FF: From Scratch, III

It’s been awhile since we’ve done a “From Scratch” post here on Fashion Fridays! Unintentionally so – things have gotten super out of hand lately, and we’re far, far behind in sharing all of the wonderful sweaters people have been making with CustomFit. (Want to see the first two posts? here’s Jackie’s sweater, and here’s Kim’s.)

CustomFit is aaaallllmost ready to be opened up to the great wide world, so I wanted to take this Fashion Friday to spotlight Keri’s wonderful, amazing, fabulous sweater.

I’ll start by talking about Keri’s most pressing fit issue, which is getting a sweater that fits all of her, all at the same time.

keri-cf-1

Pattern: CustomFit. Average fit cardigan, 3/4 sleeves, mid hip length, V neck.
Yarn: Briar Rose Fibers Fourth of July. Colorway? Blue-green, and purchased at Rhinebeck. (I’m so honored when people use such special yarn for their CustomFit sweaters.)
Size: Keri’s. Everywhere.

Keri is the star of this story, because she’s lovely. But shaping is the star of her sweater, and I really want to talk about how important it is. It might not be clear from that beautiful front picture up there, but Keri has some fit challenges. In her words:

I’d honestly given up on knitting sweaters for myself, as I could never get the fit I wanted.

Why? Well, Keri is curvy, in the way that I typically mean that: her waist really scoops in beautifully on the sides.

keri-cf-3

And she’s curvy, in the way others sometimes mean that, which is to say busty. Further, she has slimmer hips and small arms.

Larger bust + slimmer hips and shoulders + slimmer arms + curvy waist = substantial modifications when knitting patterns designed for “Ms. Average”.

Even if she chooses a size to fit her shoulders, the hips, waist, and bust would likely all require at least some modification. And is there anyone who really jumps for joy when they think about figuring out how to add bust darts to a pattern? Other than me, I mean?

(*crickets*)

But CustomFit knows how to fit all of you. So Keri’s sweater pattern didn’t need modifications. There was no scary “bust dart” piece, no “gotta change that waist shaping” section, no “will this work?” bit. She just knit the pattern, which had one set of numbers (hers), and got a great sweater.

keri-cf-2

That fits perfectly, everywhere, without a single change. It was built, from scratch, for her body, instead of retrofitted.

It’s still so amazing to me that the best sweaters are also the easiest sweaters. I’m thrilled with the way Keri’s sweater turned out. And she is too. Here’s what she said:

This process has changed how I feel about knitting sweaters for myself. Thank you so much. This is my favourite sweater, and the only sweater I have that fits. Now I’m planning multiple sweaters, even fitting pullovers. CustomFit showed me how worthwhile it is to do the modifications, and it was so easy!

The other thing I found fascinating was when I was swatching, I was choosing the fabric I thought the yarn wanted to be, rather than trying to see if I could get it to match a pre-existing pattern. This meant I really got to show off some beautiful stash yarn that I’d been saving for the ‘right’ project.

We are so, so excited about sharing these sweaters with you. The CustomFit pattern is up on Ravelry, our preview users are making sweaters like mad, and we’re almost ready to share CustomFit with the world.

So stay tuned! And have a great and yarn-filled weekend!

13 thoughts on “FF: From Scratch, III

  1. Okay you got me I WILL start this weekend. Got my email today. Now, just have to have some time to myself :)…Beautiful sweater and a beautiful model. Good job Keri.

  2. I cast on earlier this week. I am soooo excited. Thank you so much for coming up with Custom Fit!

  3. Amy, I am so excited for you and Custom Fit because I think you have created a program for every one of us who has been consistently disappointed with the fit of the sweaters we have knit.

    I am 1/2 way up the back of my first Custom Fit sweater and can’t wait to see how it turns out.

    Thank you so much for helping those of use who are not Miss Average America. 😉

  4. I’m busy swatching the yarns I bought at Sebasco. Really excited about turning them into sweaters.

  5. Beautiful sweater and fit! I try to modify knitting patterns, but seldom get things just right, so this software sounds wonderful, especially since with a new job my knitting time is dearer than ever. It would be fantastic to be able to knit with confidence knowing the sweater will fit.

    Also, thanks for designing sweaters with seams. My Grandma Frances lived to be 100, and for about 85 of those years she knit. A lot. She swore by sweaters with seams for a sweater that would last for decades without losing its shape.

    Do you think the software might be available for Christmas giving?

  6. I can’t wait to get in and make myself a cardigan as well! Beautiful Keri!

  7. I’m from Germany. My English is not so good, the school is long behind me. I knit a lot, but knit to flatter only brought me on the right track. Now I understand why some knitting things like a bag to look at me.
    But everything I read here and understand makes me very curious about this software. I’m really looking forward to it, it is for me as a child to have that waiting for Christmas!

  8. Beautiful sweater, beautiful fit and beautiful colour.

  9. Amy, I am so excited about Custom Fit and finally having a sweater that fits my, ahem, unusual body. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    And, now for a confession….I am not a swatcher. I avoid swatches whenever possible, and I have never before knit one like you do. That said, I decided that I was going to play by the rules and do everything in Amy’s Way, so I started my swatch. What an eye opener! I love the feeling of the different fabric from different size needles. I had no idea! You are a genius! Thank you again! You are the best!

    Ps: from now on, it is “Amy’s Way or the Highway”!

  10. Fantastic sweater! Beautiful fit! Can’t wait to finish my CF sweater. Must knit faster!!

  11. I really want to start this, but after knitting my swatch I caught a nasty bug and am only just starting to come right. Will take measurements as soon as I feel well enough again; the knitting is queued behind a test knit, but that’s ok.

  12. Awesome, pure and simple.

    I’m working on my own self-calculated custom sweater. I’ve studied the schematic, done the maths, Frankensweatered…. Fingers crossed that I have the same lovely outcome!

  13. Love it, and CustomFit! Can’t wait to work with it!

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