One of the things I’m really trying to focus on with this new book is helping you to get a good fit, whatever your size and shape. Obviously, I’ll still be basing the patterns on a set of standard measurements that probably don’t really fit anyone perfectly, but I’d like those measurements to be a good starting point for as many people as possible. I’ve become a little obsessed with this – er more obsessed! Recently I’ve found myself talking to a lot of women of different sizes (it would be a bit creepy really if I’d been talking to lots of women of the same size) about the sizing and fitting issues they’ve experienced.
One thing I’m not sure most sizing charts get right is armhole depth. Apart from the fact that everyone seems to define armhole depth differently, sizing charts generally operate on the principle that armhole depth increases proportionally to bust measurement. Since sizing charts also operate on the principle that on average people get slightly taller as their horizontal measurements increase this sort of makes sense. Obviously individuals can be all over the map in terms of height / width proportions, but I can go along with the idea that there’s an average proportional increase. The thing is, is that I’m not sure armhole depth really increases as much as sizing charts would have you think. What does increase in reasonable proportion to bust measurement is the upper arm circumference, again this will vary, but it makes sense that we’ll see an average proportional increase. This means a couple of things in relation to armhole depth, if you think about a set in sleeve the sleeve cap will be wider and consequently wider at the base. If you were to wrap the measuring tape all around from shoulder, around the underarm and back up again that circumference will be larger. The thing is, that not all of this additional length will be added horizontally not to the armhole depth. I’m beginning to wonder whether sizing charts er on the side of caution and do add some of that extra length to the armhole depth. If the designer doesn’t add enough width at the underarms when grading sizes there will at least be enough ease somewhere in the armhole / sleeve cap area for the wearer to move her arms. Now it’s generally helpful to be able to move your arms, but that seems like a pretty hideous minimum standard, especially when it’s one that mostly affects larger women – shouldn’t we also be trying to achieve a good, flattering fit?
So this is where you come in, because it’s entirely possible that I’m wrong about this and there’s no problem with standard sizing charts, but I’d like to at least find out. If you could take a few measurements that would be wonderful – some of them might seem really irrelevant, but it’s helpful to be able to see where you fall in relation to average proportions. Either metric or imperial measurements are fine, whichever is easiest, and of course you can share anonymously.
Armhole depth - lots of definitions of this, but I want you to measure straight (like with a ruler) from level with the top outer edge of your shoulder bone down to level with your underarm. This is not the same as the armhole depth of a flat sweater example – I’m trying to see the relationship between the straight vertical and the 3 dimensional. If you can get someone to help you can get the most accurate measurement by using a pencil to make marks on the wall. If you do this in a cafe like we did you should probably ask first!
Armhole circumference - measure from the top of your shoulder bone down to your underarm, under your arm and back up to meet where you started. Don’t pull this uncomfortably tight, but make sure the tape is snug and straight vertically.
Underarm width – catch the tape between your body and arm at your underarm and measure from where the tape is level with your arm at the front to the back, eg. how much of the tape is hidden by your arm.
Bust – this is a little tricky and something I’m going to talk about a lot more in future, but what I want you to measure for now depends on your bra cup size. If you’re a b cup or smaller measure your bust at the fullest point, and if you’re a c cup or larger can you measure your high bust – level with your underarms. I don’t need to know where you took this measurement, just call it bust for now.
Height
Ok, I hope my not very good pictures make this clearer!
Thank you so much for doing this! If there are any particular aspects of fitting you think I should address, whether here or in the book, please do let me know.
{ 118 comments… read them below or add one }
Armhole depth – 9 cm (I *think*)
Armhole circumference – 19cm
Underarm width – 11.5 cm
Bust – 84 cm
Height – 168 cm
Armhole depth 15cm
Armhole circ 40cm
Bust 90cm
Height 150cm
Armhole depth: 10cm
Armhole circ.: 38cm
Underarm width: 10cm
Bust: 90cm
Height: 168cm
:)
I’d love to help but I’ve misplaced my measuring tape. This is something that’s been driving me mad lately, though. I’m interested to see your findings!
height: 168 cm
bust: 87 cm
underarm width: 9 cm (I think)
armhole circumference: 40 cm
armhole depth: 15 cm
Armhole depth : 15cm
Armhole circumference : 40cm
Underarm width : 10cm
Bust : 89cm
Height : 163cm
Armhole depth: 16 cm
Armhole circ.: 32 cm
Bust: 95 cm
Height: 173 cm
Hello! I’m pregnant at the moment so I don’t think sending measurements would be very helpful (I tend to go a bit Dolly Parton when expecting!). But just wanted to say yes, I think you’re onto something with this. I’m reasonably tall (5 foot 7) and normally a 34DD, but the rest of me is size 12 and my arms are quite skinny. I often end up having to knit patterns in a size 14 and then I end up with bagginess round my waist and flappy bits around the bottom of the armholes, both of which are very unflattering! Hope your research pays off!
Armhole Depth – 6.5″
Armhole Circ – 20.75″
Underarm Width – 4″
Bust – 39″
Height – 5’4″
Hi Ysolda,
I absolutely agree with your comments. I’m a smallish person (UK size 8) but I have a relatively large bust (30DD) and often find garments ride up and wrinkle across my upper chest (very attractive!). If I go up to the size I need to stop this happening I end up being swamped elsewhere.
If I am knitting something fitted I often find it easier to make a hybrid size (XS at the waist and M at the bust) but this is usually easier said that done. It would be really helpful if patterns could indicate where adjustments can be easily made to accommodation different shapes.
Jane
Height 165cm
Armhole depth 15cm
Armhole circumference 44cm
Under Arm width 13cm
Bust 91cm
Accommodate not accommodation!
Armhole depth: 11cm
Armhole circ.: 41cm
Underarm width: 15cm
Bust: 100cm
Height: 161cm
Armhole depth – 20 cm
Armhole circumference – 43 cm
Underarm width – 12 cm
Bust – 106 cm
Height – 168 cm
Armhole depth – 12 cm
Armhole circum – 42 cm
Underarm width – 10 cm
Bust – 85 cm
Height – 169 cm
I am on the large size, so I thought I would add for us larger women. I normally wear a 3x
Armhole depth – 24.1 cm
Armhole circum – 59.1 cm
Underarm width – 16.5 cm
Bust – 129.5 cm
Height – 170.2 cm
Armhole depth: 4.5″
Underarm width: 4.5″
Armhole circumference: 16″
Bust: 36.5″
Height: 5′
Armhole depth – 11cm
Armhole circumference – 55 cm
Underarm width – 10cm
Bust – 103cm
Height – 163cm
Once you update with pictures, I will help you out with that because one of my biggest beefs with patterns is the arms. I have to do some crazy altering to mine and can’t seem to get them right. I’m short with a huge bust (38DDD-G cup US) and large arms. In most patterns, the largest size doesn’t even come close or I would need the 50″-54″ size to get a sleeve wide enough that isn’t pulling. I usually fudge my way through and it’s a pain.
Armhole depth – 14 cm
Armhole circumference – 54 cm
Underarm width – 14 cm
Bust – 105 cm
Height- 170 cm
I would like to see in the book how to choose the correct size.
Armhole Depth – 12 cm
Armhole Circumference – 37.5 cm
Armhole Width – 10 cm
Bust – 82 cm
Height – 158 cm
Armhole depth – 5 1/2 inches
Armhole circumference 16 inches
Underarm width 5 1/4 inches
Bust 37 1/4 inches
Height 5′ 5″
I just took mine last month- also I can add to the TALL contingent.
Armhole depth – 6.75″
Armhole circumference – 17″
Underarm width – Just shy of 4″
Bust – C (sometimes D) cup- 35.5
Height – 5’11″
THANK YOU! I’m sure your intuition is right on this because you’ve hit on my biggest fit problem. If I choose a size to knit based on my bust measurement, the shoulders come out too wide and the armhole too deep (I’m also on the short side – 5’3″). If I choose one size down and go with more negative ease than I’d like, the upper sleeves are often a bit snug while I could still use less armhole depth. I’ve always wondered why more armhole circumference can’t be created horizontally instead of vertically and thought about trying to find a way to add it in, but was afraid my project would turn into a Frankensweater :0). Anyway, I’ll be watching this discussion with extreme interest! Back soon with measurements.
Ysolda, I will be very interested in your results. I think a lot about sizing, especially when I tech edit! Designers need to educate themselves on what size people actually are and what fits properly on those frames. I think a shoulder that sits properly at the shoulder and a sleeve that has ease = or < body ease go a long way toward a silhouette that flatters. And short row bust shaping for the zaftig types, though that's harder to incorporate into a complex pattern.
Here are my numbers in the interest of science:
armhole depth: 5"
armhole circ: 14"
underarm width: 4"
bust: 34"
height: 68"
armhole depth: 5″
armhole circumference: 15.5″
underarm width: 3″
bust: 38″
height: 70″
armhole depth: 5.5″
armhole circ: 15″
underarm width: 4″
bust: 31.5″
height: 5’2″
Armhole depth – 6.5″/16.5cm
Armhole circumference – 17″/43cm
Underarm width – 4.5″/11.5cm
Bust – 34″/87cm
Height – 5’8″/172cm
Hope this is helpful!
Armhole depth 5″ (12.6 cm)
Armhole circumference 15.25″ (38.7cm)
Underarm width 3.75″ (9.5cm)
Bust 34.8″ (88cm)
Height 5’6.5″
Depth – 5″
Circumfrence – 19 1/2″
Width – 6″-7″
Bust – 44″
Measurements aprox. I’m trying to measure myself, so there may be a little difference.
Hope this helps you. Can’t wait to see it all worked out. I can never find clothes that I’m comfortable in & teribly afraid to spend the time to make something that won’t fit well. I guess I also have to accept that I’m not 21 anymore & my body is definitely changing.
Armhole depth: 4.5″
Armhole Circ: 14″
Underarm Width: 4″
Bust: 31″
Height: 63″
I must add that I usually buy petite sized clothing, as I need the higher armholes and narrower shoulders that they offer, as my proportions are a bit tinier. I do need the sleeve length however of the regular Women’s sizing, as my arms are a bit longer. When knitting my sweaters, I find I need to increase less when doing a raglan to account for armhole depth and I don’t knit as long of armholes when knitting from the bottom. I hope that helps!
Oh forgot height.
5′ 11″ and shrinking
Armhole depth 4.5″/12 cm
Armhole circumference 15.5″/39.5 cm
Underarm width: 4.5″/11.5 cm
bust (C cup) 37.5″/95 cm
Height – 5’3″/160 cm
This is so timely. I just finished knitting a tank top that I know is too deep in the armholes. At least it’s an easy fix but I have come up against this before.
Armhole depth: 12 cm.
Armhole circumference: 40 cm.
Armhole width: 13 cm.
Bust: 89 cm. (D cup)
Height: 158 cm.
can’t wait to see your results–this is going to be very useful!
Armhole depth: 5″
Armhole circumference: 15″
Underarm width: 4″
Bust: 34″
Height: 5′ 6″
As someone not the average size I’m happy to help.
Armhole depth – 13 cm
Armhole circum – 51 cm
Underarm width – 16 cm
Bust – 123 cm
Height – 165 cm
Armhole depth 11 cm
Armhole circumference 46 cm
Underarm width 15 cm
Bust 100cm
Height 160cm
Armhole depth – 13 cm
Armhole circumference – 41 cm
Underarm width – 11.5 cm
Bust – 85 cm
Height – 175 cm
armhole depth: 5″
armhole circ: 15″
underarm width: 3.5″ *
bust: 34″
height: 5’10″
That is very interesting
Armhole depth: 12 cm
Armhole circumference: 40 cm
Underarm width: 9 cm
Bust: 102 cm
Height: 162 cm
Armhole Depth: 5.25″ (13.3 cm)
Armhole Circumference: 16″ (40 cm)
Underarm Width: 4.25″ (10.8 cm)
Bust: 34″ (86 cm)
Height: 70″ (178 cm)
Your results will be very interesting, I’m sure. I am quite tall, but slim, and I have noticed that oftentimes the armholes are not deep enough as written for my bust size.
Armhole depth: 4.25″
Armhole circum.: 15″
Underarm width: 4.5″
Bust: 34.5″
Height: 5’1″
Armhole depth: 14cm
Armhole circ.: 42cm
Underarm width: 10cm
Bust: 100cm
Height: 165cm
I’m so excited to help with this! I have such a problem with this issue exactly: I’m very busty, but pretty small in the waist and hips &c, so when I knit to my bust, everything else is way too big. The arm holes are particularly problematic, because if they’re too big, it makes it hard to move, and the shoulders won’t stay in place &c.
Armhole depth: 5.5″
Armhole circ: 16″
Underarm width: 5″
Bust: 39″ (32F bra, so there you go)
Height: 5’7″
And, if you couldn’t tell, what I would love to see in a book is help on getting the bust to fit. I’m so sick of having to knit to my boobs and neglect the rest of my body! I’d really love to be able to knit to the rest of my body and then just make room for my chest.
Armhole depth 15cm
Armhole circ 39.5cm
Bust 90cm
Height 165cm
I really love the idea to give directions in order to make perfectly fitted garments, no matter which size we are! And it is funny, I was also thinking about it yesterday…
Good luck for your next book !
Armhole depth: 6
Armhole Circ: 16
Underarm width: 4,75
Bust: 38.5
Height: 5’8″
I’m curious about what your results for this will be. I’m trying to work out different sizes for a sweater and this problem has been on my mind.
Armhole depth – 5.5ins
Armhole circ – 17ins
Underarm width – 5cm
Bust – 39ins
Height – 5 foot 4 inches
A great idea (and if only everyone thought like you!) My biggest beef is shortish arms (either that, or most patterns are sized up for people with loooooong arms) and being very tight around my upper arms – I have well developed biceps – ahem)
Armhole depth – 12.5cm (5 inches)
Armhole circumference – 45cm (17 3/4 inches)
Underarm width – 14cm (5 1/2 inches)
Bust (high) – 99cm (39 inches)
Height – 168cm (5’7”)
I almost always modify the armscye when I knit a sweater. There’s nothing that turns me off a piece of clothing faster than seeing extra fabric at the underarm. I find raglan sleeves to be quite difficult to deal with in getting the right yoke circumference without the extra bubble of fabric at the underarm.
Height: 163.5cm
Armhole depth: 10.5cm
Armhole circumference: 38.5cm
Underarm width: 7cm
Bust: 86cm
Armhole Depth: 9.5 cm
Armhole Circumference: 39 cm
Underarm Width: 10.0 cm
Bust: 90cm
Height: 176 cm
Hope this helps.
Armhole depth – 5.25″/ 13.34 cm
Armhole circumference – 22″ / 55.88 cm
Underarm width – 6.5″ / 16.5 cm
High Bust – 46.5″ / 118.11 cm
Height – 5’7″ / 170.2 cm
Actually this is very very interesting. Will you share your conclusions on the blog as well?
Armhole depth: 6″/15.5cm
Armhole circumference: 18.5″ /47cm
Underarm width: 5.5″ /14cm
High Bust: 40″ /102 cm
Height: 5’10.5″ /179cm
armhole depth 13cm
armhole circumference 42cm
underarm width 12cm
bust 95cm
height 166cm
Hi Ysolda,
yesterday I forgot to say that I’d like to read some tips in your book about how to combine different sizes… because my bust circunference is one size smaller than my hip…
armhole depth: 13 cm
armhole circ: 39 cm
underarm width: 9 cm
bust: 91 cm
height: 176 cm
Armhole depth: 15cm
Armhole circumference: 40cm
Underarm width: 10cm
Bust: 81cm
Height: 161cm
Armhole depht: 14 cm
Armhole circumference: 40 cm
Underarm width: 10 cm
Bust: 88 cm
Hight: 168 cm
Ysolda,
Here are mine to add to your significant number of responses.
armhole depth: 6.5 ” or 16.5 cm
armhole circumference: 14″ or 35.5 cm
underarm width: 10″ or 25.5 cm
bust: 32.5″ or 82.5 cm
height: 5’5″ or 165 cm
Bust – 97cm
Armhole depth – 14cm
Armhole circ. – 42 cm
Armhole width – 13 cm
Height – 165cm
armhole depth – 11 cm
armhole circ – 43 cm
armhole width – 9 cm
bust – 89 cm
height – 170 cm/5’7″
Great idea by the way! I’m trying to size a sweater I just made using cyc standards, and its a challenge and I do wonder how good their guidelines are.
thank you for thinking about this! armhole depth is something that I have learned I have to modify. In my experience it seems to be more an issue with larger bust measurements in knitting patterns (when knitting for others I find it to usually be less of an issue).
Armhole depth: 6″
Armhole circ: 19.5 ”
Underarm width: 5.5″
Bust: 44 ”
Height: 63″
Thank you for asking, curiously awaiting your results and your book!
Andrea
Looks like you’re getting lots of response, so I won’t commandeer my husband to measure (I’m very average, size-wise, anyway). I’m really looking forward to your results as armhole depth, etc. was my stumbling block on writing up my first graded pattern (well, now it’s doing the schematic).
Armhole depth – 5.5″
Armhole circumference – 24″
Underarm width – 4.5″
Bust – 37″
Height – 5’8″
IGNORE the armhole circ-grr husband mismeasure/read! lol it’s 18″
Armhole depth: 10cm
armhole circumfrence: 38cm
underarm width: 9cm
bust: 82cm
height: 172cm
armhole depth: 6″
armhole circumference: 15.25″
underarm width: 4″
bust: 36″
height: 5′ 5″
Thank you, Ysolda!
armhole depth: 14cm
armhole circumference: 41cm
underarm width: 14cm
bust: 102cm
height: 168cm
I’m looking forward to seeing what you conclude after looking at everyone’s numbers.
armhole depth: 5″
armhole circumference: 15.5″
underarm width: 3.5″
bust: 36″
height: 5′ 6″
You seriously need to post this to the Ample Knitters Yahoo gp and look in the archives….also look at the gallery of pictires of people wearing their creations. There is a vast repository of discussion revolving around the arm scythe (did I spell that right?). I recall one several week discussion done in great technical detail some years back. It’s a constant problem for women on the larger side to get the shoulders/neck and arm depth to work correctly – that’s assuming the pattern was actually written to include their proper size to begin with. No woman wants to wear those ugly drop shoulders.
Many unhappy knitters who are extra small/petite also bemoan the lack of patterns in their sizes/any well proportioned patterns for petites.
Increasing or decreasing past any norm also has to concern itself with proportion, as well as fit. Buttons, pocket sizes (and where they are located), collar and cuff sizes, for examples, need to be adjusted for both the extra small and under, as well as the extra large and over. Over 51% of women in the US are said to be a US size 14 and over. It’s unfathomable that so many knitting patterns still ignore anything over a US 16.
In the UK the average woman is 5′ 4″ tall, as apposed to 5′ 6″ in the US. I have often wondered if that makes UK patterns ‘better’ for more proportionally petite women. If I purchase commercially made sweaters in the UK the sleeves fit my shorter arms, the same sweater in the US would have overly long sleeves for me.
BTW a US “petite” as a size refers to height and adjusted proportion and is considered to be 5′ 3″ and under and could be either a “misses” or a “womens” cut…here one can have a “women’s petite” size such as an 18WP – here the term “women” refers to a certain “ample” cut, a change of proportion and the “larger” fluffy body type, but still for a shorter woman with shorter arms, height and trouser rise (from the crotch seam to the waist).
Not sure if that confuses or informs…but this survey is a truly wonderful idea. When I have time I will measure. And I will spread the word.
Armhole depth: 12.5cm
Armhole circ.: 39cm
Underarm width: 11cm
Bust: 86cm
Height: 171cm
Armhole depth: 14cm
Armhole circ.: 39cm
Underarm width: 9cm
Bust: 90cm
Height: 158cm
Hi Ysolda.. How exciting is this!?
My measurements are:
armhole depth: 5 3/4 inches
armhole circumf. : 17 1/4 inches
Underarm width 4 1/2 inches
High bust: 37
Height: 5′ 3 1/4
Good Luck!
Smiling..
Laura, the damson shawl lover
armhole depth: 11 cm
armhole circumference: 8.7 cm
underarm width: 10 cm
bust: 85.5 cm
height: 180.3 cm
Ahem: typos:
armhole circ: is 38.7 cm
armhole depth: 11 cm
armhole circ.: 49 cm
bust: 103 cm
umderarm width: 13 cm
height: 176 cm
Love that you are doing this. and hope you can make sense of all these numbers.
Oh, standard size charts, how terrible you really are. I’m short (4’11″) and lightly built and the assumption that narrow shoulders & waist and short arms means smaller bust makes buying shirts (especially button-downs for some reason) an interesting experience…I mean, I’m only a C cup, nothing special, but it seems like standard sizes think everyone with my other proportions has a 30″ bust, too. Hah! And of course, I can’t buy sleeveless shirts that don’t end up showing half my bra.
armhole depth: 10 cm (I think, doing this on my own)
armhole circ: 31.5 cm
bust: 81cm
underarm width: 8cm
height: 150cm
armhole depth: 4.5 inches
armhole circ: 15.5 inches
underarm width: 4 inches
high bust: 30.5 inches
height: 152 cm (sorry, don’t know the conversion in inches!)
Armhole depth: 4.5″
Armhole circumference: 17″
Under arm width: 5″
Bust: 34″
Height: 5’6″
Armhole depth: 6.5″
Armhole circumference: 20.5″
Under arm width: 5″
Bust: 40″
Height: 6’0.5″
Armhole Depth: 12.5cm
Armhole Circ: 40cm
Underarm width: 11cm
Bust: 91cm
Height: 160cm
Armhole depth: 11 cm
Armhole circumference: 45 cm
Underarm width: 10 cm
Bust: 90 cm
Height: 170 cm
Thank you for addressing this! Hate it when the armhole depth of a garment is practically at my waist to accommodate my wide shoulders and bust!
Armhole depth: 5.5in
Armhole Circumference: 17″
U/A width: 4.75″
High Bust: 39.5″
Actual Bust: 41.5″
Height: 5’4″ (64″)
Armhole depth: 14cm
Armhole circ.: 40cm
Underarm width: 10cm
Bust: 93cm
Height: 167cm
Armhole depth: 5 inches
Armhole circumference: 15.5 inches
Underarm width: 4.75 inches
Bust: 37 inches
Height: 65 inches
Armhole depth: 5.5 inches
Armhole circumference: 15.5 inches
Underarm width: 4.75 inches
Bust: 37 inches
Height: 63 inches
height: 170 cm
armhole depth: 16cm
armhole circumference: 43 cm
underarm width: 12 cm
bust: 87 cm
Armhole depth: 6.25 in / 16.5 cm
Armhole circumference: 19 in / 48 cm
Underarm width: 5.5 in / 14 cm
Bust: 40 in / 102 cm
Height: 5’5″ / 165 cm
Armhole depth – 9 cm
Armhole circumference – 39cm
Underarm width – 9 cm
Bust – 80 cm
Height – 182 cm
Armhole depth: 16 cm
Armhole circ.: 40 cm
Underarm width: 10 cm
Bust: 93 cm
Height: 170cm
Armhole depth = 12cm
Armhole circ = 43cm
Underarm width = 12 cm
Bust = 107 cm
Height = 160cm
Armhole depth – 14 cm
Armhole circumference – 37 cm
Underarm width – 9 cm
Bust – 78 cm
Height – 172 cm
Interesting!
Armhole depth 5.5 in / 14 cm
Armhole circumference 18 in / 45.75 cm
Underarm width 6 in / 15.25 cm
Bust (fullest) 47.25 in / 120 cm
Bust (high) 43 in / 109.25 cm
Height 69 in / 175.25 cm
Armhole depth: 5&1/2 Inches (14cm)
Armhole circumference: 18 &1/2 inches (47cm)
Underarm Width: 5&2/3inches (14.4cm)
High bust: 38″ (96.5cm)
Full bust: 42″ (107cm)
Height: 5’4″ (162.5cm)
(also: I love that you’re wearing a Rav shirt)
Armhole depth 4in (10cm)
Armhole circumference 14in (35.5cm)
Underarm width 3.5in (9cm)
Full Bust 31.5in (80cm)
Height 5′ (60in/153cm)
Armhole depth – 14 cm
Armhole circumference – 38 cm
Underarm width – 11 cm
Bust – 89 cm
Height – 165 cm
Will be interesting to see how this works out.
Height 5’7″
Armhole height 5.5″
Armhole circ. 18.5″
Arm depth 5″
High bust 38.5″ (have gigantaboobs but small back)
Height 5’5″
Armhole depth 15 cm
Armhole circ. 40 cm
Underarm width 10 cm
Bust 87 cm
Good luck can’t wait to see your new book!!
Armhole depth 11.2 cm
Armhole circumference 47.5 cm
Underarm width 13 cm
Bust (high) 105 cm
Height 174 cm
Armhole depth: 10 cm
Armhole circ: 41 cm
Underarm width: 12 cm
Bust: 95 cm
Height: 1,60 m
Please share results/conclusions!
Armhole depth: 10.75cm
Armhole circ.: 32cm
Underarm width: 12cm
Bust: 86cm
Height: 163cm
The aspect of fit I’d really like to see more designers address is bust-waist ratio. Like other commenters here I have large bust and a small waist. I need the equivalent of a Bravissimo shirt range but for knitting patterns! See here if you don’t know what I mean, they have a really useful size chart that explains:
http://www.bravissimo.com/products/clothing/shirts-and-tops/bravissimo/bl63-details.aspx?colour=white&ck=0vrbFpYh92Q%3d
Hi Ysolda,
I’ve been enjoying your blog ever since I saw Arisaig on Knitty ages ago. I love your designs, they are wonderfully original and I love the way there is often a nod to the designs of the past. Am looking forward to your book! Here’s my contribution :-)
Armhole depth = 14 cm
Armhole circ = 47 cm
Underarm width = 15 cm
Bust = 106 cm
Height = 163 cm
Height = 163 cm
Good luck!
Armhole depth: 5.5″
Armhole circ.: 16.5″
Underarm width: 4″
Bust: 34″
Height: 5’5″
This is awesome! I was immediately inspired to do my measurements– the armscye is definitely one of my biggest fit problems.
I will add my measurements here later. I always have to add length to sweaters since I am long waisted. So, in patterns it is very helpful in patterns if it says where to add the length – usually I add it at the bottom but sometimes – depending on shaping it should be added elsewhere.
Love your designs!
Sorry no measurements from me – will provide some when I have an assistant!
But for fit, I struggle with getting things to fit in the shoulder and neckline because I have very small, narrow shoulders, but a large bust (E/F cup) so if I select a size to suit my bust, it is too big around the neck and I’m just not very good at improvising and adjusting things so that I get the right proportions around my neck and shoulders and then into the bust. I really need to spend more time learning about fit and construction so that I can make truly customised fits.
Armhole depth = 16 cm
Armhole circ = 42 cm
Underarm width = 14 cm
Bust = 94 cm
Height = 1,78 m
Height: 5’4.5″
High Bust: 35.5″ (but I’m old so my breasts sag even in a bra; you’re getting straight chest here at the underarm! My bust is 38.25″)
Armhole depth: 6″
Armhole circ: 15.5″
Armhole width: 4″
In standard grading of woven garments, we add 6mm in armhole length and 6mm in armhole width for every 5cm increase in bust size. The neck point and shoulder point are each moved laterally by 3mm first.
I’m not sure what is standard in knitting grading, but many of the patterns I’ve knitted don’t follow this convention! Even though knitting has extra stretch, I don’t think this should be relied upon for a good fit.
The tricky fitting situation of a petite figure with a large bust is obviously not a ‘standard’ shape, but there are many people like this! The extra size is usually all on the front, and back width/armholes are standard size. They often need extra inches and shaping on the front only, both vertically and horizontally.
Hopefully this helps a bit! I’ll leave my measurements when I can later.
Ooh, I see the pictures are up!
Height: 5’2″
Armhole depth: 5.5″
Armhole circ: 20″
Arm width: 6″
Upper bust: 40″
Armhole depth – 14 cm
Armhole circum – 45 cm
Underarm width – 15 cm
Bust – 107 cm
Height – 156 cm
Excellent idea! I look forward to hearing more about your findings. The thing I find I need to alter the most (as well as adjusting the waist upwards because I am short with a short body) is the upper arm circumference. For a fitted sleeve I nearly always need to shorten and widen the sleeve head. I think I may be an anomally though, because I do find that commercial shirts and coats are often made too narrow for my arms, and someone must be buying them!
Hi Ysolda,
Congratulations on the excellent success of your work and on your creativity.
I am an overseas fan of you. I am Italian and I don’t know English well, so, try to be patient.
I’m writing you because you asked us, your fans, what we expect to find in your new book.
Obviously patterns and clear instructions about them.
Tell us non just “decrease” but suggest which type of decrease we need to use.
A good way to write down instructions, especially for more sizes, is to use a table layout like the one used by Kristin Nicholas in her book “Kristin Knits” (unfortunately in her latest book the layout is completely different and the size character too small for an easy reading).
I like the clarity of chart both in case of just knits and purls combinations and in colorwork design.
I think necessary a sketch of the garment to understand its final shape and how the various parts link together.
Of the utmost importance good and clear photos of the object. A front and a back view and photos of details (like the ones in your “What I’m working on” post. I particularly like the last one with the sleeve going on. We ca see the wonderful shape at shoulder and underarm)
It could be useful a swatch sample photo (like in Marianne Isager Classic Knits)
The availability of the pdf version promptly e-mailed is fabulous. You cut out the waiting and the shipping charges which restraint me many purchases.
I have to pay you my best compliments for not follow some publisher advice and share with us your work in progress, involving and permitting us to be accomplice of your work.
I’m the proud owner of your Whimsical little knit 1 and I look forward to buying your new book.
My best regards,
Adamalia
My measurements for your survey:
Armhole depth: 13 cm.
Armhole circumference: 39 cm
Underarm with: 11 cm.
Bust 88 cm.
Height: 164 cm
Armholes on sweaters is my pet peeve, and I always end up adjusting my knitting to make my apparently monstrous arms fit my sweaters. I am naturally a small chested woman with broad shoulders and muscular arms.
Armhole depth: 13cm
Armhole circumference: 43cm
Arm width around the bicep: 31cm
Underarm width: 13.5cm
Bust: 84cm
Height: 167cm
Great idea!
Armhole depth: 9 cm
Armhole circ: 39 cm
Underarm width: 9 cm
Bust: 80 cm
Height: 158 cm
K
Now that I have knitted a few tops and sweaters and I think the next thing I would really like to learn about is fibre. Things like what kind of fibre has memory, what stretches, what holds shape, what drapes well with different stitches, if certain blends work well together.
Armhole depth: 16cm
Armhole circ: 45.5cm
Underarm width: 15cm
Bust: 107cm
Height: 172cm
Look forward to your findings! really interesting research.
thanks for obsessing on this! i am short and short waisted, but i have wider shoulders than the xs/s sizes call for. plus, i hate my clothes strangling me, lol. makes fitting a struggle at times, especially since i cannot seem to “adjust” patterns well. bit late with the measurements, but i hope they help.
Armhole depth: 3.5″
Armhole circ.: 14″
Underarm width: 4″
Bust: 34″
Height: 5′1.75″
bleah, typo… armhole depth 6.5″
Armhole depth: 3.5″
Armhole circ.: 14″
Underarm width: 4″
Bust: 34″
Height: 5′1.75″
I applaud your efforts, this is huge in fitting. However, you must not neglect arm circumference. It does not necessarily relate to the other measurements. I have nice tidy shoulder and short armhole depth, but I have a large bicep and it is a distinct fitting problem. This is common, especially as we age.
AH depth: 8.25″
AH circ: 17″
Underarm width: 5″
Bust: 44″
Height: 5 foot 1/2 inch
Bicep: 15″
As I said, admirable work!