• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • SHOP
    • Upcoming Release Gallery Photos
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • Special Offers on New Releases!
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
  • BLOG
  • LEARNING
    • Free Classes/Workshops on Teachable
    • What Is An Action Chart?
    • Menu of Techniques
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Sizing Tables / Charts / Guidelines & Croquis
    • Pattern Difficulty Levels / Type of Knitting
    • Why Jill Wolcott Knits Patterns are Expensive
    • Inside a Jill Wolcott Knits Pattern
    • How-To Videos: Learn from Jill
      • Why I Love . . . Techniques
    • Jill Wolcott Knits: A Fit Background
    • 2021-2022 Workshops With Jill Wolcott Knits
    • Overview of ASOG – A System of Grading
  • ABOUT
    • Designer’s Story
    • Calendar Events Schedule
    • Inside Scoop Subscribe & Newsletter Archives
    • Fundraising Projects
    • Jill Wolcott Knits
      • Jill Wolcott curriculum vitae
    • Techniques Library : What’s In There?
    • Abbreviations
    • Errata
    • Privacy Notice for Jill Wolcott Knits
  • CONTACT
  • My Account
  • Press

Jill Wolcott Knits logo

August 20, 2022 Leave a Comment

Sizing Thoughts (and Others)

Here are some not-so-random Sizing Thoughts for your consideration. 

If you wonder why I keep talking about sizing, it is because it is the key to every puzzle for making garments that fit. There are different issues, and different approaches and solutions, but so far mostly they have been fairly non-inclusive. They work for someone like me who deviates from a standard, and has sufficient knowledge to make adjustments. That might be the case for you. Let me share some thoughts.

Thoughts, Step One

Runtime: 06:09

Know yourself. Your body is unique, whether standard, near standard, or some deviation from standards. Most of our fit standards have been based on bodies that do not exist, and the favorite design models have been freaks of nature. None of us fit there, so let’s not try.

Come back here in two weeks or subscribe to my newsletter to get links to the first survey I am going to do. I will be asking you for information about your body generally, what you want to understand, and what particular fit pain points you have. From there, more surveys will be available to give us actual data. I’ll even offer instructions for taking measurements that you can use.

My biggest pain point in anything that I don’t make is the shoulder/armhole fit.  I have wide shoulders, but no padding so things are either being pulled or are slipping.  Nevermind that sleeves are always too short.  I wear lots of bracelets to fill the void, and if wearing a shirt, have flapping cuffs or roll them back.  Pants are usually too short, so I have to look for long inseams, then wear them too long until I determine they are never going to shrink–then wash them again, because that is when they do!

Jill Wolcott

Thoughts, Step Two

Once you know what fit issues you have, choose up to three that you would be willing to work on, as that is an adequate number to make a difference to the fit without trying to do too much at once.

Thoughts, Step Three

Learn about taking measurements, making adjustments, and participate in a test knit or paid course here on Jill Wolcott Knits. I don’t care if you are a designer, a knitter, or a tech editor. This is about finding good fit!

Thoughts, Step Four

Contribute to the Effort! There are two ways you can actively help me with my Research and Development. The first is to just make a contribution. If you know of anywhere I might turn to get a grant, please is let me know.

Buy the Sizing Tables. These are beta versions, and I am predicting October for an update, but this version is very usable and contains valuable information. The 14W to 36W has been expanded to 40W, adding two sizes. For all sizes I have added 10 measurements. All versions have a column to add your own measurements.

Runtime: 04:58

Join the Sizing [R]Evolution channel on Slack. This link is only good for 30 days, so if you can’t get there

Thoughts, Studio Chaos

I Mari Kondo’d my piles this morning. I have concrete things to sort:

  1. Yarn to be stored;
  2. Swatches to be sorted;
  3. Class materials and samples to be filed away;
  4. Samples that need patterns completed;
  5. Unfinished projects;
  6. Yarn Labels;
  7. Paper; and
  8. Yarn to send to Handiworks, Ltd for her charity hats.

It feels quite good to have that done.

Runtime: 05:38
Yarn Wall, Mostly Sorted
Piles in front of Standing Desk
Floor Pile 1
In front of the Yarn Wall
From my chair to the cabinet

Addenda, The Dress

I wrote this essay in 2014 after I spoke to a couple of women at a gathering about the dress I was wearing. I’ve slightly tweaked a couple things, but otherwise, it is as I wrote it then. I am wearing it in the videos. It is a perfect dress. It has pockets.

Related Posts

  • Poor Fit is Killing Fashion Denim
    Poor Fit is Killing Fashion Denim
  • Fabric Influences Fit
    Fabric Influences Fit
  • Things look so different . . .
    Things look so different . . .

Filed Under: Blog, video blog Tagged With: adjustments, body, chaos, fit, making, measurements, pain, research & development, sizing, thoughts

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Jill’s Story

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer. Read More…

Blog Archive

Don’t Miss these Techniques!

drawing of how a button link is put together. design, writing, technique

Button Links

most of the shelves on the yarn wall

Color Play in Yarn

Photo of Jill's Rowena Iron and her Reliable Steamer Iron

Steam Block

lovely hand-wound center pull ball in Fingering 101, yarn, yarn ball, center-pull, technique

Hand Wound Center-Pull Ball

Popular in the Shop

  • Smallest Number of Stitches to Cast On A Moebius Suggested price: $3.00
  • Tulle Collar on dress form with taupe side out, a view of tope and bottom Latvian braid, and 3 vintage button links. Tulle Collar $12.00
  • Half-size dress form wearing dk version in pink and purple from Oink Pigments Clapham Trio: Junction, Road, & Common $20.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Full: Gou Pei Dress ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Full $100.00
  • ASOG 2023 Deposit-in-Payment: Gou Pei Dress with wings ASOG 2023 Registration Deposit-in-Payments $100.00 / 7 days

Stay Updated

Footer

About Jill

Teacher, Designer, with expertise to lead you where you want to go as a knitter/designer.

Pattern Availability

If you live outside of the US and Canada you can now purchase Jill Wolcott Knits PDF patterns directly through Payhip.

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Ravelry

© 2023 Jill Wolcott Knits