Listen, it’s tough out there for a fat crafter. A lot of designers don’t seem to want our money. But fortunately, some of them do, and I’ve decided to highlight some cute fall patterns you can knit or crochet in actual plus sizes.
I’m doing my best to include as many patterns as possible that go beyond 3X. Many designers (in the crafting world and the fashion world) think 3X or size 24 is enough to give themselves a big pat on the back for how body positive they are. Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather someone go to 3X than stop at L or XL, but it’s not enough. So in promoting these fall patterns I tried to spotlight ones that go to 4X, 5X, and beyond.
Even though these are fall patterns, I’ve included a few that are lighter weight, tank or tee styles. It stays pretty hot into the fall in some places, plus you can wear them under a jacket!
Crochet
Chelsea Top by Maria Bittner
Sizes small through 4X
DK weight yarn, hooks sizes H, I, and J (5 mm, 5.5 mm, and 6 mm)
Free
It’s Shawl Good Cardigan by Ashlea Konecny
Sizes XXS through 6X
DK weight yarn, hook size J (6 mm)
$6 USD
Deep Sea Top for Women’s Plus by Rachy Newin
Sizes 46″ through 62″ (bust measurement)
Worsted weight yarn, hook size H (5 mm)
$5 USD
Saturday Sweater by Tamara Kelly
Sizes small through 5X
Sport weight yarn, hook size K (6.5 mm)
Free
Knitting
As If Tee by Shay Johnson
Sizes 40″ through 64″ (bust measurement)
Aran and lace weight yarns, needles sizes US 6 (4 mm) and US 7 (4.5 mm)
$7 USD
Lydia 2.0 by Courtney Little
Sizes 27″ through 66″ (bust/waist measurement)
Sport weight yarn, needles size US 5 (3.75 mm)
$10 USD
Dany by Courtney Little
Sizes 23.25″ through 62.75″ (bust measurement)
Sport weight yarn, needles size US 2 (2.75 mm) and US 3 (3.25 mm)
$9 USD
Bubble V Crop by Jessie Mae Martinson
Sizes XS through 5XL
DK weight yarn, needles size US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 7 (4.5 mm)
$10 USD ($8 or $9 with pay-as-you-wish code, see Ravelry page)
So, my fat crafting friends, what fall patterns will you be making?
To be perfectly honest, I learned to knit to my own measurements and design my own garments. I also learned to draft a pattern to my individual measurements for sewing as well.
I’m about a size 22. Everything I see is either a box (I have an hourglass shape) or is designed to show as much skin as possible (I wouldn’t knit any of those designs. Can’t wear a bra with them!)
While I applaud Knitty’s decision to require designers to have a wider range of sizes quite a lot, the reality is still that I have developed Views about what looks good on me, and standard patterns are no match for what can be done when you can design to individual measurements.
What we really need (well, all sizes do) is some way to enter measurements and generate patterns based on design criteria!