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Knitting is Math: How Getting Girls to Knit Could Launch STEM Careers

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Could knitting be the key to getting girls interested in STEM?This one is kind of a long read, but I think it’s really interesting as a knitter and a mom of a girl who I hope can stay engaged in math and science as she gets older.

The post, “Girls Knit Their Way to a Math Career” looks at how knitting and other fiber arts can be used to encourage girls to engage in mathematical thinking and problem solving that just might lead the to careers in science and math in the future.

I hope more schools and programs will get this idea, that knitting is so much more than handcraft. It would be valuable even if it just helped kids to focus, lower their stress levels and gain confidence as they learn new skills and solve problems, but it’s really more than that. Knitting and crochet can not only be used to explore and explain higher mathematical concepts, the act of designing a knitting project — and sometimes even knitting from a pattern — requires problem solving and math skills.

Sometimes the mathematical connections are obvious, as when I spent a hectic morning with the Pythagorean Theorem while designing a set-in sweater sleeve. Other times it’s not as obvious, or we don’t think about the fact that we’re doing math when we knit a gauge swatch or adjust a pattern. The more experience and comfort kids have with these concepts in a non-classroom context can only benefit them, even if it doesn’t lead to more women in STEM careers.

Knitting might also be a way to reach girls with STEM projects when those girls aren’t interested in robots and computer gaming, which are classic points of entry that might appeal more to boys.

I know I’m going to keep encouraging my daughter in both her fiber arts and her mathematical studies, and I can’t wait to see where that all goes for her.

Have you ever taught kids to knit or crochet? Do you talk about it being math? Or in your own craft do you think about it being math? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Illustration by James Lewis for Bright.]

Comments

  2. When I was in high school, the girls were discouraged (sometimes severely) to avoid math and science and to go toward English, and typing, and so forth. As I’ve aged and gotten into quilting I realized I certainly would have had easier lessons if I had been taught in a mode (piecing fabric angles for geometry, compositions of threads and battings for some science concepts). Thank you for a well written essay!

Have you read?

Knit Yourself Some Pockets

It’s a common complaint among women and femme dressing folk that our clothes do not include enough (and enough useful) pockets. And even if your clothes do have good pockets, there’s always a chance that you’d rather have another pocket to put some essentials in rather than having to carry a whole bag. 

But because we are knitters, we can take this problem into our own needles and knit ourselves some auxiliary pockets. 

Beatrice Mase did just that, with a kind of fancy toolbelt pocket accessory that they call VELVET Pockets. 

The stitch pattern has a plush, sort of velvet effect, thus the name, but it’s worked with regular fingering/sock weight yarn. (The sample uses wool, but you could experiment with other fibers, too.) It calls for 776 yards of 710 meters, which you might just have in your sock yarn stash. 

The pattern includes several pockets of different sizes, with the main body of the pocket worked flat in one piece and the exterior pockets sewn on at the end. You also have the option of adding screw rivets and a coordinating clasp that make it look even more toolbelt chic. 

The design is worked with a loop of knit fabric at the top so it can slide onto a belt. The pattern includes explanatory diagrams, photo and video tutorials and is adjustable to fit different sizes of belts. 

It’s almost enough to make me want to start wearing belts again, even though I haven’t for years. Because who wouldn’t want a few extra little pockets to hold things when you don’t have enough to really justify carrying a bag around? 

The pattern is available in English and French on Ravelry and you can also buy a kit complete with the yarn, rivets and clasp (the pattern is not included in the kit) direct on Etsy. 

[Photo: Beatrice Mase]