Doing the Math

A couple of weeks ago I ran a web seminar on the topic of Math for Knitters.

Topics I covered included:

• Yarn shop math: how to make sure you're buying enough yarn for your project.
• Pattern math: gauge math; repeats and how to deal with numbers-intensive instructions in your project, like "decrease five sts evenly across; and the dreaded 'Reversing Shapings' and 'At the Same Time'.
• Project math: how to figure out how long it will take you to finish your project, how to figure out if you have enough yarn, how to figure out how long you can make your scarf.

It was recorded, and is available for your listening pleasure at any time.  Find it here, in the Interweave online store.

---

Math for Knitters Part Two runs Wednesday December 10th at 1pm EST.

In this session, I'll be diving deep into gauge, providing you a good understanding of what it's all about: why it matters, how to check, it, and what to do if you can't match it.

I'll talk about adjusting patterns for gauge: how to do it, and when not to. We'll talk about garment adjustments - how to easily modify a garment to improve the fit.

Although I know that I love the math, not everyone else does, so many of my solutions are about keeping the number-crunching to a minimum.

This session will make you a smarter shopper: I'll help you figure out how to choose patterns that are easiest to modify. And then I'll show you how to make those modifications to get exactly the result you want!

If you love math, this class is for you - I'll empower you to adjust and modify patterns to your needs! And if you don't love math, this class is for you - I'll show you how to avoid it as much as possible, while still making adjustments.

Register here. Again, it will be recorded so if you can't make it live you can listen to it later. And heck, even if you are able to listen to it live, you can listen again and again!

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!

My new cardigan & the lengths I go to to avoid placing buttonholes

I wrote all about it on the Knittyblog.

An out-take from the photoshoot.

Go look!

Math for Knitters Web seminar

Something else I hinted at recently: I'm doing a two-part Web seminar with Interweave on the topic of Math for Knitters.

The first session is next Wednesday, November 12th, at 1pm EST. You can attend live, or listen to a recording at your leisure after the fact. Attendees at the live session will be able to ask questions. (The prerecorded version will be made available for listening a few days after the live session.)

The first session is all about the math needed to successfully work a project:
We’ll equip you with the skills to handle any pattern, from ensuring you have enough yarn to being able to read, follow and decipher the instructions, including such challenges as "increase 12 stitches evenly distributed across the row," and “work decreases every sixth row 5 times, and every fourth row 12 times, and every following alt row.” We’ll also discuss clever tricks such as using a digital kitchen scale to help you use up your yarn stash, and to calculate how long you’ll need to finish up a project.

Rather than turning this into a boring high-school algebra class, I focus on easy tricks and solutions, working through some real-life examples to show you how it all comes together. I'll even give you some ways to avoid the numbers entirely if you don’t feel confident about them.

Math for Knitters part one is all about tools you’ll require to execute a pattern successfully. The second web seminar, to be held in December, will focus on gauge and pattern alterations and adjustments.

For more info, and to register, visit the Interweave store.

Announcing the new book: Pattern Writing for Knit Designers

I've been talking about this obliquely for a while, but it's time to come clean. I've been working on a new book...Pattern Writing for Knit Designers. It's the culmination of my work as a a technical editor and my previous career as a product communications specialist in the technology industry.

The book is a guide to writing knitting patterns: how to translate your great knitting project into a set of instructions that any other knitter can follow.

I feel very strongly about the quality of knitting patterns: good pattern writing matters because we want knitters to keep knitting.

Aimed at emerging designers and knitters creating their own patterns, Pattern Writing for Knit Designers is the comprehensive guide that can help you translate your project into a set of instructions that any knitter can follow.

In my typical no-nonsense (but friendly!) way, I provide concrete guidelines with lots of examples on everything from pattern writing basics (what information needs to be in a knitting pattern), to schematics and charts (what they are, why you need them, and how to create them), to handling multiple sizes, establishing a personal style sheet, and more. The book addresses the details of how to create complete, clear and easy-to-use knitting patterns, for any type of design, and for any level of knitter.

With over ten years of experience as the Managing Technical Editor for Knitty.com, as well as tech editing for Annie Modesitt, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Laura Nelkin, Interweave magazines, Cooperative Press and Potter Craft, I've edited literally thousands of patterns for designers, yarn companies and publishers. I believe that my unique combination of skills and training (a degree in math and training in fashion design), and my 10+ years' experience as a knitting teacher across North America, offer a one-of-a-kind perspective on ways designers can improve their patterns to make knitters love them.

I provide concrete guidelines, with lots of examples, on topics including:

• what information needs to be included in a knitting pattern
• how to properly and clearly communicate sizing and measurement information
• what schematics are, why you need them, and how to create them
• how to use charts and written instructions to express special pattern stitches like cables and lace
• stitch nomenclature (especially related to cables), abbreviations, and glossaries -how to handle multiple sizes and versions
• use of brackets and * to indicate repeats
• how to establish a personal style sheet 

And much, much more. So much more!

I discuss technical editing and test knitting – explain what they are how, why they’re important, and when they need to be done. I give tips for designers who wish to self-publish, and for those preparing submissions to a publication.

In addition, I provide two key resources: a master template – both in printed and digital form –and a master glossary and abbreviations list.

---

I'm proud of the book, and I'm very pleased to say that people are already saying great things about it.

This book is AWESOME. - Donna Druchunas

Kate Atherley's marvelous book is essential reading for any designer looking to create patterns that work well and sell well; and intriguing reading for any curious knitter who has ever wondered what goes into the creation of pattern. - Franklin Habit

If you are considering pattern writing, or want to become a knitter who understands how to read patterns more deeply, this book is for you. I certainly wish I had it when I was starting out! - Laura Nelkin

Kate is a fount of knowledge gained  from her years of experience tech editing pattern instructions and  working hands on with knitters of all levels. She is uniquely situated  in our industry, forming a bridge between designer and pattern user.  This book distills all of the information she has researched & is in  her head into a step-by-step check list of what we need to consider  when publishing our work. - Fiona Ellis

---

It will be available as an e-book December 2014.

Want me to let you know when the book is available? 

Email address (required) 

I promise I will only use your email address once, to let you know when the book is available. Thanks for your interest!