How Knitting and Math Go Together

It’s common for knitters and crocheters to say that they don’t like math or that they’re afraid of math, but the intersection of fiber arts and mathematics is actually a really cool place.

For two years now Math for America has done a mini workshop on knitting mathematics, which enables teachers to craft objects such as a tessellated plane, a Möbius band, a trefoil knot, a Klein bottle, and other two and three-dimensional objects.

Scientific American also explored fiber arts and math a couple of years ago, looking in on a session at the Joint Mathematics Meetings that considered math, education and fiber arts.

One of the people mentioned in that article is Sarah-Marie Belcastro, whose website is basically the home of mathematical knitting online. It’s fascinating, even if it does go over my head quite a bit. But it’s really interesting to see how complex mathematical objects and concepts can be illustrated with yarn.

[Photo via Math for America.]

Next Pattern:

It’s been well documented that I love a knitting pattern with a bit of whimsy, so when I saw the Mine! Pullover from Sarah L. Kelly recently I knew I had to share it with you.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to knit a sweater with a yoke full of seagulls? And another seagull at the waist? Chasing little crabs?

The story behind the sweater (and you knew there had to be one, right?) is that while Sarah was traveling around Europe there were a lot of cheeky seagulls about. They reminded her of the scene in Finding Nemo where the seagulls say “mine, mine, mine” and thus the Mine! series of patterns was born.

Oh yes, there’s a whole set. It was the sweater I saw first but there’s also a pair of socks (and the pattern says there’s a cowl, too, but I couldn’t find it as of this writing. If you see it let me know and I’ll add the link here!) so you can totally deck yourself out in pesky seabirds if you want.

But back to the sweater for now. This is worked in DK weight yarn from the top down in the round. The yoke and a section at the bottom are worked in stranded colorwork, with stripes on the body, though you could make the body a single color if you wanted. Details like the beaks and eyes are added with duplicate stitch to make the knitting a little easier.

The colorwork sections are charted. The pattern comes in 10 sizes, with a finished chest circumference ranging from 32 to 68 inches, or 80 to 170 cm.

The socks are worked in sock yarn and come in three sizes. There worked from the cuff down and change needle sizes to accommodate the less stretchy nature of stranded colorwork. You can choose from a side profile or a seagull that’s looking out from the sock. Make a matching pair or mix it up.

Both patterns are available on Ravelry: sweater and socks. If you make them I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: Sarah L. Kelly]

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