Needing More Booty Room???

ArtLady1981 · 07-28-2007, 01:20 AM

Hi'yall!

Ever knit a cardigan...only to find that you are not going to be able to button it because of your "pear shape"? Ahem.

Well, that has happened to me more than once, I must admit. So, I knit the size to fit my shoulders and upper body mostly...and if needs be...I add a gusset to the side seams to allow for the old caboose.

Me and another knitter were just in the new chat room, and we were consoling one another about "sizing". It can be a tough one to get right! Medium is too small...the next time, you knit a large...and it is too big...and back and forth we go!

Here are two photos of a cardigan that I knit last year. I clipped it together (thankfully) for a try-on before seaming the sides up.

Ugh.

So, I cast on 20 stitches for a gusset...following the seed stitch border pattern and then st st...and made the gusset the length to reach the armpit. I decreased the 20 stitchs gradually down to 1 stitch, which I cinched off. Then I seamed it to the two normal sides. (yes, that means I did double-duty in the seaming department...but at least I had a cardigan that I could actually wear!)

I think this gusset trick could work even "after the fact". Let's say your caboose has "enlarged" somewhat. You could un-seam the sides...knit and seam in a gusset at each side seam...and VOILA...the garment fits again!

I hope these two photos adequately show the gussets!

redheadrachel · 07-28-2007, 06:24 AM

Such helpful advice!!! That's so wonderful because I'm having trouble with my first sweater and, even though I can't use this for this specific sweater (the bottom is knit in the round), I'm trying to learn everything I can about sweater construction.
And now I know what to do with all that junk inside my trunk. Because, seriously... my hips don't lie

ArtLady1981 · 07-28-2007, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by redheadrachel

Such helpful advice!!! That's so wonderful because I'm having trouble with my first sweater and, even though I can't use this for this specific sweater (the bottom is knit in the round), I'm trying to learn everything I can about sweater construction.
And now I know what to do with all that junk inside my trunk. Because, seriously... my hips don't lie

One could also knit a small plain gusset for the arms of a sweater, also. It wouldn't need to be very wide...maybe just cast on 5 stitches or so...but it could make all the difference in the world. I haven't had to do gussets for sleeves...but...there are some sweaters I have given to my DD that were originally intended for me! (shhh, don't tell her!)

Susan P. · 07-28-2007, 08:36 AM

That's a great resolve (even tho because I've never knitted something like that half of it goes over my head)

I too have a size bigger in pants than I do in a top.

french kiwi · 07-28-2007, 10:03 AM

I made a gusset too on one of my cardigans. After having spent months knitting it, it was like wearing a legging over my hips part!

I'm not what you would call big, but come on. Seeing there's about one size difference between my top and my bottom (I'm sure we're the normal ones...

), I made the gusset from the hem to the waist only. And besides the fact that the yarn started felting naturally in some parts

, the gusset really worked.

KnittingNat · 07-28-2007, 10:38 AM

Thanks for the great advice, ArtLady! i have this problem too, i'm usually small in waist and medium on the bust and hips sizes (or even large

). So now i'll know what to do! And you would think that the knitting pattern industry should have been saved from the top-model sizing. But still, in most of the books, there are skinny, tall girls under the age of 25 modeling. Don't they know that from the age of 26 gravitation starts showing on us gals ????

redheadrachel · 07-28-2007, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by KnittingNat

And you would think that the knitting pattern industry should have been saved from the top-model sizing. But still, in most of the books, there are skinny, tall girls under the age of 25 modeling. Don't they know that from the age of 26 gravitation starts showing on us gals ????

haha The women yesterday at my knitting group were looking at a new issue of Vogue Knitting magazine and were complaining about all the "pre-pubescent little girls without breasts" who were modeling many of the knits. I, too, think it's a little bit strange, especially in the knitting world. Still, it gives us something to complain about while we knit, which I guess we always appreciate

lol

GinnyG · 07-28-2007, 01:43 PM

That is a great idea!!

Now could you come up with a solution fo rthsoe TOO BIG sweaters. It seems that no matter how careful I am with gauge it's always too big. I'm working on a top down sweater now that looks like it's going to be huge. I'm almost to the ribbing and can't decide whether to keep going and take my chances or frog frog frog.....

Jan in CA · 07-28-2007, 06:22 PM

Artlady, I have a suggestion. Why don't you send in your hints on making gussets to Knitty. They have a section with help and this would be perfect! It's brilliant!

ArtLady1981 · 07-28-2007, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by Jan in CA

Artlady, I have a suggestion. Why don't you send in your hints on making gussets to Knitty. They have a section with help and this would be perfect! It's brilliant!

OK will do!

I don't think I have ever visited their website...but have heard of it. www.knitty.com probably?

Will migrate over there now and tinker around with the HELP section...and try to figure out how to post a suggestion/tip.

Can we also post photos? I think one picture is worth a thousand words.