“Tweeker’s Sweater”
So, earlier this summer - literally right after I wrapped up the Dream Wedding Dress - a friend from the hospital I volunteer approached me with a very specific custom-job:
She was planning to attend a convention later in the year and was cosplaying a character for the independent film Jerry the Ginger-Eater (2025). She was planning to go as the character “Tweeker,” a prostitute and the movie’s second protagonist.
After I let the word “prostitute” sink in for a minute, my first response was literally:
“Do you have an reference pictures I can look at?”
Ya’ll, I”m serious when I say that I can, and am willing, to make anything…
So, after we touched base again (where I was able to take her measurements and get an idea of her timeline), I set to work and started designing my first real piece of what I call (affectionately) “whore couture.”
Jennifer, my friend and client, was so great to work with - primarily because she got all of her ducks in a row before I began.
She inquired early (at least 4 months out), provided me with a definitive timeline - then informed me quickly when that due date needed to be moved up. She also provided much needed reference photos I could work off of, and fully participated in what I call “the conferencing stage” (where I take measurements and asked about adjustments or changes to the design).
Truly a dream-client through and through!
Because I had several other projects starting to back up on me, I had to push the sweater back a little bit while I scrambled to get at least half of my to do list done - but I did preemptively research and shopped for the yarn I would need when it was time to start working on it.
And I am so glad I did!
My numbers came out nearly perfectly, and I had just the right amount of yarn I needed when it was time to start crocheting. I didn’t even need to create a mock-up for this piece, since I’d already researched patterns that would help me create the center cut-out.
Never let anyone tell you that research and math do not apply to stitch-craft, because they’re lying to you!
I’m a little disappointed with myself that I couldn’t have it ready prior to my self-appointed due-date of “the last week of August”; but because of the research I squeezed in-between my other projects, I was able to make up that time and get the final project done in less than 10 days (it probably would’ve been sooner, but I’m - begrudgingly! - taking more breaks between crocheting projects).
Fortunately, the sweater was finished early enough to allow for any more sizing adjustments - and long before my friend’s planned convention!
One thing that is important to note about this style of sweater: it does not allow for easy sizing-adjustments.
Because it’s made bottom-up with two large panels, that pretty much means that your bust, waist, and (if applicable) hip measurements need to be on target… otherwise, you will have to completely unravel the sleeves in order to let it out or take it in.
And then you will have to re-crochet the sleeve directly back onto the sweater’s arm-holes.
My bit of advice for sizing loose-knit sweaters like this?
Always remember that you have still have a negative allowance to work with. Crochet will eventually stretch over time, especially after the blocking process, and with cut-outs in the front or back, they could potentially stretch more if left raw.
Try to stay just under your largest measurement in order to allow for that future stretching. And don’t forget to fortify your raw-edges with a loose slip-stitch. 9 times out of 10, most people won’t see it unless they’re looking for it, and it will help fortify your cut-out from stretching too much over time.