Knitting bras for lopsided breasts

While from the beginning of my lactating experience, the sizes of both breasts were constantly shifting, I noticed that within their dynamism, the left was generally larger than the right. I began to reflect upon what it means for them, me, or us to be full, to feel being filled, and to fill up space unevenly together. More practically, I began to knit bras for lopsided breasts that could account for our breastfeeding bodies as networked and entangled.

I have knitted two bras. The first is composed of three “measuring cups” and the second is a wrap configuration.

knitting bras for lopsided breastsknitting bras for lopsided breasts
Three “measuring cups”
knitting bras for lopsided breastsknitting bras for lopsided breasts
“Measuring cups” in use
knitting bras for lopsided breastsknitting bras for lopsided breasts
Bra configurations for different sized breasts at different times of the day
knitting bras for lopsided breasts
A stitch became a step and a breath while knitting-while-walking
knitting bras for lopsided breasts
Pattern making portrays “breastmilk as data” indicative of entangled agencies
First possible configuration of a second knitted bra
Second possible configuration of a second knitted bra
Sketch of a pattern for a second bra for lopsided breasts
knitting bras for lopsided breasts
Local exhibition of ongoing process of a first and second bra

Publications & Creative Outputs

Karey Helms. 2021. Entangled Reflections on Designing with Leaky Breastfeeding Bodies. ACM Conference on Designing Interactive Systems (DIS 2021), Virtual Event. (Special Recognition for Diversity & Inclusion)
PDF, DOI, Video (10 min), Video (30 sec)