Plus sized patterns that are easy....
I hope someone has some serious guidance. Most crocheters and their patterns are for size 14 and under. I am not bragging, but a 42ddd cannot adjust a size 14 pattern. Also, too many of the plus-sized patterns I've seen assume plus-sized means 5'5" or shorter and round. I'm not. Any sources for simple patterns. I crochet on the fly and due to time and a physical issue, I can't sit for two hours or more to sit still. I've got to be able to stop and start.
Thanks!!!!
I've got no real advice given that I'm in a similar sitch and that's one of the reasons why I don't make myself many garments. What I AM going to do, however, is buy the Lily Chin Couture Crochet book and start designing! I'm young (OK - youngish) and sassy, but voluptuous, and need patterns that are young (youngish, etc.), sassy and will fit beautifully. So many of the plus-size patterns out there are designed in an older style, or to cover up ("Sorry I'm so big, world!"), not enhance, and I'm done with the covering up. Maybe I'm having a midlife crisis, I don't know. But midlife crisis with a crochet hook? How bad could it be? :D
Do you have "Big Girl Knits"? It's good for ideas, if not exact crochet techniques and explains the use of horizontal darts aka short rows and vertical darts to help the fabric flow over our curves. It takes a lot of measuring, planning, some math, and maybe a bit of restyling to enlarge a pattern, but it is doable.
There's a new book "Plus Size Crochet" by Margaret Hubert, but the only photos I've seen from the book show boxy styles.
Oh, there's someone on line with larger patterns. Let me find her... Not the one I was thinking of, but Stitch Diva goes up to 3X on her crochet and knit patterns, http://www.stitchdiva.com/ Still not the one, but La Vonne has larger sizes, http://lavonneknotjustknits.com/index.html
Or Carolyn Christmas/Gourmet Crochet, http://www.gourmetcrochet.com/index_files/Page454.htm
Still can't find the one I was thinking of...
Check out the patterns from Art of Tangle (www.artoftangle.com) for super easy, top down patterns. Since they are mostly made by the measurements, you can use any yarn, any hook, any gauge. In particular I like the "double yoke sweater". I've made it 4 times now in different yarns. It is so easy to personalize. Since this is a top down pattern, you can try it on as you go. Yay! If you need a few extry rows (like me, ha ha), just keep repeating the pattern until it fits you. The yoke is worked in rows of single and double crochet with increases at 4 corners. This grows the sleeves out as the yoke grows and give a "raglan" appearance with the sleeves are broken loose. Get this pattern!! It's worth 10 times the price. Let me know if you need help with the increases in the body after the sleeves break loose (aren't women supposed to have hips?!?). I've got this one down pat and will make it again and again. Check out the pics of the first one I finished in the finished projects forum.
Susan Testa
Alexandria, VA