Knitty Blackberry

[alphaalias]

So, I'm knitting knitty.com's Blackberry and it's for my somebody who's a bigger size than me. I'm not used to making bigger sizes or anything and I'm knitting the XL size. I just realized her arm circumference was probably a lot bigger than the one in the pattern and was wondering if anybody could give me hints on what I should do to get a bigger

Comments

[slythwolf]

Wow, she must have big arms. My fiancé who used to be a bodybuilder has that size arms and his chest is like 50".

[robinhoodvandal]

offensive and not helpful. you win.

[slythwolf]

...offensive? What? I'm just trying to say, I don't think someone with a 40" chest can have bigger than 16 3/4" arms. I've...never seen it. I think the OP may be estimating wrong.

[sparkymonster]

In addition to differences in body frame (wide vs. narrow shoulders, etc.), people carry their weight in very different ways and places. I know people who are about the same height and weight as me, who I can't share clothes with because my body is shaped differently from theirs.

Also, men and women's bodies tend to put on weight in different places. So a guy my size will likely not have arms and legs the same size as mine, even if he was my height and weight. A body builder's shape is even more atypical, since they work on developing their musculature so intensely.

One thing I've found is really neat is looking at this photographic height/weight chart because it reminds me how difficult it is to guess someone's weight by looking at them. There are people who look about the same size to me, but whose stated weighs are 20, 30 lbs apart.

[tephralynn]

Looks like on an XL the sleeve is about 17" in circumference at the widest point. I came up with that by checking the stitch count (48sts at 11sts to 4") in the pattern since the diagram is missing that key information.

I'd check that on your friend. The 4X ends up having a 19.5" sleeve circumference which would be wearable for me (even though I'd take a 5X) so it doesn't seem that the sleeves are overly skinny. I'd also check that the armhole depth will be okay for her since the two problems usually go together.

[rincaro]

I technically have a 46" bust (the XL size) and my arms only 15" in circumference. I think the arm sizes are good for someone who is a pear or an hourglass shape. The only reason I think someone might find those arm sizes too small is they are very top heavy with very thick arms. You know, a person who carries her weight in her arms instead of in her thighs?

But I think the arm depth should be sufficient for the vast majority of folks that would wear that size.

[alphaalias]

When we measured at the widest part of the arm, it was about 23.5 inches, so I'm worried it won't fit.

[rincaro]

Hmmm... I was thinking you didn't have measurements. Yeah, 17.5" won't stretch to accomodate 23.5" of arm, especially since it has cables. Even the biggest size only has about 19.75" to it.

[emmacrew]

Yeah, you probably want to go bigger, then

[elabeth]

I'd say follow the armhole shaping and sleeve knitting directions for the size or two bigger if you're sure she'll need larger arms. That way the body circumference will be like the XL and the arms will be like the 2xl or 3xl.

[bodieschmodie]

When I made this pattern, it turned out to be WAYYY bigger than I thought it was going to be. It's more like a drapey shawl thing with sleeves, as opposed to an actually sweater. This may have been because my switch of yarn was too drastic, but I hadn't really thought it was, so who knows...

Either way, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Good luck!

[alphaalias]

oh really?
Do you happen to remember the gauge of your yarn?