Tried-and-tested knitting patterns for the short and bottom-heavy

August 9, 2013 6:28 AM

I want to use up a stash of yarn and expand my wardrobe at the same time. I need knitting patterns for garments that are flattering for someone short (we're talking 5'2") and bottom heavy (weight largely in the belly and butt - and short legs to boot). Do you know of any such patterns? Would prefer a tried-and-true pattern so my efforts are less likely to go, well, pear-shaped. Bonus if the finished product is more suited for summer wear.

I'm not a very good knitter, so simpler patterns if possible. However, I'm not entirely against a challenge or two, so if they have to be complicated, bring 'em on.

I've come across some baggy knits, but they tend to make me look even more pregnant than I already do. (Not pregnant, thanks for the seat though, well-meaning people on the train.) So, a fitted knit (but not body-hugging!) would be perfect.

I do have a Ravelry account, if it helps.

posted by satoshi to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (14 answers total)

Cardigans will probably be your best bet... and if you knit them in a cotton or non-wool yarn they can be pretty light. I like the serrano, and used it as of the first "big" knitting projects I ever knit. (I followed the pattern exactly for a medium, and it came out way too short and boxy on me, but it might work well for you, and the way she works seams is really really nice)

Personally, (I'm tall with a stupidly long torso, so the opposite of your problem), I just accepted that there is a certain amount of fail in making a knitted sweater and have resigned myself to having to rip back about 1/2 of every project I make.

Knitty has really, really good resources and advice for making clothes that fit. (here's an article on fit) I'd spend some time reading through their archives, so even if you don't follow their suggestions exactly, you at least know what to watch out for.
posted by larthegreat at 6:41 AM on August 9, 2013

Is 5'10 a typo for 4'10?

I'll agree with larthegreat that fitting a sweater is really quite tough, especially on women. I've made well fitting sweaters for men on the first try that were little more than tubes, but struggle to fit well to my own body.

Here's a thread from the Ravelry forum discussing the best cardigan patterns to flatter a pear shape.

I find the Ravelry patterns that are knit the most are often the most universally flattering, so I like to browse patterns sorted by Most Projects. Here's one more specifically for adult clothing. These are also tried and true per your request, and you can browse everyone's projects to see how they look on different body types and styled in different ways.
posted by telegraph at 6:49 AM on August 9, 2013

Mod note: Just so we don't go completely off the rails about this, OP, go ahead and let us know if 5'10" is a typo, and we will fix it in the post. Everyone else, let's just assume "short" of some flavor, and carry on. Thanks.
posted by taz (staff) at 6:53 AM on August 9, 2013

Best answer: You should check out Amy Herzog's Fit to Flatter series - its basically all about teaching you how to select or adapt knitting patterns to suit your body shape. There are e-classes and a book, but you can get a lot out of just reading her series of blog posts on the subject.

There is also a Ravelry group, and information on how to fit / adapt many of her patterns, which are all very lovely & mostly pretty classic!

Also a personal recommendation from another short pear shape:

Tattoo Shrug - super simple, this is a perfect beginner sweater if you skip the "tattoo" part (which I did)
posted by id girl at 7:21 AM on August 9, 2013

If you are plus-sized, Big Girl Knits has several patterns that specifically say which figures they flatter. (Ignore the stupid "real women" subtitle.) If you're smaller, it still has valuable advice for selecting and modifying patterns based on your shape.

Ysolda Teague has similar advice in Little Red in the City, which I haven't read or worked with myself, but I truly love the Ysolda patterns I've knit.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:51 AM on August 9, 2013

I agree with id girl-I don't think you can do any better than Amy Herzog and Fit to Flatter. In addition to selecting a general style that might suit your body type, she emphasizes picking a size that fits you well through the upper torso and shoulders, then making the necessary allowances in other areas (hips, bust). I have a body shape similar to yours and had never succeeded in knitting anything that remotely looked neat and flattering, but have just finished my first sweater from her book and am over the moon about it.
posted by bluebird at 7:53 AM on August 9, 2013

Best answer: This one looks gorgeous in the slightly variated yarns (the dark colored ones look wonderfully flattering). Although if you have broad shoulders that capsleeve is going to look a little weird.

(see this vs this)
posted by larthegreat at 7:53 AM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

Big Girl Knits come up short as well - I'm 5ft10 and need my tops to be at least 24", many of those measure up as 21" or 22".

Also, seconding Ysolda - I crochet but her patterns make me wish I could knit.
posted by mippy at 8:30 AM on August 9, 2013

You might want to pick up this book, which provides some good simple but stylish patterns as well ample guidelines on how to modify them for your body shape or style preferences.
posted by Kololo at 8:55 AM on August 9, 2013

Response by poster: Apologies for the "short" description - didn't mean to offend anyone. 5'10 is not a typo - I really, truly believed it was on the short side. Maybe I ought to move somewhere with more girls closer my height...

The "Fit to Flatter" series is close to what I'm looking for. I've seen that before, but completely forgot about it, so thanks, id girl.

larthegreat, that's lovely. Thank you!

I am overweight, but the clothes marketed towards plus-sized tend not to fit me well because I have small boobs. So, not sure if plus-sized knitting works for me.
posted by satoshi at 9:00 AM on August 9, 2013

Agreed on sorting patterns at Ravelry by most-knit and seeing what is popular.

Also, avoid chunky yarns and go for worsted and lighter weights. This is slimming AND less expensive - the same sweater size/shape, knit in a lighter weight, will be cheaper than the same yarn needed for a thick-knit sweater. You save money and get more knitting fun!

And you're definitely tall...not short, by any standard I've ever read about. I'm 5'2" and THAT is short.
posted by fantine at 11:18 AM on August 9, 2013

One thing you might want to consider is focusing on "top down" knitting patterns. They require you to know how to use circular needles, but those are a cinch once you do a few rounds. a top-down pattern means you start with the neckline, then knit down. The biggest advantage is that you get to try on the sweater as you go, which means you get a perfectly custom fit. The other big advantage is that you have way less seaming to do when you're done.

I've knitted both of these top-down sweaters and absolutely love them:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tree-jacket
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boatneck-bluebell-sweater
posted by missjenny at 12:42 PM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

Mod note: Update: OP is 5'2", not 5'10"; math error, cms to inches. Fixed in post.
posted by taz (staff) at 10:24 PM on August 9, 2013 [2 favorites]

Do you have any favourite store-bought garments now that flatter you? Take them out and describe them - v-neck and hip-length with a waist, and then search ravelry for similar garments. I know for instance that shawl-collar cardigans and very light-fabric boat-neck tunics can work, based on two favourite garments, and that I must never-ever knit anything with cap sleeves.

I absolutely agree on top-down knitting for your first project because you can put all the stitches past the yoke onto a bit of scrap wool and try the garment on as you go to find the right length. With a pear-shaped figure, that's going to usually be either hitting just below your bust at your waist for a top or mid-thigh like a tunic (which is really just a sweater that kept going...) but you might be surprised what length works best. I had a dress hemmed by a tailor once that turned it from dowdy to perfect, a 2" difference that worked.
posted by viggorlijah at 11:26 PM on August 9, 2013