Math for Knitters: On Adjusting for Gauge

The first part of my Math for Knitters webseminar ran today. I think I solved some problems and answered my questions. I hope!

The second part runs next month.

In the second part, I tackle the topic of gauge and pattern adjustments. I know it's a topic of interest to many, and some the questions I got today confirmed that.

In short, the main one seems to be "I don't match gauge, so how can I adjust the pattern?" I find this question absolutely fascinating, on so many levels.

I remember asking it myself. And I've heard it many, many times, from other knitters. In short, the pattern is great, you've got some yarn you want to use, and they don't match.

As I got better at knitting, I figured out I could solve this problem: I could just use my math skills to recalculate the pattern. In essence, this is true. As I got better still, I figured out that it's actually not necessarily the simplest (or best) way to go about it.

I love math. I really do. I do Ken-Ken and Sudoku puzzles for fun. But I know that not everyone does.

Adjusting a pattern for gauge is simple enough for a scarf, but the minute there is shaping it gets significantly more difficult. (Sleeves: tricky. Sleeve caps: nightmarish.) Now, some of us enjoy this. And I definitely want to empower those of you who do enjoy this sort of thing and want to dig deeper.

But. But. Not everyone does want to go there.

I offer better solutions! Solutions that don't require you to become an expert in garment design. Solutions that get you knitting faster, and with a higher chance of success. Without giving too much away, it's all about choosing the right pattern... find a pattern that has solved the difficult problems for you, and then use some easy math to solve the simpler problems that remain.

Come, join my webseminar (details TBA, but it's Wednesday December 10th, 1pm EST) and see. The key to this is understanding which are the difficult problems and which are the easy ones. I share that with you, and I share how to solve those easy problems.

My approach is a little unusual, I know. But hey, remember the story about the American scientists spending millions of dollars to invent a pen that could write in zero gravity? The Russians just used a pencil.

Unusual, yes, but quicker, easier, and just as effective!