Bust Darts are an amazing way to customize knit sweaters and cardigans to work with your curves. It's a great solution if you find your pieces riding up in the front. Many bustier knitters will knit a size up to accommodate for their chest. This isn't the best approach as other areas of the garment will likely be oversized, when in reality you just need to adjust that one area. Bust Darts are a great way to isolate ease just where you need it. Want to learn more about why you may want to add bust darts? Watch Julie explain why, here!
This tutorial is a general guide, but you can dive deep into the subject with Amy Singer’s book, Big Girl Knits or through this Ravelry group: The Bust Line. We highly recommend both of these references if you'd like to perfect the art of customizing knit patterns to your body and preferences.
Comments
Hi Megan, This technique will work well with a little modification.
Consider how much extra length you want in the stomach area by measuring the length over your stomach and comparing to the length over your back at the same place. This will give you a number of inches (you could also try on a different sweater and determine the number of extra inches you would have liked on it), which you will multiply by your row gauge to determine the number of short rows you want to add.
You will probably want to do the short rows in 2 or 3 groups, instead of all in one place, depending on the shape of your tummy. Otherwise, follow the instructions that Julie gives here, starting where you’d like the stomach darts to begin, rather than at the bust. Enjoy your new customized sweater!
How do I accommodate a stomach that begins to protrude below my bust line? I’m normal in the bust & short waisted.
Leave a Comment