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I love taking a strand of yarn and creating a three dimensional object. Here’s a picture of my latest creation.

It just dawned on me recently knitting socks involves a lot of math. I don’t know why I didn’t see the connection before. But, knitting socks involves

• rate -the number of stitches per inch or gauge,
• increasing and decreasing the number of stitches as needed for different parts of foot
• ratio and proportion – creating the pattern using different colours of yarn
• fractions and circumference- the heel flap is 1/2 the circumference of the leg
• multiplication- the number of stitches per inch x circumference of your foot and leg
• addition and subtraction of stitches to create the fit
• data management- keeping track of where you are in the project and where you have to go

I think there’s a math lesson in this somewhere for those times when kids ask when are we ever going to use whatever it is I’m teaching at the moment. Even if they don’t knit socks themselves, they can appreciate the fact that math makes it happen.

I guess I should tell you, I cheated a bit here. The Opal yarn people have the colour and pattern all calculated in the yarn so that all I have to do is knit and the pattern appears. Talk about instant gratification and I don’t have to do a lot of number crunching- the kids would like that. Cool- eh!

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One Response to “There’s a lot of math in them there socks!”

1. Karen Farmilo on April 28th, 2008 9:50 am

   Elona,
   It was so nice to see you on Saturday. Thank you for coming.
   Your web site is phenomenal. Bullying happens to me at some meetings I attend and I’m not a teacher.
   It is a horrible feeling while it’s happening and knowing that others in the meeting are too afraid to stop it.
   I now deal with the situations head on and ask the bully to stop immediately so the meeting can continue with a positive spirit.

   Thanks, Elona
   Karen

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  These are my personal views and not those of my employer.