How Math Skills Apply to Knitting and Crocheting

It is fulfilling for all individuals who have consumed heaps of knowledge as students to apply this information outside of the classroom throughout their lives. As students, we may at first overlook the importance of certain lessons, only to have them reappear later in life. I have found that for activities such as knitting and crocheting, that occasionally appear mindless, mathematical concepts learned as early as elementary school reintroduce themselves. The most common basic mathematical concepts that come into the picture when knitting and crocheting are described.

Multiples

In elementary school math classes, students are introduced to multiples: whole numbers that when divided by other whole numbers yield whole numbers. This math term applies to knitting in that I recently encountered a cable stitch knitting pattern that instructed knitters to work over a number of stitches that is a "multiple of 8 stitches + 12", which allows customized size options. For instance, while the chart is worked over 20 stitches (8+12), I could triple the size by working over 60 stitches (48+12).

Factors

Another elementary-level math term that works hand-in-hand with multiples are factors: one of two or more numbers that can be multiplied together to produce a certain number. One of my knitting patterns reads, "Increase 12 stitches evenly across round." In other words, if a round has 132 stitches, a knitter would need to increase every 11 stitches since 11 and 12 are factors of 132.

Symmetry

A geometric term that plays an important role in knitting and crocheting is symmetry: an area or plane divided in the center that has right and left halves that are mirror images of each other. Symmetry applies to any pattern that reads "Make two alike," such as with a shrug where the final step of the knitting pattern requires sewing together the symmetrical sleeves to make a seam.

Sequence of Triangular Numbers

A math concept introduced in elementary school and later included in high school exit exams is the Sequence of Triangular Numbers: a type of number pattern represented by a series of dots in the formation of a triangle. The triangular numbers associated with each dot are calculated using "the formula for the sum of consecutive whole numbers (adding consecutive whole numbers to previous triangular number sequences to equate the next triangular number)." This numeric pattern applies to various crochet patterns such as triangular crochet shawls that are crocheted with consecutive chain loop increases within each row. It is also involved in crocheting bikini halters with triangular-shaped midriff coverings where an inverted triangle is created by ending each row with slip stitches to "make one less chain loop per row."

Moebius Band

Introduced by German mathematician Ferdinand Moebius in the 19^th century, a moebius band is created by twisting one end of a strip or band at 180 degrees and joining together both ends. A common activity in elementary school math classes is for students to create moebius bands using paper, scissors, and tape. The lesson of this activity is that a moebius band differs from a cylindrical band in that it has one edge and one side rather than two edges and two sides. Moebius bands apply to the knitting and crochet world in that moebius scarves are one of the latest trends. For more information on this, read my Associated Content article, "Free Mobius Scarf Knitting Patterns".

The practical nature of basic math when it comes to knitting and crocheting definitely makes this subject valuable. Math teachers who are skilled in knitting and crocheting have the advantage of creating activities that show students the relationship between math and knitting and crocheting. This hands-on approach will make math very interesting!

Sources

Bennett, A. B., & Nelson, L. T. (1998). Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers: A Conceptual Approach. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.