Crochet

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Crochet Jackets for the “Real” You

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jackets.jpg

Here’s the blurb on Maggie’s Crochet site for a new crochet leaflet:

Jackets for the Real You
These crochet jackets from et you change your wardrobe whenever you change your mood. Is it a day for quick decisions and getting things done? Toss on Confident, a button-down coat with a hem that cruises below the hip (sizes 8, 10, 12). If being Serene is more your thing, then mix a playful puff stitch with shades of green to create a jacket as peaceful as a forest retreat (sizes S, M, L, XL). Hunting for a way to buck the trends? The Bold jacket is camo-inspired, but it won’t let you get lost in a crowd (sizes S, M, L). Romantic is a cropped hoodie that hugs your shoulders and frames your face with soft bobbles(sizes S, M, L, XL).
 Item #LA4261 $8.95

Here are some pictures of projects from the book:

jackets.jpg

bobble-jacket.jpg

Please note that in this designer’s ‘real world’ only half the bodies are worthy of being a size larger than about a 12!! How REAL is that? I especially find the ‘bauble’ jacket – that is designed up to XL is probably the least appropriate for a ‘zoftig’ body…..like we NEED more ‘wobbly bits’???

Okay, my REAL body has had three large babies and has seen better years. LOL. What about yours? Since the ‘average’ American female is now a size 14-16, these designs don’t seem very real to me.

Comments

  1. I’m with you on this one. These would look great on my 17 yo gd. My dd might even be able to pull off some of them, but my real body sounds more like your real body. Did you look at my blog? Short & plump would about cover it.

  2. Wow, I agree with both of you. For me 6 kids later no way would I ever be able to wear something like that. I know my dd’s would never fit in them either. Once you have had kids the figure won’t tolerate the baubles, bubbles, etc. Great for teen, or teeny boppers.

  3. I have that problem as well — I find very few patterns I can wear. My 23 year old daughter is already a size 14, and by no stretch of the imagination fat — her father is 6’5″. Statistics show that more than half the female population is a size 12 or larger, so where are the clothes and designs for the rest of us?

  4. Even after only having 2 “babies”?! now 35 & 36, my body has never returned to the slim trim one I had prepregnancy. My babies were quite large & I am quite petite, although a bit fluffy now, I had to have C sections. If you look around, there are very few bodies the size of those models unless they are quite young. when are designers going to realize that real women want workable, appropriate patterns? And I get quite tired of trying to adjust patterns to fit my REAL body!!

  5. I KNEW I would find sympathy with my view point here!! I was quite tall early on and my mother had to learn to sew so I could have appropriate clothing to wear – you know, a mature adult body on a 9 yr old! It was a challenge. My own daughter is quite petite, but it is unlikely that she always will be. Besides, being short (4’11”) has challenges of its own, even with crochet designs. I WISH the designers would pay attention to the REAL people out here who would like some REAL designs!!

  7. I don’t know if american sizes are bigger than ours or about the same but i don’t know many English girls that could wear that and look good i’m an english 16-18 and would never even contemplate wearing something like that it would make me twice as wide and more fluffy than i am already 🙁 why can’t they design something more appropriate for people like me that are fluffy

  8. Oh goody. More designs from the designers who live in La La Land and come up with designs for the skinny minnie anorexic fashion models. Do these designers ever venture out into the “real world” where the rest of us live? Or do they wear blindfolds or blinkers out there so they won’t have to see us “definitely NOT skinny minnies”. I take an Australian size XXL and not one of those designs would look good on me. And even if I was a skinny minnie, at my age they would still look ridiculous. As someone else said, only teenagers or teeny boppers could or would wear these.

  9. I like the terminology “fluffy”! I too am a fluffy mom of 2 small kids (3 1/2 yrs and today 1 yr old, how time flies, sigh). I was once able to wear those type of jackets but i have a rather fluffy middle which the doctor says i have to work on (weight around the midsection being unhealthy=heart attack). Cute stuff but you know!I like the spam prevention question.

  10. So sorry I’m not understand out US size standard. But in my country :
    S for body 90-95 cm around
    M for 95-110 cm around
    L for 120 cm around

    Is it the same??

    I make my design for M size…

  11. I’m a 77 yo pear shape and those styles would look ridiculous on me. As I look around my North Country world, most every woman/girl that I see is obese or at least overweight. That is sad but true. So why don’t designers recognize that fact? On the other hand, my 52 yo DD wears about a size 8 and is 5’5″ tall. But she is an exception.

  12. Instead of using the birth of your kids for your being over weight, try doing something about it. After 5 kids, 12 grand kids (two more on the way) and 10 great-grand kids, I was streaching H out of size 14. I decided, at the age of 72, I was NOT going to buy size 16.. I did buy a size 8, and hung them where I could see them while eating… I would take my regular serving. Put half of it back, and after cleaning my plate, get up and leave the table. It worked! At the age of 76 I am still wearing a size 10 (some brands a size 8). I feel wonderful, all my descendents and dh are so proud of me. My Dr. said I had the body of a 55yr old. I have never had to take a long term medication. Happy? you better believe it!!

  13. I agree although I have the opposite problem, I have and always will be petite it’s in my genes. I wear a small or extra small not because I am that skinny but because after breastfeeding two babies one for 10 months and the last for 13 months I have almost nothing left up there! All the tanks or shirts I see are huge no matter what size they are in the chest area! I long to make myself a gorgeous tank top but just can’t bring myself to do it knowing I will just finish it only to frog it or give it away.

  14. Don’t these designers realize that it is we “zaftigs” who spend the most money on yarns and hooks? Surely they must know that once in a while we actually make something for ourselves? Why would we even bother to waste our precious crochet time on a pattern so inappropriate for us?

  15. I remember when I might (repeat might) have fit in one of those jackets-not that I would have ever felt that I fit in them. I recently found a photo of that time, showing off in my bathing suit, no less-half my age, half of me, half my inhibitions, and clearly a whole lot more self-confidence. And I don’t have kids to blame!!

  16. Sorry, question–DD? that’s a new one on me, except of course in ancient history when that was my bra size.

  17. I happen to wear a 3X. That said, there is a market for this type of pattern. Younger people that are in to crochet now, or a parent of a younger person, or those in society that stay thin (so I’ve heard!) lol. Actually, I have niece’s that are very, very slim, and they’d look good in these. All I’m saying is, no need to trash this, just don’t buy it if it doesn’t work for you. That doesn’t mean the designer shouldn’t design them. There are other patterns, buy them.

  19. I think Maggie should recall all those leaflets and market the designs for girls. No self-respecting woman I know would ever wear one of those jackets.Kinda leaves a bad taste for crochet in my mouth, too!

  20. These patterns look as if they were picked from a bunch of older unsuccessful ones from years back! Shame on Leisure Arts and Coats for being too slack to find a designer to to create original and imaginative garments that can be adapted to suit all sizes and tastes, particularly with the wealth of talented crocheters designing for the internet. That said, retro is in, so there may be a market for this among the young with more money than fashion sense – remember blue eye-shadow and shoulder pads?

  21. To Don and others,
    Hey Don – I agree with a lot of what you said, but the ‘blame’ of having kids is that gravity sucks and muscles and skin tone become stretched beyond a reasonable point for some of us. If you are a Don and not a Donna, you can’t really comment on that. Many women weigh the same number of pounds as before kids, but it’s been redistributed by nature.

    For myself, I lost 65 lbs 8 yrs ago (I’m now 58) and have kept more than 50 of it off, despite a couple surgeries since then, including a knee replacement and another in the offing.

    The point here is – look around. American women are NOT size 4! For whatever reason, including any ‘excuses’ they care to use, most American women are size 14 or larger. I have a 21 yr old daughter who is a size 00. I have never been that size and didn’t know it existed til I had this tiny young woman. She has different, but equally baffling, clothing issues.

    So, lighten up – no pun intended – and speak to the issue here which is DESIGN not weight.
    jd

  22. I am not overweight nor do I have a big butt. However I do not like waist length sweaters either.I dress for what I think is appropriate for my age.
    I am 54 size 10 but I look my age even if I don’t how young can I claim I am?, and who cares?
    Its a privilege not everyone gets to to hang around this long Lol!
    I don’t see too many young people crocheting,but Most crafter I know make everything for everybody BUT themselves. Maybe thats where they are drawing from. I make things for kids and for charities. I find sweaters too hot and heavy.
    Maybe they have done studies and found crocheters want to make things for young people they love.
    I want to make something that pleases
    I look in the library and on Ebay I don’t find too much current stuff to be of much interest.

  23. karen,
    thanks for your thoughts. you may be right about designers thinking that we all crochet things for others (younger people) in our lives. i can’t consider wearing sweaters either – except maybe as a winter coat!!
    jd

Have you read?

How to Crochet the Suzette Stitch: An Easy Textured Crochet Stitch for Beginners

Learning a crochet stitch is much more satisfying when you have an actual project waiting at the end of it. The Suzette stitch is especially versatile because its dense, softly textured fabric works for everything from practical cotton washcloths to cosy scarves, hats and blankets.

Here are some Suzette stitch crochet patterns worth adding to your project list.

Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket

The free Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket pattern from Premier Yarns uses the stitch to create a softly textured crochet blanket with a subtle tweed-like appearance.

This would make a lovely handmade baby shower gift, particularly when worked in a washable baby yarn. The stitch creates more visual interest than plain single crochet without introducing large holes that may catch tiny fingers.

Easy Suzette Stitch Blanket

The Suzette Stitch Blanket pattern by Stitching Together is another approachable blanket project for crocheters who enjoy a relaxing stitch repeat.

This is the sort of project you can keep beside the sofa and work on a few rows at a time. Just keep an eye on those skipped stitches—television crochet is wonderful until an extra stitch quietly sneaks in three episodes earlier.

Casey Suzette Stitch Scarf

The free Casey Scarf crochet pattern uses the Suzette stitch through most of the design, producing a cosy scarf with a softly scalloped, zigzag-like texture.

It is a good first wearable project for beginners because scarves do not require complicated shaping. You can also adjust the length fairly easily or use a self-striping yarn and let the colour changes do the decorative work for you.

Quick Suzette Crochet Scarf

For another scarf option, try this free Suzette Stitch Scarf pattern from Hooked by Robin.

The designer includes written instructions and a video tutorial, making it helpful for visual learners who prefer watching the stitch placement before beginning. It is designed as a quick project and would make a practical last-minute handmade gift.

Suzette Colour Block Scarf

The free Suzette Colour Block Scarf pattern is a cheerful option for using several coordinating yarn colours.

Colour blocking also makes this a handy stash-busting crochet project. You can use leftover yarn from other makes, although it is worth choosing yarns of the same weight and similar fibre content so the sections behave themselves after washing.

Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie

The free Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie crochet pattern turns the textured stitch into a warm winter hat.

Chunky yarn helps the pattern work up quickly and makes the raised texture especially noticeable. This would be a useful project for craft stalls, charity donations or quick handmade Christmas gifts.

Hazel Textured Crochet Beanie

The free Hazel Beanie crochet pattern combines simple ribbing with the Suzette stitch.

The ribbed brim gives the hat a neat, finished appearance while the Suzette stitch adds texture to the main body. It looks more complicated than a basic crochet beanie but is still built from familiar beginner stitches.

Suzette Stitch Washcloth

For a small practice project, try the free Suzette Stitch Wash Cloth pattern from The Purple Poncho.

A washcloth is one of the best ways to practise a new crochet stitch because it is small, useful and not terribly demanding. Even if the first one is slightly wonky, it will still wash perfectly well.

Use a smooth cotton yarn so the cloth is absorbent and the stitch texture remains clearly visible.

Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth

The free Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth pattern adds another layer of texture to this familiar stitch combination.

Make several in coordinating colours and pair them with handmade soap for an easy spa-style gift. They are also useful little projects for testing unfamiliar cotton yarn before committing to a larger set.

Corner-to-Corner Suzette Stitch Washcloth

The free C2C Suzette Stitch Washcloth pattern gives the stitch a slightly different construction by working it from corner to corner.

This is a good next project after you have mastered ordinary flat rows. It lets you explore increasing and decreasing while still using the familiar Suzette stitch combination.

Suzette Stitch Afghan Square

The Suzette Stitch Afghan Square pattern turns the textured stitch into a smaller crochet block.

Afghan squares are useful for charity blankets, sampler blankets and portable crochet projects. You can make the squares individually, use up leftover yarn and join everything together once you have enough—although “enough” has been known to become a surprisingly flexible number in my craft room.

More Suzette Stitch Crochet Pattern Ideas

Once you are comfortable with the basic stitch, you can also use it to make:

  • Crochet mug cosies
  • Ear warmers and headbands
  • Fingerless gloves
  • Cushion covers
  • Tote bags
  • Baby rompers
  • Crochet cardigans
  • Lap blankets
  • Double-thick potholders

You can browse additional Suzette stitch crochet patterns on Etsy, including sweaters, baby blankets, beanies, mug cosies and accessories from independent crochet designers.

When choosing a pattern, check whether it uses US or UK crochet terminology. Also check whether it uses the traditional Suzette stitch—one single crochet and one double crochet worked into the same stitch—or a designer’s variation of it. That quick check can prevent a great deal of confused unraveling later.