Why are the fronts of women’s sweaters the same width as the back? Aren’t there two very good reasons why there should be a little more room on the front? You could work two different sizes to fix this but it needs quite a bit of fiddling to get it right. There is an easier way.
You need the extra room exactly where you need it, right? You know where. Not in the upper chest and neckline which could happen if you work two different sizes. Not below the bust either.
Here’s one of my solutions. I used on my latest Any Gauge Raglan Pullover. When working Top Down you can add an extra set of stitches to the Front of the Body starting just under the arm, after the Great Divide.
Can you see a faint line coming out of my underarm at an angle? Here, let me highlight it.
It’s not very visible. The increases are worked on every round. Each increase is worked beside the last one, working from the underarm toward the centre of the front. I added 6 extra bust stitches on each side of the Front, worked the rounds straight down past the largest part of my bust and then began working decreases at the sides of the Front every 4 rounds to get rid of some of these stitches (not all of them because, with Covid, the belly is a little larger than before!!).
I used Twin Stitches. They are the stitches used in the Shadow Short Row system which, if you don’t get rid of the double stitches (the twin stitches) as you would when working short rows, these twin stitches can become increases. It’s magic.
Here’s my video to show you how: Bust Dart for Top Down Pullover using TWK
This is how you work a Twin Stitch. If you’ve been following me for any amount of time, you’ve seen this before. I discovered this while working on the Need A Circular Yoke book. Have you tried this?
Stay safe and keep on keeping on, Deb
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Nice. Thanks for the Utube video. I have used the short row increases for the bust before, but it helps to have it spelled out. My memory can be tricky.
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So glad to hear you’ve tried this. I still find it amazing.
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This is so handy, particularly for trying to make sweaters sit better – thanks š
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Good point. Thanks.
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What a great tip ā Thanks for explaining how this works. Iām pretty new to knitting, so I can always use some good examples!
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Welcome to knitting. You have a great adventure ahead of you.
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While I’ve used the method for increasing above the bust, I’d like to try decreasing below the fullest part of the bust. Do you place those dec’s at the same place straight down (as the sweater is worn) from where the inc’s were? making 1 dec at each side for however many consecutive rounds?
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Good question. I decrease every 4 rounds. Where? You can decrease at the imaginary side point between Back and Front, I like to work them at the front edge of my underarm cast on stitches (about 2″ in from imaginary side point), you can do them 1/4 to 1/3 in on the front from the sides which puts them under your bust. So many options.
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