Stef M. and Tephra both brought up a concern that has been echoed by many folks: What if your waist is not the narrowest part of your torso?
And a related question: What if your waist is not something you really
want to highlight—but there is another part of you that you DO want to
highlight?
How about some underbust shaping?
Well, we're not Waist Snobs around here. No one here says you can only use waist shaping on actual waists.
Perhaps it would help if we chucked the usage of the word "waist" for a bit and just said: Shaping.
Shaping is not just for hourglass figures, nor just for those whose
waist truly is their narrowest bit. Shaping is for EVERYONE—but YOU are
the one who gets to say where you want your shaping to be.
I'm going to paraphrase the amazing Elizabeth Zimmermann here (I don't think she'd mind a bit) and say: Be the boss of your shaping.
Be. The. Boss. Use shaping to highlight what you like, and to draw
attention away from what you don't. It's not about what any fancy TV
show says you ought to wear; it's about finding out what makes you feel
confident, attractive, and looking like YOU (not like whatever
Hollywood says you ought to look like).
After all: You are in control of your knitting needles. (They pretty
much have to obey you, since the pointy little darlings do not have
brains of their own.) So make 'em make you look good!
Here's an example: If you have a large belly, and your
narrowest part is actually your underbust, plus you have an attractive
bustline, then who needs waist shaping? Try a bit of underbust shaping
instead. But guess what? The same principles apply, no matter what you
call it. You would work staggered decrease rows continuously from hem
to underbust, then increase to give enough room for The Ladies. You
might even consider something like the Printed Silk Cardigan. That's perfect for a gal with larger bottom half and a pretty, but smaller, bustline!
Let me know what you think! What do you think of the Knit to Fit Your Shape
series? Has it inspired you to knit something you might not have
otherwise tried? Is the information too hard, too soft, or juuuuust
right? Your comments and feedback help me to know what you want to see on Knitting Daily, so speak up and be heard!
Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.
What's on Sandi's needles? I'm working away on the Gathered
Pullover, which spent some time in the meditation pond, and also on the
Secret Project. But I've also been spinning and beading and making all
kinds of crafty trouble.