I'm Porportional -- what shape are you?

"As knitters, we have the power to create a piece of couture perfectly suited to our figures every single time.  If we look dispassionately, acceptingly, at our forms, we gain the ability to turn this theoretical power into the perfect sweater."  -- Amy Herzog, "Fit to Flatter".

In addition to taking accurate measurements and sizing your sweater pattern accordingly, another key to the "perfect" fitting sweater is knowing your body shape so you can choose sweaters that flatter it. 

Your body shape is something you are born with -- it's the bones of you and really has nothing to do with how much you weigh.   

There are about 8 body shapes according to this site but for the purposes of knitting sweaters,  Amy focuses on the three main body types: top heavy, bottom heavy, and proportional.

According to my measurements, I'm a "proportional" shape which means that I have equal (or nearly so) top and bottom lines .  

This gives me a fair bit of choice in a sweater style provided that the visual elements used in the sweater balance one another.  The knitted item itself should look balanced.

I'm also a "curvy" shape vs. a straight shape. This means I have a waistline that is substantially different from my hips/bust line.  Therefore, sweaters that emphasize my curves are ideal. 

I have gained weight with age and it turns out that I'm prone to gaining weight in my tummy.  My hips have a “shelf” appearance and I added some love-handles.  I therefore like to take these factors into consideration as well and to choose sweater shapes that will camoflauge this area rather that draw attention to it. 

As a knitter, I confess that I tend to be first drawn to the knitted elements in a sweater rather than to it's shape.  But I'm learning to really look at a sweater design and to ask myself:

-is it balanced within itself?

-does it have waist shaping (or enough drape to take on my shape)

-does it de-emphasize the tummy area?

-is it a good neckline for me? 

It's best to ask the hard questions right up front and if I really love a sweater that's not suited to my shape I can consider altering it for a more flattering fit.  

By contrast, "top heavy" shapes usually look best in sweaters that exaggerate the width of the hips while narrowing the shoulders.  And "bottom heavy" shapes tend to look best in styles that draw the eye up toward the shoulder and bust. 

And don't let the word "heavy" confuse you.  There was a young gal in our class who was so slim a sudden wind could have swept her away, but she was a bottom heavy shape. And did you know that most fashion models are top heavy?  Their broad shoulders mimic a hanger so that clothes drape nicely on them.  

So, what shape are you?  Not sure?  Enter your measurements here and find out.  It will help you a lot in choosing sweater styles that suit you best!

 

Comments

[Dina]

Thanks for links! The calculator said I was a pear, but I look more like a diamond.