Knit & Chat: NINE Bust Shaping HACKS!

[@feebee12]

Hi, I have a question about combining different size fronts and backs when knitting patterns in pieces. Not only the number of rows will be different between the sizes, but also the shoulder widths, armhole shape, sleeve cap shaping and neckline shaping. Don’t those have to be adjusted also to make the resulting garment fit, and also the pattern pieces able to be seamed together?

[@NerdyKnitting]

Goodness, yes! I should have clarified that - times like this are when I wish I could go back and add info to a video. But I'll pin your comment so everyone can at least see the info if they scroll through the comments! Thank you!

[@danielepoirier7237]

After having breast cancer operation, one breast is smaller. I wonder if I can do bust dart only on one side. Because my sweater always look not align.

[@NerdyKnitting]

@@danielepoirier7237 Not horizontal bust darts - those have to be worked across the whole front of the sweater (from side seam to side seam) but you could certainly use the other methods.

[@andreamiller6200]

Your tip about a level line around 25:00 is pure gold. I never knew that before it it makes me feel so much more confident.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Yes! I love it when I learn something new and the lightbulb just sort of clicks on! 💡

[@feebee12]

For those who might be interested, Sarah Opie has an excellent series of workbooks titled Resource Raglan available on Ravelry. I have no connection with Sarah, but I’ve found these workbooks really helpful. There is a workbook for each yarn weight. They can be purchased separately or in a group that also includes patterns. Sarah explains compound raglan shaping (different increase rates for different sections of the sweater) very completely. She has variations for many figure types and includes 3 different full bust adjustments. For each one, she includes charts so that the knitter can specifically determine how many stitches to add and precisely where to add them. In the techniques section at the end of the workbook, she gives an explanation of different fitting issues and which full but technique addresses that issue best. Theses books are perhaps best for knitters who have already completed a top down raglan sweater of any size.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@songindarkness]

Thank you! This is gold. I’m put off so many patterns because they have so little shaping… which is fine if you’re not as “shape-y” as I am. 😅

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kwosilait2855]

Perfect thumbnail for this video! Thank you for giving me the confidence to add short row bust darts to a sweater I was making. I tried it on at approximately the point shown in your thumbnail, and it was pretty clear that I needed more fabric in the front. After having put in short rows for the back, it really wasn't that difficult, and it made such a difference! I'm so glad I tried it. Thank you!

[@NerdyKnitting]

You are so welcome! I'm very glad you found it helpful.

[@karindaugaard5580]

Wow, this is useful! And you explain it SO well. Thank you very much ❤😊

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@karenalbery2773]

Geez i thought i was pretty clever, but you just made me so much smarter! I watch a lot of knitting content and there are only a few creators i credit with actually improving my skill set directly. Thank you so much

[@NerdyKnitting]

You're welcome! ❤️

[@NYKnitter]

Oh oh oh......What timing!! Been following along with this series . Love your casts ! I just finished neck ribbing on this experimental knit I thought I would do to see what if.... , and just passed added markers for raglans. Thank you for making me a confident knitter. I started one of those TinCan knit (lite) sweaters just to play around . Use one size smaller , on the pattern for the back and one size larger for the front........ AND ........as it turns out , same total stitch count , ease , if I hadn't done that, using this pattern. So plan was (now IS ) just to keep a running stitch count for sleeve, front (new /alternate) , sleeve , back ( new/ alternate) as I add increases on this raglan. I was hoping before seeing this , I was not TOTALLY off , so sounds like this is "a thing" :)

[@jessicacliftonknits]

Thank you for this excellent video! My favorite idea you shared is to move the sleeves toward the back in yoke sweater. I never would have thought of this, but it makes so much sense and seems very straightforward to do.

[@iluvmysix]

This video is a wonderful resource with super helpful information. I'm sure I will be coming back to it many times.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@valeriehowden471]

Gonna dive deep into these videos before I start up my next sweater! Many thanks.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@noelleparris9451]

This was informative, thank you. I was finishing the top of a raglan this evening and figured out how to redistribute stitches to increase the front. I hope I figured it out correctly! 🤞🏾😌 It would be helpful if you used a sweater or diagram as a visual aid for all the tips. You did for the bust darts (nice) but it would have been great if there has been visual examples for all of them.

[@debmidas7736]

Thank you! Great tutorial.I have been frustrated with all the extra back fabric. This helped a lot.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@magicalumbrella7151]

Excellent and very useful video, thank you. There really arn't enough good videos on adjustments and aligning designing with adjustments.

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@1701what]

This video was incredibly helpful. Thank you!

[@NerdyKnitting]

You're so welcome!

[@anngreen9918]

Thank you.. excellent discussion!

[@ginagee5627]

I needed this video last week. Started a yoke sweater then realized I needed more stitches in the front 😂

[@NerdyKnitting]

Well, better late than never! 😁

[@jennileggate4334]

Great information, thanks very much! I would also say that Ysilda Teague’s book Little Red In The City has some great information about busy darts too but that one may be more available here in the UK

[@NerdyKnitting]

I've heard good things about that book but haven't gotten a copy yet. Thanks for adding it here!

[@dianaricketts6640]

16:33 I almost did this with my first yoke tee but chickened out and decided to follow the pattern. I couldn’t find much information on fit adjustments for yokes at the time. Most likely I was looking in the wrong places because it was new territory for me. Kinda avoided yokes since then, but I’m tempted to make another one and follow through with the much-needed adjustments. Because yeah, lots of fabric in the back and other places does not equal fit. Thank you for this video!

[@laurahorgan7657]

Thank you for such a great video with great information!!

[@NerdyKnitting]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ShettikkaWoods-jl8iq]

I've done 👍🏾 the raglan sweater... haven't tried the gusset shaping, 🤔... I've tried the yoke and garter row

[@kathyffarney-keck8593]

As a D cup, I thank you.

[@elisemenz9387]

So helpful!!

[@TrudySchwartzBurrill]

Im the opposite. I need the front fabric less Im small chested. I will be checking out all your whole sweaty. Thanks.

[@ulrikaglingborn4999]

This was sooo helpful! I always get too much fabric in the back. I was wondering if I have a yoke sweater that has a lace pattern just under the neckline. Is it possible to make raglan stitches in the front after the lace to make the front bigger? Would that give the same effect as a bust dart?

[@NerdyKnitting]

Yes, you can definitely add raglan stitches to a yoke - the Love Note sweater by Tin Can knits does that.

[@ShettikkaWoods-jl8iq]

GM 🌞 blessings ☕ awesome 👍🏾 thank you

[@AntisocialAuntie]

I recently finished your class for the top down raglan (fantastic job with the class, by the way) and I'm slowly getting that sweater done. The next one I want to try is the opposite - bottom up with all over ribbing and a center cable. What type of method for shaping do you think I should try? It's the Ginger Zip by Joan Ho in "Cable Knot Style" book.

[@NerdyKnitting]

It depends on what kind of shaping you'd like - bust, hip/waist. We covered the basic methods - you could incorporate any of the them.

[@AntisocialAuntie]

@@NerdyKnitting I understand how to do them with stockinette, but in an all over rib will any be less noticable? Adding to the bust area. Thank you for your time and these great videos! Never tried a sweater before your class 😊

[@NerdyKnitting]

@@AntisocialAuntie Short rows can be worked 'in pattern' you just want to maintain the pattern as you're working the sweater. Vertical darts for waist and hips - you'll have to try and maintain the pattern as you're knitting - best thing to do would be to swatch and test it out.

[@AntisocialAuntie]

@@NerdyKnitting Thank you so much! Take care 😊

[@jess222oegei]

What to do when it's large bust smaller stomach?

[@NerdyKnitting]

I would choose a size based on upper bust, add some bust shaping and then some waist shaping too.

[@mumbo1956]

Sorry, but stomach digests food. You are referring to the belly. Funny how you don’t refer to your husbands stomach. It’s ingrained in women that they need to have control over their weight. Referring to women’s belly as their stomach creates body dysmorphia. Love your channel. You just might get me knitting again. Thank you.

[@Aquiwer]

English is not my native language, I thought they were synonymous. Stomach only refers to the organ then?

[@lovemesomeslippers]

⁠@@Aquiwerin common American usage, belly and stomach are synonymous. Mumbo is overthinking it.