Minisode - How I modify my knits for my pear shape 

Thank you for all the wonderful tips! You’re so right in saying that we’re all built differently and we need to make garments that fit us. It has taken me years to learn how to adjust patterns to actually fit my body shape and to know which garments I prefer to knit. Your tips are very clear and like you said it’s all trial and error until you find a formula that works for you. Thank you for being so honest with your measurements, it takes a lot of guts to put yourself out there and to be vulnerable to all the scrutiny that we see daily on social media. I commend you, you go girl! It’s so refreshing to see women empowering women in this crazy world we live in! ❤

Thank you for all the valuable information the break down really helped me to understand why it is so difficult to find or make clothes that fit. Thank you for your bravery and honesty.

That was very kind of you, Nancy, to share your learning and tips with others. Great knowledge for all of us even if it doesn't specifically apply to us, as we may take this and use it for our own adjustments, or to help a friend. A valuable resource, to be sure. 👋 from southern Ontario 😊

This is absolutely excellent Nancy! Thanks so much for taking the time to put this together, you’re a natural teacher 👌 From now on I’ll be referring folk to this video any time I get asked about garment modifications ❤ PS my mother also liked to tell me that I had ‘child bearing hips’ from a very young age 🙄

You are the best ever. Not only in socks. Thank your very very much! Your ideas and tips are very useful and clear and can be used for a lot of personal types of size and style.

Thanks. Lots of good information. I think the process of making modifications to a pattern is both technical and creative. I love your comment that “you own your knitting”. We make a long term commitments to our projects and we should be proud of our achievements. You definitely deserve a large glass of wine for your work.😀

Thankyou Nancy, I really appreciate your expertise and tips ,your tried and true way makes sense ! You are a great teacher and a valuable resource for our knitting community ! I will try to be brave enough to explore these options in the future. You are so kind to share your knowledge 💕

So much fabulous information! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. Although i have knit for several years, I am just starting to make garments. Altering them to fit me has been an overwhelming topic to get into. Thank you for helping me understand the process!

Would love a video on sweater math!!!....Loved this video. I also hate not being able to knit everything because it doesn't look good on me. Major bummer. Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video. It was super helpful

Thank you for this wonderful video! It's the most helpful size modifying video I've seen. Not only was it technically helpful, but also encouraging to see real measurements. As I've aged and my body has changed, I haven't wanted to knit sweaters for myself. Your sweater examples look amazing ON you and YOU look beautiful in them!

Thanks for taking the time to do this Nancy. It was very helpful information for a fellow pear shape!

I’m always late in watching. I average about two weeks behind when these podcasts are first shown. I just wanted you to know that I was really tuned into this podcast. You are so right and I appreciate the extra time you took to go through these explanations. I found it very informative. I will come back to this podcast in the future. You are right we spend a lot of time making these garments and it’s worth it to make them fit our bodies. Thank you.

Yes, this was great! Some wonderful, fairly simple ideas for a perfect fit! Thank you!

What a gift to take the time to share your tried and true methods for modifying Nancy! Very helpful information and VERY EMPOWERING. I get a wee bit more confident with each garment I make when it comes to knowing what I like and what I feel good wearing! Great reminder: we are the boss of our knits! Thank you Nancy!

I am knitting my first top and stumbled onto your video. Your modification explanations make so much sense and are clearly understandable. Thank you for taking the time to record this for all of us out here with misfitting garments. Now we know why. 👏👍

Great episode. Fit is so important to how we feel in our knits. I stick with top down to better allow me to check the fit. Thanks to Ashley Lillis I have created excel worksheets to help me get the best fit. I prefer v-neck sweaters so I started with my favorite fitting pattern, the Rock-It Tee. I looked at stitch counts in key measurements, along with my actual stitch guage. Knitting math has helped me to make 4 versions of the pattern that would not be recognized as the saame pattern. I can input my guage with any yarn and calculate the number of stitches I need including the underarm cast on stitches. With that I can take on patterns with texture, or lace or other variations and know that it will fit the way I want it to.

Thanks Nancy. Super valuable, super encouraging and highly motivating!!

Hi Nancy. It’s taken me awhile to sit down and learn this from you. Thank you so much., your time is valuable and you’ve taken the time to help us all. I will be using this information over and over. 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Thank you so very much for your TED talk! 😂 seriously though, great information and I loved the ‘Junior High teacher’ not messing about attitude! ❤❤❤

I appreciate that you don't get bogged down in sweater math. My eyes didn't gloss over once. Lol

Fantastic video with clear explanation about all the modifications one can do. Thank you very much !

Dear Nancy, Thank you so much for taking time to record this special episode. I very much appreciate it (have watched it twice now) and am currently following some of your modification tips in a sweater I am knitting for myself and very excited about it. Since I often was disappointed with my knitted garments and they didn't fit the way I wanted them to or expected I am ready for a new path in my knitting journey (which is a long one since I have been knitting for almost 50 years now!) Thank you so much for the help you provided - now I really feel more confident and excited. Best wishes, enjoy the rest of the summer. Greetings from Austria, Christina

Thank you for this very informative video on sweater modification. I really appreciate your honesty and insight into adjusting the patterns to fit our different shapes.

You make an excellent point about taking pictures. I always look for someone my size but don’t do it in return. You made me think. 🤔 From now on I’ll make sure to take pictures in my garments. Thank you.

You are an excellent teacher Nancy 👌🏻👌🏻 thank you once again for the time to make this video.

Thank you so much Nancy for all the tips and advice. This is where I wish that I lived in Moncton, New Brunswick!!! I have never knitted a garment for myself, but will be trying soon. I love your sweaters, they all look so good on you!! ❤

Thank you for all the detail. You explain in an easy way to follow.

Love this video! Totally agree with everything you talked about! Thank you! I’m starting to learn and getting better. Yes! Pictures on Ravelry are so important, with the knitter wearing their garment!

Thank you! I do not knit sweaters because I cannot wrap my head around the pattern. I have saved your video to go over when I finally give them another try.

That was very informative! Thankyou for doing this. It’s one I will listen to a few times so that I can truly absorb everything.

Brilliant Nancy thank you so much for your podcast. I am also a member of the very special pear shape club so thanks for the frank and informative tips and tricks. I shall be moving stitches on my next garment. Thanks again

Thanks very much Nancy! This was terrific!

Thank you for being brave and vulnerable and also a brilliant educator! Like many, I have body issues and do not knit garments for myself. Your knits are fantastic. This video is so helpful 🥰🤩👍👍

Thanks for the help Nancy! Your instructions are clear and easy to understand. I get what you mean by moving your stitches from the back to the front now! I’m very visual so your diagram helped a lot. I’ll be using that method/technique for the next sweater I knit.

This is a master class in fit!! I feel I am getting closer to knowing exactly what modifications I need to make to a pattern to get a perfect fit- these tips will definitely help. Thanks Nancy!

Thank you Nancy. Lots of great information. I agree our bodies are what they are, so make the modifications to knit the best fitting garments you can. I hope there was a large glass of wine after taping this🍷

This was such a an interesting episode! I'm not someone who has really ever "gotten" how to do this before, so it was helpful. If you ever do an episode on sweater math, I'll be there! 😊

Thank you! Now I know why even my ready wear garments don't fit correctly. They ride up, they're too big in the shoulder, etc. I'll be taking this valuable information you've given and knitting garments that fit me.

Thank you for this podcast and also for suggesting Ravelry users to take pictures on. I also wish they would add notes too. I might be overkill but I get thanked all the time for my project notes. I have found others notes very helpful. I think your video was very useful, clear and helpful.

I am very grateful. Since my body has changed drastically, due to a double mastectomies, I am struggling with making a garment that fits my bust, or one that fits my hips. You have given me permission to figure it out for myself and that a pattern is just a guideline.

I’m new to sweater knitting and this is so helpful. I saved this video so I could easily find it again. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!❤

Very interesting! I Hadn’t thought of hanging a swatch. Excellent tips

Thank you Nancy. I am knitting away on your Let’s Stay Home socks. I have only knit 1 sweater and luckily it turned out but I don’t wear it because it’s too hot in Southern California. I’ll stick with socks baby blankets and shawls. Also I am left handed and struggle to find help for left hand knitters . I appreciate all your hard work and kindness in sharing your tips and tricks. 😊❤

Nancy, thank you for sharing your mod’s info. So helpful for me to learn about knitting my back smaller than the front bodice to stop the front of my sweater riding up. I usually follow patterns as written but now I have confidence to make some mods for my body shape.

This is fabulous. Incredibly useful after knitting my first top down sweater and realising I need to adjust my knitting to flatter my shape. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this! I know you said you would do this video for us.

Thank you so much for this 💐 48:56 I’m also a pear shape with narrow shoulders, bigger upper arms, slim wrists, a waist, and CB Hips. I have been increasing upper arm size in some sweaters, doing rapid arm decreases, and not decreasing needle size on bottom bands for some time. You’ve given me the confidence to move sleeves back and do a-line shaping. I can’t wait to try it out!

Thank you for sharing those wonderful tips! I too am pear shaped! I’ll be incorporating these strategies in future sweater knits to get a much better fit! Thanks again! Happy knitting!

Thanks for a great podcast! I think all your suggestions are brilliant. Happy knitting.😊

Your information is so helpful. Your explanation was very clear. A sweater math video would be great. Thank you for making this video. Kim

Very informative & generous video Thanks Nancy !

EXCELLENT video!!!!!! You have reinforced and put together for me the modifications I have to make to make my sweaters fit properly. I would love to see you do a sweater math episode as well. Thank you for making this one, I for one have benefited.

Thank you Nancy that was very informative for me, ever though I'm a small person it will still help me on doing the math

This is excellent Nancy. Thank so much. I’ve shared your video amongst my knit night ladies.

Hi Nancy, I think I commented on one of your earlier episodes to say that I'm glad I'm not alone in having to heavily modify patterns! 90% of the popular designers are young and slim and don't necessarily concider the fact that there are pearshaped, (in me case over 60) bodies out there! I basically modify everything in a pattern and only buy it for the design concept. A line increases, more short rows, lengthening the body and sleeves to name a few. I've got a 15cm/6" difference between bust and bum😅 and don't have the courage to dress my 62 year old body in a cropped sweater😅

Thank you for your openness! It is very valuable information. I often modify sweaters because I like a more open neckline and also have a bigger bust. You've given me some great tips I will try in my next garment! Rosie

Thank you, yes more details on all you covered. Math and everything. I’m a new to sweater knitting. I’m not pear shaped but I do have one arm that’s larger due to surgery. Plus so many sweaters have a bigger neck it just hangs off people. Anyway I need everything.

Loved your instructions for yoke sweaters. Will definitely try it. Thank you.😊

Thank you, this is very useful. I have also added princess line increases between waist and mid-hip for a cardigan measuring 13.5” from underarm to hem with more in the back to fit better.

Great video. I think we all need to adapt patterns and this really hit home for me. I'm also a pear shape so this was especially helpful.

I just finished a yoked sweater and wearing it today have been pulling the front down. I was thinking to my self about a reallocation of stitches, or adding a few more to the front. I also have a pear shaped body and finding your video today is serendipity! Thank you.

Thank you very much. I will listen to this a lit until I figure out the modifications for me.

Thanks Nancy, so helpful!

Thank you Nancy!! I think your tips are very helpful! I appreciate the time you spent doing this podcast!

Thanks for this. It is great to have this for future reference and will be helpful. The more I learn from you (and Libby) the happier I am with my knitting (most of the time). I have just had one major fail that I don't know how to fix. So I think it's rip it back time and find a similar pattern that will work better.

Morning Nancy,,🎉🎉 A great chat and tips,,,thank you,, Hope to make garments someday,,,❤ ELAINE 🏡💕

That was so helpful. Thanks Nancy.

I picked up very helpful info even though my shape is different. I’m just starting to venture into sweater knitting and this will help me so much. 🤗

What a wonderful video! I am very close to your size, so i will review this next time i knit any garment! This took you a lot of time and energy... we are aware of that and so thankful you have produced this information. You were clear and concise and added graphics to increase understanding.... please dont worry about saying "so"! But, you now realize, you will be asked to provide this kind of content again. 😊 I'll just sign off as Sponge Bob Squarepants!!

You delivered as promised. Thank you, Nancy ❤

This was super helpful, thank you for sharing your tips and knowledge.

Thank you! Great jpb making it easy for me to understand.

Thanks for all the inspiration .

Thanks for sharing your tips. Very informative and beneficial.

Thank you ! I am saving this for future reference

Thank you, so very informative. Appreciate your information.

thank you very much for your tips ❤ they where so helpful for my appelshape as well best wishes from Austria Jasmin

Hello from Swansea, Illinois.

I found this very helpful. Thank you.

Nancy, sending a virtual hug! So much good/helpful information for a fellow pear! Some of the things you mentioned I've stumbled into (due to ill-fitting sweaters) and now feel very confirmed about those mods and how to tweak them. Many new things to consider and refer back to. I was one who asked for more detail about moving the sleeves back on a circular yoke. You nailed it for me! Thank you. I'm still very hesitant about raglan-style garments. The one I tried ended up with armhole depth to my waist! Not good. It's waiting to be frogged and reknit. Additionally, I'm not convinced the diagonal lines created by the increases are the best visually for narrow shoulders / large bust. Do they just visually emphasize the obvious? Jury is still out for me on that one. Thank you again. Cheers to you, my knitting friend!

Thank you so much! I too am a pear( well my top nob is smaller). This video is going to get tons of use.

Great podcast. Learned so much

Brilliant! Thank you

Hi, Nancy. Thanks for these tips! The tips on how to widen the sweater for a full bust are invaluable. However, as I like to say, "it's a mountain, not a rainbow." Have you ever tried short rows across the bust to adjust for length? This can also cause the front to be shorter than the back. I've done lots of bust adjustments when I sew garments, but I'm about to knit my first sweater and want to properly adjust for my 50" bust. (I have 40" hips, so a-line is not my friend.) Anyway, thx again!

What a fabulous video!! I have been a knitter forever with sometimes a lot of time doing other things ( life mostly). I also knitted sweaters bottom up, two needles, etc, etc. now, of course, it is top down, circular needles! What a blessed way to go. I also have issues, small bust, little or no waist or pretty close to hip measurement. I also do not like deep ever necks. Your advice to measure a liked sweater is right on. I also was unaware of how to use the schematic. Thank you. I would also like to know the pattern of the sweater you are wearing. It’s beautiful. This video has been saved. Thank you ❤❤❤❤❤❤ . Etc.

Thank you. Very valuable info.

So helpful. Thanks for doing this video

Oh, yes! Your explanation was very clear and understandable. You’re a natural teacher, Nancy. I have ALWAYS appreciated how your garments fit and I’ve wanted to knit every sweater you’ve made! I want them to look like that on me! So well done. Kudos!

Thank you!

I’m a new to you subscriber. Thank you so much for this video. As you were describing the yoke issue for a larger busted person, I was nodding my head as though you could see me 😂. I might undo the only sweater I have ever knit for myself and re do it! I do not wear it because it isn’t a good fit and you have described the exact reason for it! The wool is beautiful and expensive overall because I am a larger size. I’m feeling so much more “armed” to tackle a modification. Thank you thank you thank you!

Hello from Canada's west coast. Thank you so much for sharing this info. I have just been knitting for 2 years, and am starting on sweaters now. I have done 4, and have had lots of ripping out, as I try to get the fit right. I have a body shape that does not fit most commercial clothes and have always had a terrible time buying clothes that fit. In knitting, I am learning that I will need to combine sizes and do some math. So far I have been winging it, which is more work in the end. Your video is very helpful.

Great information, thanks so much!😍

Awesome video thank you so much 😊

Thank you for this

Very important information ❤️

Nancy, what a wonderful, thoughtful, clear podcast. I am not one who has a large chest, but I still appreciate all your tips on knitting sweaters. Considering all the conversations on size inclusivity, these ideas and tricks are paramount!! And, I agree that notes on projects on Ravelry are so helpful. Can't wait for your next usual podcast!

Great information thanks

And this is why we refer to you as Queen Nancy🥰 thank you so much this was the most empowering video i have watched in a long time…….its not my body it’s the pattern! I will drink to that, thank you my friend x

Thank you❤

Hi Nancy, this video is super helpful and gets a "thumbs up" from me, thank you so much for making it! I have quite a large bust (I am a UK size 14 but wear a UK 36F bra) and have had some success in moving back the arms on a circular yoke sweater, to reallocate stitches from the back to the front. I actually did this based on %s rather than stitch gauge - i.e. of my 42.5 inch bust, I calculated what % of those inches sat on my front and how many on the back, and distributed my front and back stitches to match those percentages. It was a DK sweater so as you said, in the end I think I only ended up moving back 5-10 stitches on each side, and it worked fine! I do have a question I'm hoping you can advise on. You mention for raglans, doing different increase rates on the front and back, to create more fabric on the front. As an alternative, would it be possible to take the same approach as for a circular yoke and just move the sleeves back by a few stitches? This is the way I have thought to approach it, but have never actually done it, and I'm not an experienced raglan knitter so don't know if this would cause some issues in construction. Very grateful for any thoughts you can share on this approach! Thanks so much from Manchester, UK x