blocked_10_final

0x10
1 by 1
By Annie of A Stitch in the Sky
Numbers in Knitting & Crochet
The inexperienced may not realize how many
numbers are involved in our craft. From the age we
learned to knit or crochet to the amount of unfinished
projects we have, numbers are everywhere.
A lot of people learn how to knit before they are
age 10 and others are older. I was around 7 when I
learned. I knitted two items for my brownie badge of
which I had quite a few. I knitted a cape from polythene
at art college when I was 19 and used our craft
again when I was 22.
Five years later, I started to knit again to help me
give up smoking. It will soon be 30 years that I have
always had projects on the needles.
When we start a project we need to
use needles or hooks with the right
number engraved. Then we need the correct
number of stitches and rows to make
a 10 by 10 cm. square. We may need to
use larger or smaller needles to get the right
gauge. We also need the right thickness of yarn.
Maybe 12 wraps per inch.
Our chosen pattern may ask us to measure
ourselves and then explain whether
there is positive or negative ease. We will
need to measure ourselves and then add or
subtract inches or centimetres to decide
which size to make.
We may need to do 1 by 1 rib or 2 by 2 rib for 5
cm. or 2 inches. We may need to knit until we have 30
or 40 cm. before we start an arm hole. If we were knitting
fair isle every row involves counting.
Some of us have shorter arms than others and
need to calculate how many rows to work. I have a
few methods that help when counting large numbers.
When I cast on, I place a marker after 50 stitches, if
I’m counting rows I’ll place a marker after I’ve counted
50.
In dressmaking, there are two inches in width between
sizes so designers have a lot of calculating to
do to make patterns suitable for many sizes. When it
comes to blankets, size can be whatever you would
like, but if it is a crocheted blanket, the motifs have to
have the correct amount of stitches on each round for
them to lie flat.
One of the most fun items I knitted was a pi shawl.
The pi method is used to calculate how many increases
are needed to make a flat circle. When all this
measuring and calculating is finished, there are still
more numbers.
We have a number of pattern books and magazines.
Some of us have a stash that you can count.
Some of us will need to retire before we can do so. I
have most of my magazines and books in two cupboards
and have my wool in various places in three
different rooms of my house.
Then there are UFOs to take
into consideration. I think I have
between 5 and 10 and
then I have a list of things
I’d like to make. If you use
Ravelry you may have a
list of things that you’ve
made. You might also
have a list of things that you would like to make.
You may have also listed all of your yarn.
Sometimes when I’m in between projects, I
have a bit of a sort out and look at patterns I’d like
to make. I try to work out which of my stash yarns will
make them, if they will work to gauge, are suitable
and if I have enough yarn to complete the item.
Sometimes a calculation is necessary - a ball of double
knitting might have 125m. on it and you may have
8 balls. This may be enough to make the sweater or
cardigan you desire or it may not - which sometimes
sends me batty.
To be a monogamous knitter with no stash would
be a lot simpler but there would still be numbers involved.
So if you think you’re rubbish with numbers but
have successfully completed knitted and crochet
projects then maybe you’re better with numbers than
you think.
40cm
12wpi
50
Here’s to 30 more years of knitting!
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