Tankini Pattern for the large-chested?

[Amy]

I would love to make a crocheted tankini, but I've not been able to find any patterns that might work. I wear a size 6 or 8 in regular clothes, and a size 8 in tankinis, but I'm a D cup. I haven't found anything that would come close to giving me the support I'd need to be able to wear something like this.

 

Does anybody know of any patterns I can check out? Free online patterns are the best (then there's more money for yarn!), but I'd be willing to buy a pattern if necessary, too, to get what I need.

[tween]

I found this, maybe it would work for you?

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20000511222509/http://www.cei.net/~vchisam/groovy/33-32.html

[YaYa Yarnhood]

Lionbrand just posted a new crochet tankini pattern last week. I have no idea about chest sizes but it doesn't hurt to look. (At the pattern that is, sheez!)

[kusine]

You could always find one you like, then sew in the supportive insert that most bathing suits have. You could cut one out of an old suit or even one of those tank tops that have them. That would help a bit with the support issue, anyway.

 

Or, you could look for a tankini that ties in the back. That way you could try to create some support by where you place the ties and how tight you tied them.

 

Here are some tankini-type patterns:

 

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/cms-tankini.html

http://www.angelfire.com/art/bubamara/free/mariahtop.html

 

Actually, I would think that many tank tops would work as a tankini with a few alterations. Like this, if you used ties instead of buttons and mae it a little shorter:

 

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/patterns/here_n_there_tank.php

 

Or this:

 

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/patterns/thick_n_thin_top.php

http://www.karpstyles.com/catalog.html?item=1497&catid=New%20Stock&ret=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.karpstyles.com%2Fcatalog.html%3Fpage%3D2%26category%3DNew%2520Stock

 

Good luck!

[elstir]

The Lion brand pattern seems better for busts because of the short rows.

Maybe it would work at larger gauge? I couldn't get the recommended gauge of 20st/4in in Microspun even with a B hook. At the gauge I ended up getting of 17st/4in you would have a 35 in bust measurement using the M sized pattern. In a worsted weight yarn at 15st/4in you might be able to get to a 40in bust measurement. Also the tie back will add several inches.

 

Have fun!