Ok, I admit it… I’m a Big Girl. I’m typically a size 18-20 depending on the garment and came to grips with that a long time ago. While I’d like to lose weight for health benefits… in the meantime I can’t run around nakey!
I love love the book Big Girl Knits It’s funny and witty and has some really great patterns and tips for us Big Girls out there :woot: My problem is that I love chunky yarns. Right now I’m working with some Patons Shetland Chunky that I got on a kick butt great yarn sale and nearly have a very simple sweater done. The book says to stay away from chunkies because of the weight of the drape primarily once the garment is done… but my problem is that I don’t have alot of time to just sit and knit… so I need something that works up fairly quickly otherwise I get bored with it… and I’d like to finish a sweater before cold weather is over with here in the South :knitting:
Any suggestions on patterns for us Big Girls or for yarns that have a little give, alot of color, don’t cost a fortune and that work up fairly quickly? My next project is a wrap sweater and I’m leaning really hard towards doing it in this black Shetland I have (my one concession to this book is I can’t give up black… I love color, but I love black too ) but I really need some suggestions here.
I am a Big Girl Knitter myself, although I haven’t made anything just for me yet. Right now I am searching for the perfect shrug and it is seeming difficult to find.
If you find a design and yarn you love, go for it!!!
I’m getting bigger, much to my regret, and have always been very large up top even when skinny. I find that knitting at a looser gauge makes stretchy fabric so I can knit sweaters with 2-4" of negative ease and don’t have to put in any shaping. If you like the yarn and the pattern, go for it. You can always undo it if it doesn’t look right on you.
Hi Donna! I think we have a lot in common :teehee: - I say use the yarn you love. If you are happy with the look, then that’s all that matters. Wear what makes you feel good and happy!!
What part of 'bama are you in? I’m centrally located about 45 miles northeast of Montgomery. I think all the other 'bama knitters around here are in the B’ham to Huntsville area…
I have been knitting for about a year now and have yet to knit anything for myself besides a hat or scarf because of my size especially the chest area. Everything I see that I like the sizes stop short about 6 sizes from where I am at. And if I do find something the amount of yarn and the cost would kill a cow. I really would like to knit myself a nice sweater before the weather gets any colder I too would love a quick knit any suggestion?
I love that shaking backside! I am with you all. While you are searching for a great sweater pattern, let me know if you find a great pattern for socks for thick ankles and fat legs.:yay:
BIG GIRL HERE!!!:waving:
I too love the way bulky yarn works up but don’t want to look like a stuffed animal. I solved that by using my beloved chunky on SIMPLE vest patterns. At the moment I am finishing up a Hooded zip front vest (Knitting Pure & Simple) in Lambs Pride Bulky. Vests are a great QUICK project and I personally love vests.
Add me to the big girls list! I haven’t knit anything for myself yet, I’ve only been knitting for a few months. I am DYING to make myself a sweater, but I’m so intimidated by the amount of yarn called for in my size! I started a Bevin tank for myself and just added stitches, but I’ve only done about 4" of the back panel, so I have no idea how it’s going to turn out.
I’m working on my first attempt at a garment for me, a simple (hopefully) sleeveless top I found in knit.1 magazine. It’s a 2x2 rib in’ worsted cotton and I’m a little worried that it looks a bit chunky, but I’m going to finish it and see how it looks on. Just remember, there’s an exception to every rule, so at least try it once and see how you like it.
New Girl - there is a formula in ‘big girl knits’ for adjusting socks and I just noticed these over at knitty.com
Big girl here, too. I’ve never made mysef any clothing because I’ve generally found that the patterns aren’t usually big enough for me. I would be ok, probably, until I got to the hips, and then stuff doesn’t fit. So, I really don’t have any advice, but I can sympathize. I do know that sometimes going up a needle size will give you a little bit of give in a garment, you just have to be careful not to make it too big. Hope this helps. :waving:
Ditto everything ladyjessica said. I can usuall get things to fit up top, but when it comes to the bottomside, everything is too tight and short. Just lengthening the pattern does not work. (I generally like my tops baggy and to fall about mid-thigh) If you increase after the waist, it turns out looking like a maternity top. I sure wish designers would get out of the “model” mentality. Even if you find one that knits up to the right size, it’s modeled by some tiny girl and gives you no clue to what it would look like on us bigger gals. I am going to knit myself a pullover someday. My best alternative is the men’s patterns. They are longer and come in bigger sizes. I just need to adjust sleeve length.
Hi everyone,
Try this site : http://www.bigcrafty.com/
She has links to lots of knitting, sewing and crocheting patterns that are designed for us … non-skinny types!!:woohoo:
Hey! What do you say we set up a group? Let me know what you think …
lotsa love, lulu
LOL, LOVE the booty-licious emoticon (in fact, I had to snag it and post on another forum about the most AWESOME moon I’d seen in a long time, heh heh!)
Just wanted to say, I totally understand about patterns not quite fitting–my arms and legs don’t fit anything but ‘Tall’ so all my patterns have to be tweaked…and sadly, not always successfully.
I’m a bigger gal than you. I haven’t knit anything to wear for myself other than scarfs. I do have that book and a few others for plus size knitting. I even have some nice patterns that I purchased online. Maybe sometime I’ll give it a try. I’m afraid it will feel like I’m knitting the “thing” forever since it will have to be very large. I’ll lose interest in it. I did begin a sweater for myself a few years ago and thats exactly what happened. I got tired of working on it.:knitting:
My size can range from 18-20 on some brands and 22-24 on others. Just depends on the brand! I can relate to the whole fear of ‘stalling’ - which is why I wanted to start out with a shrug. Now the challenge is to find a nice structured one!
It’s funny and witty and has some really great patterns and tips for us Big Girls out there :woot: My problem is that I love chunky yarns. Right now I’m working with some Patons Shetland Chunky that I got on a kick butt great yarn sale and nearly have a very simple sweater done. The book says to stay away from chunkies because of the weight of the drape primarily once the garment is done… but my problem is that I don’t have alot of time to just sit and knit… so I need something that works up fairly quickly otherwise I get bored with it… and I’d like to finish a sweater before cold weather is over with here in the South :knitting:
) but I really need some suggestions here.
I’m looking fior one also.
I started a 
I haven’t knit anything to wear for myself other than scarfs. I do have that book and a few others for plus size knitting. I even have some nice patterns that I purchased online. Maybe sometime I’ll give it a try. I’m afraid it will feel like I’m knitting the “thing” forever since it will have to be very large. I’ll lose interest in it. I did begin a sweater for myself a few years ago and thats exactly what happened. I got tired of working on it.:knitting: