn't bad for you... fuzzy blue-green meat is bad for you.
Welcome! I hope to see more larger-size fashions, as well!