Does everything really hinge on math?
Math and knitting! An unlikely pair? The article from the Scotsman certainly put a fine point on the idea that there's more to knitting than sticks and string! However, I think that (as usual) the point the academics miss, is that most knitters don't give hoot about complex geometric calculations. That consideration doesn't even darken the threshold of their thoughts when it comes to shaping a garment or turning a sock heel. In fact I would even assert that for veteran knitters, shaping is almost intuitive, a skill honed by years of carefully forming millions of stitches. It comes down to the usual; professionals are book smart but really short on practical reality!
Let me make my point by referring to Elizabeth Zimmerman's notes on her PI Shawl (pronounced 'pie'). PI is the greek letter referring to the exact measure of the circumference of a circle, which, by the way, is NOT exact. PI is expressed as the number 3.1416... and the decimal continues into infinity!! The following quote from The Best of Knitter's Magazine is a favorite of mine. I think it expresses much better the true
"During the gestation of this design, my quite unmathematical brain was haunted by something called pi and I applied to my clever husband for an explanation of this illusion. "Sure," he said, "the circumference of a circle doubles itself as the radius doubles." Well! What's a knitter to do with that piece of information? Put it to the test, of course. (She then goes on to explain how many stitches she cast on and her increases etc etc)... Mathematical purists may have noticed the slight flaw in my understanding of the pi formula. The initial 9 stitches is an arbitrary number (one must begin somewhere), as the initial '1', then '3' rounds. Perhaps my misinterpretation works because of the un-square-ness of an individual stockingette stitch ...? Whatever the reason, it does work - for which I rejoice. Isn't knitting wonderful?"
So what does this all mean? Mathematics may play a part in knitting but the knitting police aren't going to arrest you if you flunked geo-trig and it won't prevent you from turning out a fabulous fitted garment! Many aspects of what we do may be explained by formulae, may be 'proved' by mathematical theorem, but even so, mathematical imperfections won't necessarily cause the project to end in disaster. Math isn't an absolute necessity to produce satisfying and beautiful work. For centuries the illiterate created masterful lace and intricate design - not by mathematical charting but by practice and attention to detail. I mean, it's nice to have the experts laud us, but even if they didn't would it change what we do and how we do it? I think not!
Well that's my 2 cents for the day! Cheers!
Let me make my point by referring to Elizabeth Zimmerman's notes on her PI Shawl (pronounced 'pie'). PI is the greek letter referring to the exact measure of the circumference of a circle, which, by the way, is NOT exact. PI is expressed as the number 3.1416... and the decimal continues into infinity!! The following quote from The Best of Knitter's Magazine is a favorite of mine. I think it expresses much better the true
"During the gestation of this design, my quite unmathematical brain was haunted by something called pi and I applied to my clever husband for an explanation of this illusion. "Sure," he said, "the circumference of a circle doubles itself as the radius doubles." Well! What's a knitter to do with that piece of information? Put it to the test, of course. (She then goes on to explain how many stitches she cast on and her increases etc etc)... Mathematical purists may have noticed the slight flaw in my understanding of the pi formula. The initial 9 stitches is an arbitrary number (one must begin somewhere), as the initial '1', then '3' rounds. Perhaps my misinterpretation works because of the un-square-ness of an individual stockingette stitch ...? Whatever the reason, it does work - for which I rejoice. Isn't knitting wonderful?"
So what does this all mean? Mathematics may play a part in knitting but the knitting police aren't going to arrest you if you flunked geo-trig and it won't prevent you from turning out a fabulous fitted garment! Many aspects of what we do may be explained by formulae, may be 'proved' by mathematical theorem, but even so, mathematical imperfections won't necessarily cause the project to end in disaster. Math isn't an absolute necessity to produce satisfying and beautiful work. For centuries the illiterate created masterful lace and intricate design - not by mathematical charting but by practice and attention to detail. I mean, it's nice to have the experts laud us, but even if they didn't would it change what we do and how we do it? I think not!
Well that's my 2 cents for the day! Cheers!
I've really been enjoying this math thread. Very interesting, and expresses ideas that have been in my mind bubbling around for quite awhile. Thanks!
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