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KNIT MATH!
Kris Hoffman—4/20/2013
KNITTERS WOW THE MATH!
One knitted item consists of
hundreds of rows comprised of
thousands of stitches.
Each stitch is either a knit or a
purl, and these two stitches are
arranged or slightly modified to
create the patterns that ultimately
carry a specific texture, color or
fabric.
The ONE is the garment.
NUMBER AND OPERATIONS
Repeated patterns create a constant kind of texture, or a stitch,
such as 1x1 rib or seed stitch. Generally the rows of these
patterns are in multiples of the stitch repeat, and so a 6-stitch
repeated pattern might begin with casting-on 48 or 54 or 120
stitches.
MORE NUMBERS AND OPERATIONS:
ADD THE PARTS OF THE PATTERN
TOGETHER TO MAKE THE WHOLE
To knit this pullover, the pattern of cables, lozenges and twisted cables
are joined together as each is detailed separately. 28 moss st + 4 cable
st + 28 lozenge + 4 cable + 28 twisted cable + 4 cable + 28 lozenge +
4 cable + 28 moss st = 1 row, 156 stitches.
NUMBER AND OPERATIONS:
PARTS OF THE WHOLE
This afghan design is knitted
in 5 strips. The third strip is
not yet finished, and the first
two strips have been woven
together. The final afghan is
made of the 5 joined strips.
The pattern involves
number, color, stitch and
parts.
GEOMETRY: SOCK IT TO ME!
Item like socks, mittens and
hats are constructed in 3-d,
by knitting stitches on 3 or
more needles together in a
long spiral that creates a
tube.
“Turning the heel” changes the direction of the initial top
tube of the sock, inserting a specialized rectangle shape
that creates nearly a 90-degree turn into the foot part of
the sock.
HATS OFF TO GEOMETRY!
A hat is a knitted tube, with a
decreasing cone spiraling on top. A
flat top requires a quick decrease in
stitches; a pointed top requires a
gradual decrease.
This hat’s decrease is one stitch
every 10, and then one every 9, and
then one every 8, and so on, every
other row.
This makes triangles with bases of 10
stitches, ending with just one stitch
after 19 rows, which are joined at the
top. A different slope would make a
pointier hat.
MEASUREMENT
K nit t ing ne e d le s a r e m e a sure d
by c ir c umf e renc e in m illim e t e rs
( m e a sureme nt ,) or by s t a n d ard
s ize s ( o r d ina l nu m be r.) T h e
c or r e ct ne e d le s ize will c r e a t e
t he r ig h t s ize of s t it ch.
Pa t t e r ns c a ll f or knit t ing a
p r a c t ic e s wa t ch t h a t
d e t e r min e s a g a u g e by s h ow in g
t h e nu m b e r o f s t it ch e s p e r
inch, f or e x a m ple, a g a u g e of
1 8 s t s / 28 r ow s = 4 in ch e s.
MEASUREMENT: SIZING
Garments that can be knit
in different sizes list
options for the number of
stitches, and therefore the
size, in the patterns. It is
important to knit the
practice swatch to ensure
that the sizing will be
accurate.
Geometry note: unlike
socks, mittens are knit in
left and right versions and
display mirror or line
symmetry!!
MEASUREMENT: TAILORING
Knitting can take on a tailored
look when increases and
decreases are used to create a
form-fitting silhouette.
DATA ANALYSIS: SHOW ME THE
MONEY!
Does this project make sense to
start? Is it affordable? Is it worth
it?
color
brown
black
rust
taupe
oz
# skeins
needed oz/skein needed
8
4.5
3
8
3.5
2
8
4
2
8
4.2
3
cost per skein $ per color
$ 3.99
$ 11.97
$ 4.99
$ 9.98
$ 3.79
$ 7.58
$ 5.29
$ 15.87
$ 45.40
total cost for project
DATA ANALYSIS: COLOR CHARTS
Reading the color chart for two/multicolored projects requires keeping track
of the coordinates on the graph.
Looking for patterns, or reference
points, helps to stay on the chart
accurately.
SWEATER CURSE: PROBABILITY,
OR SUPERSTITION?
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweater_curse
Knitters use the term "sweater curse" or "curse of the love sweater" to
describe a situation in which a knitter gives a hand-knit sweater to a significant
other, who quickly breaks up with the knitter. [1] In an alternative formulation,
the relationship will end before the sweater is even completed. [2] The belief is
widely discussed in knitting publications and some knitters claim to have
experienced it; [3][4][5] a recent poll indicated that 15% of active knitters say they
have experienced the sweater curse firsthand, and 41% consider it a possibility
that should be taken seriously. [6]