Strange Request

mwedzi · 06-07-2007, 07:42 AM

Please don't kick me off the boards for being a weirdo. I'd kinda like to get an idea of people's bust sizes' and their under-bust size. I mean, I have some sizing charts that give general size comparisons between bust and waist, but that's not what I want. I'm interested in the difference between the measurement at the widest point of the bust and the measurement immediately under the bust.

Can you guys help me out? You can PM me if you don't want to put it here. Thanks.

marykz · 06-07-2007, 01:46 PM

LOL- very interesting! I know from days past when I did some costuming, most people have at least a 2 inch differential. I am smaller than most: I'm a 35/34. the girls may be small but they worked when they had to!!

When designing patterns and altering clothing, it is generally the cup size that tells you how many inches to add to the under bust measurement. and how large the darting/shaping should be to make it drape properly. I used to have a chart somewhere... if I find it I'll pm it to you.

mwedzi · 06-07-2007, 01:51 PM

Thank you. I had heard about the bra cup size thing, but the numbers someone gave me were clearly wrong for me. I'm just an A (almost B if I can get those 1/2 size bras), but the difference between the widest point and the under-bust measurement is 5", from 34" to less than 29".

So you don't think I'm just creepy or something, I'm trying to design a sweater that more closely approximates people's curves, instead of the decreasing gradually like 4 sts every inch or something.

marykz · 06-07-2007, 02:02 PM

no- I didn't think you were creepy!!! to me it seemed clear you were working on designs..... I used to round up my friends and take measurements when in the costume dept.

I think the cup size/ underbust may end up being more of what you want, since the design needs to take the volume of the bust into account. however, trying to make a generalized fitted pattern for a wide range of sizes might be really difficult. (I know you know that...) My rather flat shape needs very little shaping, while someone with bigger girls, but the same size underbust would need a lot.

It is an interesting issue- which is why I think a lot of knitting patterns only come in a few, generalized sizes, without a lot of nice shaping. (or they use a lot of ribbing!)

If you figure out some useable numbers or a formula, I bet a nicely written tutorial on how to adjust sweater/top patterns to your particular shape would be a great submission to a magazine.

I'll dig around for my old papers...

HamaLee · 06-07-2007, 03:03 PM

I've got big dinners...and finding shirts to fit is impossible! By the time it fits over the boobings, it's huge everywhere else.

Here are my rough measurements:

"band size" or circumference just under the bust: 35"ish (34" when I'm not going through a tubby phase)

And measuring across the largest point: 42-43"

My band/cup differential in inches is pretty big. I wear (and very much fill out) a DD cup size, but that's mostly cuz they don't sell anything bigger in regular stores.

o/t Ugh...can't wait to get a reduction! o/t

Good luck with the designing and do share!

stitchwitch · 06-07-2007, 03:37 PM

Here's my measurements, hope they help.
32 1/2 under bust, 38 1/2 across bust.
I just went through the "find my real bra size" thing a couple of months ago. I still don't think I'm wearing the right size.

Ellen Edwards · 06-07-2007, 03:41 PM

Ummm--don't mean to gross you out--but mine have gone so far south--I can't FIND my underneath anymore!

stitchwitch · 06-07-2007, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ellen Edwards

Ummm--don't mean to gross you out--but mine have gone so far south--I can't FIND my underneath anymore!

Mine look like tube socks filled with sand! :rofling:
Just put on your best fitting bra and do the measurements that way. That's what I did.

mwedzi · 06-07-2007, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ellen Edwards

Ummm--don't mean to gross you out--but mine have gone so far south--I can't FIND my underneath anymore!

Originally Posted by stitchwitch

Mine look like tube socks filled with sand! :rofling:
Just put on your best fitting bra and do the measurements that way. That's what I did.

You guys are crazy.

Thanks for your help.

aylaanne · 06-07-2007, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by HamaLee

I've got big dinners...and finding shirts to fit is impossible! By the time it fits over the boobings, it's huge everywhere else.

Here are my rough measurements:

"band size" or circumference just under the bust: 35"ish (34" when I'm not going through a tubby phase)

And measuring across the largest point: 42-43"

My band/cup differential in inches is pretty big. I wear (and very much fill out) a DD cup size, but that's mostly cuz they don't sell anything bigger in regular stores.

o/t Ugh...can't wait to get a reduction! o/t

Good luck with the designing and do share!

Originally Posted by stitchwitch

Here's my measurements, hope they help.
32 1/2 under bust, 38 1/2 across bust.
I just went through the "find my real bra size" thing a couple of months ago. I still don't think I'm wearing the right size.

I just got refitted, and I went from a 32FF to a 36G. So, my underbust measurement is 34", and my bust measurement is something like 42".

Hama, I suggest strongly that you get to a specialty boutique and shell out some money for a well-fitting bra. I went to Bare Necessities, which has boutiques in the tri-state area in New England, but if you ask around at department stores, they might be able to point you in a direction. I used to wear a DD and my cups ran over. I knew I needed to get refitted when I started getting a quadra-boob again.

I'm definitely a candidate for a reduction, but I decided to wait until after I was finished breastfeeding because surgery can interfere with that. I'm soooo sick of having sore shoulders though.

Wearing the right size bra makes me look a dress size smaller. My bras are expensive, but so worth it.