Knit like a grown woman

You don’t have to be totally round to be a big girl, and none of us really are totally round. Even the roundest of us have curves that are unique to them. Girly curves, ya know? And those of us who aren’t very large but just curvy have trouble too finding clothes that flatter. Some of it is our own modesty or insecurity. A lot of it is the garment industry catering to the very rare few who have no curves at all. But the times they are a’changin’. I love the new trend in recent knitting patterns that can be summed up in just one word: boobalicious.

I have no idea who first coined the phrase, but make no mistake about it, we’re in a booby revolution, folks! And I suspect I know who shouted the first battle cry, and that would be the ladies who coauthored Big Girl Knits and More Big Girl Knits. They’ve taught us how to adapt and customize patterns to flatter our own unique curves, wherever yours may be and in whatever proportions they may be to your other curves. Their honesty is painful, yes, but rings of the truths we all know. In their introduction, they state, “Here’s a news flash about this book: nothing contained in these pages will make you look skinny. But we can make you look good.” They debunk old beliefs like, “Black does not make you look thin . . . Black makes you look like a fat girl wearing black.” But they counter those with things you can do to flatter. Things with color, with each of the 3Bs (their system of boobs, belly, butt), with yarn choice, and smart options in all the components of a sweater. For every don’t-you-dare edict, there is a liberating statement that empowers the big girl to consider clothing she probably hasn’t before.

Do you see what they did? They addressed the clothing available and they addressed the big girl’s attitudes. And these two books, these two ladies, with these two tactics have started this revolution, I just know they did. Read through at least the beginning of the first book and then see if you don’t notice their advice in the recent patterns in our world. And read folks blogs, and see what the savvy big girl knitters are choosing to knit. They’ve certainly impacted designers and knitters alike.

Kinda makes me want to knit like a grown woman.

Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)