Math for Knitters

by Kate Atherley

Are you tired of avoiding patterns because they don't exactly match your yarn or measurements? "Math for Knitters," by Kate Atherley, is your key to pattern freedom! This practical guide transforms intimidating knitting calculations into simple arithmetic anyone can master. Finally understand what gauge really means and how to work with it when yours doesn't precisely match the pattern. Learn to confidently substitute yarns without running short or wasting money. Customize garments to fit your unique body perfectly by making strategic alterations to length, shaping, and edgings. Atherley breaks down complex concepts into bite-sized, approachable steps. You'll discover how - Calculate yardage for different yarn weights - Distribute increases and decreases evenly - Modify necklines for better fit and style - Adjust patterns for different gauges No more skipping patterns because they don't come in your exact size or settling for garments that don't fit quite right. With clear examples and straightforward methods, you'll gain the skills to adapt appropriate patterns to your needs--and identify when it's time to look for something better suited to what you want. The best part? You only need basic arithmetic--no complex math required! Whether you're a beginner ready to move beyond basic patterns or an experienced knitter wanting more control, this book will transform your crafting experience.

Genres: Knitting, Nonfiction, Crafts, How To

184 pages, Paperback

Published September 30, 2025

Reviews

[Juliebd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took the class too. Her no-nonsense approach to owning your project gave me so much confidence in my ability to alter patterns.

[Fernleaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant little book that guides you through all the important (but basic) math that you need to understand as a knitter. This is a no-frills book, written in a simple typeface without a lot of flashy graphic design, but the knowledge is solid and simply explained.

The first few chapters are the kind of information that I'm explaining to people daily working in an indie yarn shop: How to make sure you have enough yarn for a project when substituting yarns, how to estimate how much yarn is in a partial ball, what gauge is and how to measure it and what it tells you, and how pattern repeats in a pattern work.

The second half of the book dives deeper into adjusting a pattern for a different gauge (tldr: don't, find a new pattern) and how to make basic alterations to a variety of different styles of patterns, ranked from easy to challenging to don't bother. The very last chapter is all of the calculations used to make the alterations, and the whole book has excellent references within itself to point you back to the right section for the math.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this and would recommend it to any advanced beginner/intermediate knitter looking to further understand their craft. There were a few points that didn't sit quite right with my experience, but I have just have been lucky when I did something.

[Josie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a useful resource! Love that I have this book in my toolkit. The author makes (gauge!) math so, so, so approachable for knitting!