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Knitting Math

knitowl by knitowl
  • Last updated: 09/25/2007

I'm a techie programmer - and I knit.  Some days I think, knitting is a whole lot like programming, and it can be paralleled with applied mathematics.

 We don't always like the math part.

But it doesn't have to scare us - let's have some fun, and really understand this process - it's pretty amazing what two needles and yarn can do!   And - if we think about it, it's like visual geometry, created line by line, point by point, in front of our eyes.

Yarn

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Links Online

There are some other people who have dealt with the concept - online calculators, sites and the like I've found.
The Knitting Fiend
Some unique calculators here for the more average problems in knitting - sleeves, yarn conversions and a few other neato functions here.
Socks 101 Sock Formula
Where I personally learned to knit socks -- invaluable step-by-step pictures and also a nice formula for working out different yarns and sizes. I still find trial and error the most useful method, but Socks 101 is where my sockmaking experience began!
The Purl Bee Does Math
The Purl Bee blog describes what it means to cast on in multiples, and how to adjust the number of stitches in your row.
Remembering Elizabeth Zimmerman
A great article about the innovative knitting designer and teacher. (creator of the famous Pie Are Square shawl and countless uniquely-shaped 'thinking' patterns)
Triangular Shawl knitting formulas
Midnight Knitter's Math. I got really frustrated one night - and these are my own formulas for knitting up a triangle shawl (to specified size) on a circular needle.

This really hurt some of my reader's brains - be warned!
Yarn substitution
A little article, has some formulas in it.
Knit like a Man does Knitting Math
In this blog post, David Demchuk does some knitting math to solve the problem of knitting his socks to a different size than the pattern was meant for. A problem all sock knitters, I'm sure (me included) have come upon! One of his friends made a Python script to help him out too (linked) oh my fluttering heart!

Are there Books about This?

or maybe even some software

Some people have been there before - too. Especiallly check out Elizabeth Zimmerman - sometimes her patterns are missing little bits and pieces, but they are innovative and sort of 'games' for realizing how and why knitting is shaped and manipulated.
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knitowl

I'm a computer programmer turned kitchen and bath designer who makes softies as a hobby. Our little girl is a toddler now, and I still sew all of her clothes.... more »

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