Amy: So, Miss Jillian, this whole book was your idea. Where did it hit you that the world needed a book like this?

Jillian: It hit me like an arrow in my big old butt. Knitters have been complaining for ages about not being able to find big girl patterns or only finding ugly, unflattering big girl patterns. The year we started work on BGK, 200 knitting books were published and ZERO were fat girl books.

Amy: Some knitting books stop at a 40" chest. That's criminal. That's not even an average size L in North America. Who is in charge here?

Jillian: Clearly whoever's in charge is someone who's never looked at--or been--a fat woman. I wanted BGK to be more than just good knitting patterns for big girls.

Amy: Yah, I love the interactive component of the book. We went nuts with the fit-your-bod charts...and people seem to like them. But clearly, now that we've done it, we know WHY no one else has done it.

Jillian: It was a ton of work to make the math accessible to readers--you are a math goddess now.

Amy: Numbers still scare me. I am SO not a math goddess. But there was a point when we were in the thick of writing the mathy section where I somehow managed to let all that information into my brain. Still, I'd rather just plug my measurements into the charts, now that all the legwork is done!

Jillian: I spent a huge amount of time watching big girls when we were researching the book. Not just in yarn stores but everywhere. I would say most don't look in the mirror. I encourage them to look hard and perhaps discover that they really like what they see.

Amy: It's hard to look at yourself when you're not like the idealized norm and say "I'm a babe!" Some people naturally do that. Most of us have to work at it.

Jillian: If you're honest about what you see and measure, you'll find that you are not so bad--even lovely and sexy.

Amy: It's like we wrote a psych book: "How to love yourself when a good part of the world thinks you're not quite right!" I don't think it's healthy to hate your body bits. They can sense it. They grow bigger in response.

Jillian: Not healthy, not fun. I've heard tons of feedback about how the front part of BGK has changed a person's view of all clothing, not just sweater patterns--I love that.

Amy: I was one of those women who knit turtlenecks in bulky yarn so they'd knit up faster and then hated them on me.

Jillian: I love the icons--cute and to the point, just like us.

Amy: I'm very proud of the icons. Your concept, my execution. Go team! I've always had a secret desire to be an illustrator. Maybe I can give that up now.

Jillian: So what else? You and I are working on classes and events, like a measuring party/color party. People should contact us at thegirls@biggirlknits.com if they want us to come to their local yarn shop.

Amy: So, what's next for you, Miss Jillian? I hear there's a sequel to Big Girl Knits in the works.

Jillian: Yup, we're working on BGK2 right now.

Amy: Ricky Gervais will be modeling for us this time.

Jillian: SNORT.

Morehouse Farm Merino Knits
By Margrit Lohrer

Follow the wool from sheep to shawl in this extraordinarily beautiful volume that offers 45 original patterns for unique merino wool hand-knits—including sweaters, baby garments, blankets, and mittens—while telling the story of life on idyllic Morehouse Farm.