When I started making patterns my goal was to be body inclusive, and I really think that I am getting there. One of my more recent pattern releases ( Peek A Boo Halter) , as a video tutorial (here) and a written pattern (here), I was blessed with testers of all sizes willing to share their photos! One thing is for sure, no matter your shape or size, YOU CAN WEAR CROCHET. We just need to work together to help people design for more sizes, because honestly, designing for all sizes is NOT easy.
When you design something, you want the wearer to look flattering. Bring up their confidence. Make them feel beautiful and comfortable. My first shot at designing inclusive items, was a bust. I couldn’t get the math right, almost no matter what I was trying and ended up cutting out FIVE. SIZES.
Yeah. FIVE.
Slowly but surely, it has been getting easier to include many sizes. And again, with the help of my testers, to get the fit desired for each size! (Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without my amazing testers. They put up with so much shit!)
Not a lot of designers seem to offer plus sizes in their patterns, and while it is upsetting, I can’t even be mad. Just because, as I mentioned with my first experience. It is HARD.
SO I want to dedicate this post to helping people with getting the right steps in.
Today, I am going to share with you the different things that can be done to offer support for those well endowed ladies!
Understandably, a huge concern with crocheting for larger breastsesses (yeah, it’s a word) is SUPPORT.
That said, I recommend the following:
1. Try to account for the stretch of the yarn. Cotton stretches less than acrylic and will hold its shape a bit better over time from the weight of the wearer’s jugs.
2. Because of the opportunity for stretching, use a smaller hook. Not necessarily to make tighter, but to make things tighter. If I use a 5mm to make a bag and stick a bowling ball in it, I will see the bowling ball through the spaces because the stitches will stretch out a bit extra. If I use a 3.5mm hook to make a bag and put a bowling ball in it, with the SAME weight of yarn, there may be some stretched holes, but not nearly as large so shadows can help to hide the precious nips.
3. For straps, don’t just use chains! If you want thinner straps, slip stitch along the chain meant for the straps. It will help to reinforce all of the other work that you are putting in to help! And as any woman blessed with chest would know: thick straps help to not dig into your skin. So use your discretion with the pieces that you are doing. It is all about distributing the weight a little more evenly so that all of the pressure isn’t put in one spot, which brings us to 4.
4. To evenly spread weight across the chest, if I have a corseted back, I like to have it come up from the front of the top, over the shoulders, crossed over the back, through loop, and crossed again, and then tied together as pictured here:
But note that I am of the Itty Bitty Titty Comity, so while this works for me.
My client, pictured above with the sword tattoo, is quite a lot better endowed than I am. And her top suits her just fine, if I do say so myself. For larger breasts, I recommend mixing that method with this one:
Cross the straps at the top like the first photo, and attach them to the top of the corseting area. You want to have the places where you loop your corseting through to be placed evenly apart. For example, every 4 stitches. This will help relieve some of the pressure from the bottom and help push your girls up proudly.
5. If you have already made a tie up piece that needs some extra support, flip it inside out. Find where under the breast is supposed to be and follow that line straight to the back of the piece. You’ll want to have some extra slip stitched chains coming off of the back to make some loops. Extend the neck straps, if they exist, to cross across your back and go into these new loops to keep things on the up and up.
6. Basically repeating myself here, but if you can extend the neck straps to tie up the back as well, it just helps to cup your breasts and distribute the support where it is needed.
If you have any suggestions for me a designer for all sizes, do contact me! I am all ears and always looking for ways to better myself!
I really hope I was able to help with what I have learned so far in supporting the goodies we all love. If I learn anything else on this topic, you KNOW I’ll be posting about it!
In closing, what are some other tricky spots in crochet for you?
-Xoxo Shelynn