Dropping the Ball (of Yarn)

Summer has kept the Dubh House incredibility busy this year. There have been summer camps, home improvements (now 1/2 done which means each one is 1/2 done not that we have accomplished 1/2 of them), a family vacation and the inevitable worries about how fast it is all going. All this to say that PFF has been updated solely by the lovely custardfairy. No more I say. ;)

Today I want to talk about knitting magazines. Most of them are worthless to me unless I want a specific accessory pattern. The reason is that most of them do not have a significant number of plus sized patterns to warrant the price (Vogue Knitting about $10.00, Interweave $7.00). But I often find myself buying knit simple. In the Spring/Summer 2010 issue a full 7 of the 14 sized women's patterns are 3X. 3 more go up to 2X which means the majority of patterns have sizes that I can consider. Highly recommended!

Some of the things I am thinking of making from them include:

Bernat Knit Sleeveless Top Pattern - up to 5X

Did you know that all of the patterns on the Bernat web site go up to 5X? That's a 62" bust, if you were wondering.

I found this cute little sleeveless top, done in a bamboo yarn that would be light enough for wear through the summer. The web site says the pattern is easy, and a peek through the instructions show that with some careful counting this can be accomplished by even a beginner. The simplicity of the design means it would be a cinch to size up if necessary, which is always a bonus for those of us who have chests that go beyond the largest circumference.

One con might be that it takes 15 balls of yarn (at 60g each) for the largest size. If you need to size up, it'd take even more. Save this pattern for a great sale at your local yarn or hobby store, or try it with a less expensive cotton yarn that will make it very easy to wash & wear.

Things That Scare Me

I will be honest, I have never knitted a Vogue pattern. They scare me, a lot. However, one of the things I love about winter is when you can bundle up and that makes me love this sweater. Me, the sweater, leggings, a book, some tea and a fire, sigh. It makes me consider breaking down and knitting Vogue.

Bigger is Better

Vogue Knitting Fall 2007, Special 25th Anniversary Cover Pattern

Shiri Mor designed this oversized cabled pullover.

Well that and these fingerless gloves for which I cannot locate the pattern.

Vogue Knitting, Holiday 2009

What She Said

My dear friend already laid out the rules and biases of this new place very well. So, yeah, what she said. :)

When she recently posted her bolero pattern elsewhere I realized that I was tired of searching for larger sized patterns by using the term "plus size" and getting returns where an XL is considered plus size. I am a 3X and have been for about 10 years now and am increasingly tired of stores which charge me unreasonable amounts of money for clothes which generally are, well, ugly. I do not want to wear a tent nor do I think Polyester is a fabric which one should put on their body. So I suggested a site where we can come together and share ideas and patterns. And as always my dear custardfairy took it and ran.

So here is my first contribution, a lovely pattern from knitty.com for a skirt which runs from a M to a 4X.

Bell Curve Skirt
Ravelry has about 148 projects with many different kinds of yarn if the recommended yarn is out of your price range. For me $130.00 for yarn is a bit over my pay grade.

And, may I say, the only thing that would make this better is if you could have the shoes she is wearing as a reward when you finished knitting it.