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Big Girl Knits: 25 Big, Bold Projects Shaped for Real Women with Real Curves
Big Girl Knits features twenty-five unique patterns for women size 14 and up. From flattering pullovers and sexy tees to sleek skirts and fun accessories, this book is overflowing with options for knitting up an entire wardrobe to compliment your shapely shape.
Part knitting instruction, part fashion guide, Big Girl Knits is packed with expert advice to help you make the most of the three Bs: Boobs, Belly, and Butt. All the garments and accessories featured in the book are proportioned to fit and flatter a big girl’s body. Learn two fabulous adaptations to add to your knitting toolbox that you can apply to any sweater pattern. The book also features an easy-to-use measurement guide and tips to help you choose the right yarn, colors, and styles for you.
Part knitting instruction, part fashion guide, Big Girl Knits is packed with expert advice to help you make the most of the three Bs: Boobs, Belly, and Butt. All the garments and accessories featured in the book are proportioned to fit and flatter a big girl’s body. Learn two fabulous adaptations to add to your knitting toolbox that you can apply to any sweater pattern. The book also features an easy-to-use measurement guide and tips to help you choose the right yarn, colors, and styles for you.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2006
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136 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
August 16, 2018
This is one of the best, and one of the first, knitting books that concentrate on the women over size 14! Although many of the patterns did not personally appeal to me, the directions for taking measurements properly, shaping a sweater to fit your shape, and the tips for yarn and pattern selection were terrific! The pattern instructions seem good and most have great schematics and graphics. I wish the photographs showed more garment detail and that each pattern identified what size garment the model was wearing. I wouldn't have thought that socks and mittens would be problematic for some women, but this book holds the solution!
April 19, 2021
As I read through these patterns, I realized that most are too complicated for my beginner/intermediate level of knitting. They are suitable for larger women, but I would need some help. Glad to know this book exists.
March 9, 2008
I didn't love this book. I thought the patterns were drab, ill-fitting, and frumpy. Some of the tutorials (measuring, adjusting sock patterns, etc.) were great, but overall, there wasn't anything in here that inspired me.
May 21, 2024
I'm into knitting, but as a plus-size woman I figured that I won't be able to knit any clothes for myself. After all, I don't want things clinging to my rolls, and I don't have a friend to help me measure and size. So I lit up a bit when I saw this title in my local library.
I don't review a lot of nonfiction on this blog, because I tend to page through them rather quickly, skimming and saving whatever seems relevant to me. But this one was so very informative and helpful that I just had to let y'all know about it.
Big Girl Knits does have several patterns, which is always nice. But I found the most value in this book to be the information on knitted clothing and how to size and shape it for your curves. They go into the best (and worst) clothing styles if you have a large bust, tummy, and/or butt, depending on what you want to emphasize and what you want to obscure. For example, I have huge bosoms and a prominent belly, but virtually no junk in the trunk, so empire waist and fit-and-flare items look best on me, especially with a vee or sweetheart neckline.
Jillian Moreno and Amy R. Singer go into depth about how to shape knitwear to cling more or less in areas, so you can adapt ANY knit clothing pattern to your body shape easily. Not to say the shaping is easy- I won't be trying these techniques until I'm less of a beginner, so I don't know- but that once you understand it, you can apply it anywhere. This massively opens up the world of knitted clothing!
The tone is humorous, without any punching-down snark, and positive about both body acceptance/love and knitting. My only sadness here is that just one of their 25 knitting patterns is designated for beginners, and it's a pair of socks. I see they have a second book with more patterns, so I hope they added more beginner-friendly knits to that. Otherwise, it feels like sizing/shaping for my body is something that requires intermediate skills (for me, perhaps years of knitting before I get there).
Overall, I definitely recommend this for plus-size ladies, whether you knit or not. It's got helpful information and, after I followed the measurement guide, I better understood why some (non-knit) dresses look terrible on me despite having things like a v-neck. But if you knit, especially if you're at least an intermediate-level knitter, it's definitely for you!
I don't review a lot of nonfiction on this blog, because I tend to page through them rather quickly, skimming and saving whatever seems relevant to me. But this one was so very informative and helpful that I just had to let y'all know about it.
Big Girl Knits does have several patterns, which is always nice. But I found the most value in this book to be the information on knitted clothing and how to size and shape it for your curves. They go into the best (and worst) clothing styles if you have a large bust, tummy, and/or butt, depending on what you want to emphasize and what you want to obscure. For example, I have huge bosoms and a prominent belly, but virtually no junk in the trunk, so empire waist and fit-and-flare items look best on me, especially with a vee or sweetheart neckline.
Jillian Moreno and Amy R. Singer go into depth about how to shape knitwear to cling more or less in areas, so you can adapt ANY knit clothing pattern to your body shape easily. Not to say the shaping is easy- I won't be trying these techniques until I'm less of a beginner, so I don't know- but that once you understand it, you can apply it anywhere. This massively opens up the world of knitted clothing!
The tone is humorous, without any punching-down snark, and positive about both body acceptance/love and knitting. My only sadness here is that just one of their 25 knitting patterns is designated for beginners, and it's a pair of socks. I see they have a second book with more patterns, so I hope they added more beginner-friendly knits to that. Otherwise, it feels like sizing/shaping for my body is something that requires intermediate skills (for me, perhaps years of knitting before I get there).
Overall, I definitely recommend this for plus-size ladies, whether you knit or not. It's got helpful information and, after I followed the measurement guide, I better understood why some (non-knit) dresses look terrible on me despite having things like a v-neck. But if you knit, especially if you're at least an intermediate-level knitter, it's definitely for you!
December 9, 2018
Great information on how to customize patterns to your specific figure.
August 8, 2023
Here are some great ideas for items that compliment real size women! I’m looking forward to making some of these items.
March 10, 2017
If anything I like the patterns in this book a little better. This is also a second read for me.
February 13, 2009
This is what I wanted from the other large women knitting pattern book. The smallest size is a good size for me, and the customization instructions look do-able. The book is a celebration of hot bodies in knitwear and they separate patterns into three coded symbols for girls with large boobs, belly, or butt. I'm considered a boob girl, so I would knit things with deep necklines to show them off and flared hems to balance the top, with a lot of decreasing in the waist to show off that I actually have a waist. I think the authors of this book would hate the author of the "knit a rectangle in a yarn that will make people ignore your body" book.
My one complaint is that knitting something to fit properly is a lot more work than knitting a rectangle (C'mon science, fix this!) so it's all beyond my range for now. I will get this book out again after I have made a sweater or two and try then.
My one complaint is that knitting something to fit properly is a lot more work than knitting a rectangle (C'mon science, fix this!) so it's all beyond my range for now. I will get this book out again after I have made a sweater or two and try then.
December 16, 2010
FINALLY FINALLY a book for girls that are plus sized, no irritating math to try to figure out if you can make a pattern work. I would recommend this book for curvy non-plus size girls too, as it's got invaluable tricks on how to shape a sweater to flatter your curves.
Patterns are divided up into three sub-genres - boobs, butt, or belly. If you carry weight in one of these areas more than the others, then it helps you choose what would flatter you the most. And the thing I love? They are GUIDELINES, so if you have a booty but want to show it off, then by all means go for it.
This is a FUNNY, down to earth, helpful, beautiful book. I can't wait until my knitting skills improve so much that I can knit stuff out of here. I'm wanting to make so many things out of it!
Patterns are divided up into three sub-genres - boobs, butt, or belly. If you carry weight in one of these areas more than the others, then it helps you choose what would flatter you the most. And the thing I love? They are GUIDELINES, so if you have a booty but want to show it off, then by all means go for it.
This is a FUNNY, down to earth, helpful, beautiful book. I can't wait until my knitting skills improve so much that I can knit stuff out of here. I'm wanting to make so many things out of it!
September 11, 2014
The tone is friendly and engaging. The section on how and where to measure is detailed and relatively straightforward. The book does best when it's describing qualitatively (e.g. short rows are added to make a wedge shape...) rather than quantitatively (e.g. (TND - F)/2... ). The math is solid, stepwise and correct but the presentation is stretched out over several pages with multitudes of acronyms. If you find yourself losing track, draw yourself a schematic and label it with all the acronyms.[return][return]The patterns are well-written and photographed. As with any book, tastes vary. The patterns are aimed at the 20-30 year old demographic.
September 22, 2009
This book is worth owning, more for the instructions than the patterns. The patterns didn't thrill me - they almost went for too much flash with weird construction techniques. I don't always agree that the larger woman needs a big open neckline, either. It depends on how much balance you have between the shoulders and the bust.
The sections for learning how to size yourself are great - and the handy dandy formulas will have you reaching for this book more than once, even when you are working on something else.
The sections for learning how to size yourself are great - and the handy dandy formulas will have you reaching for this book more than once, even when you are working on something else.
February 13, 2013
I bought this book when I was heavier and while I have lost weight since then, this is still a useful book, especially if you're a knitter who likes to alter patterns. This book has useful info on what is flattering for those who are size 14 and above. It includes advice on everything from how to measure, how to size, what yarns are best (and it's not bulky), what shapes look the most flattering, etc. You can take much of the information in the front of the book and apply it to other patterns. Plus the sweaters look gorgeous.
February 10, 2014
I enjoyed actually reading the knitting instructions in the first chapter and look forward to having a measuring party of my own very soon. I wasn't super thrilled by the patterns but considering I've never knit a sweater for myself, I am looking forward to attempting a few of these. Still it's worth it and may help me alter other more appealing sweater patterns in the future. For now wish me luck!
January 17, 2009
Fantastic! Usually I look at pattern books and see one or two projects I like making me feel I'd waste my money for the couple of items. This book is the opposite - such a bang for the buck. Gorgeous items that I know will look great on me because they look fabulous on the big girls in the book! The cover photo says it all for me.
July 19, 2007
Good-looking projects and good introductory information, but the knitting is very, very complicated. Too difficult for me. I'm fairly new to knitting, but even so I don't think ever, in my knitting life, would I ever, ever attempt these.
June 30, 2008
It's an OK book. I didn't see many designs that actually moved me. I thought it was interesting that a book of knitting patterns for a more voluptuous body were done by designers that could probably fit their entire body in one of the sleeves!
August 11, 2008
It's a great book for experienced knitters. While it does show how to alter patterns it is not a how-to book for beginners by any means. But it would be a good resource to work up to. Because the patterns rock!
August 2, 2008
Not really any patterns I'd knit in it, but lots of good information in the beginning.
September 20, 2008
Great ideas for shaping flaterring knits for larger women.
November 13, 2008
Great patterns...
January 8, 2009
Good information, but I did not like the patterns, probably because they were a bit young, looking for something more mature...
February 2, 2009
I liked both of these books, but this one more so than the second. Currently working up the cardy with the hoodie and celtic band.
June 10, 2009
Love it Love it Love it and working on a sweater for myself from the book at this very moment - OK it is part of my WIPs at the moment but I will finish it.
June 10, 2009
Excellent discussion of short-row shaping and fun projects.
November 5, 2009
Nice patterns for Big Girls.
March 7, 2010
Finally! A pattern book for larger sizes! The sweaters in here are beautiful.
November 9, 2010
Even if you're not a "big girl" the tutorials on knitting for a woman's curves should be useful to you.
A book I'm glad to own.
A book I'm glad to own.
January 9, 2013
Good looking patterns for real women! Currently making the Bombshell out of it.
January 16, 2014
Truly a great resource for plus size knitters.
April 27, 2016
Not only funny, but full of fashion do's and don't's. I will definitely be going back to this book again and again as I navigate making garments that I love and that fit ME!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews