Body Image and Knitters

There is no such thing as a standard size. 

None of us are “normal”.  Average is the average of many people; it doesn’t represent any one single person.  We need to be more realistic about ourselves and more accepting of our bodies. Most models average at about 5'10", 115 pounds. The models in your knitting magazines have a bust measurement of 34". They are are taller than almost everyone reading this post.  Interweave Knits asks for sample sizes to be knit with sleeves that are 2" longer than those in the pattern to fit the models. 

As per Stats Canada 2005 the average Canadian woman's weight is 153 pounds and her height is 5' 3". That's me - I'm almost that average as I'm just a little shorter and weight a little less yet when I buy clothing I have to shop in the petites section or do a lot of hemming. So why is an average woman like me considered to be a petite when it comes to buying clothes?  

While sizing numbers for clothing are vague at best I've read that an average woman is a size 12 or 14 yet plus sizes often start at 14 and then use size 12 models for their ads. Does this make any sense to you? The truth is that clothing manufactures and knitting designers have to start somewhere so we have basic numbers in place but they rarely match up exactly with our own bodies leading some of us to believe that we are abnormal.  

Please keep this in mind when you experience frustration with the garments that you knit for yourself. Take the time to adjust your knitting, looking carefully at the schematics. Remember that there is nothing wrong with you; it's just that patterns can't fit everybody because we are all different.