Ask Purl Bee: Math!
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I'm somewhat new at knitting and I know all the basic stuff; but I have found some patterns say to cast on Multiples of 4+2, or Multiples of 3+1. I'm not entirely sure what that means. I was wondering if you could tell me how many stitches I actually need to have in each row.
This is a very common cause of confusion! The quick answer is, first figure out the multiple, then add the specified extra stitches.
If your pattern calls for a "multiple of 4+2", begin by finding a multiple of 4 that is appropriate for your project. Say your gauge is 5 stitches per inch, and you want your knitting to be about 10 inches wide. Choose a multiple of 4 that is closest to 50. 48 seems good! Add 2 to 48 to get the required number of stitches for your pattern.
Sounds complicated? Perhaps the best way to explain is with a visual example:
In Barbara Walker's Treasury of Knitting Patterns, one of our favorite stitch pattern books, we found a gorgeous lace pattern that makes a great illustration of how to calculate cast on stitches. There are three distinct versions of the Miniature Leaf Pattern; each one varies by just one stitch. Yet that one stitch changes the dimensions and presentation of the pattern. It affects the rest of the stitch pattern and how the lace is formed. At first glance they seem very similar, but on closer inspection they are quite unique.
In Version 1, shown at top, we cast on a multiple of 6 stitches, plus 1. Version 2, below, requires a multiple of 6 stitches, plus 2. It appears more fine than Version 1, without the strong diagonal eyelets between the leaves.
Version 3, below, requires a multiple of 6 stitches, plus 3. The leaves are wider, more splayed out. They appear larger than the leaves in Version 2.
If you'd like to give it a try, here's the pattern for Miniature Leaf Lace Version 1, which appears at the top of this post. You can find key words and techniques for this lace pattern in our Decrease Tutorial and our Knitting + Crochet Glossary.
MINIATURE LEAF LACE PATTERN, VERSION 1
Cast on a multiple of 6 stitches, plus 1.
Row 1 and all odd numbered rows: Purl.
Row 2: K1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 4: K2tog, *yo, k3, yo, slip 2 knitwise-k1-p2sso; repeat from *, end last repeat ssk instead of sl 2-k1-p2sso.
Row 6: K1, *yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1; repeat from * to end of row.
Row 8: K2, *yo, slip 2 knitwise-k1-p2sso, yo, k3; repeat from *, end last repeat k2.
Repeat Rows 1-8.
Our samples of Miniature Leaf Lace are knit with beautiful hand dyed Nature's Palette merino wool. It's soft texture, tight twist, and subtly shifting color create detailed stitches that compliment this pretty pattern.
September 21, 2007
Reader Comments (2)
The first thing to do is to work some samples in the stitch pattern with your yarn and needles. Once you have a good gauge swatch you can figure out how many to cast on by multiplying the stitches per inch of your swatch x's the width in inches of the piece you'd like to make. In order for it to work, your cast on will have to be a multiple of 6 plus 1. In practical terms this means, if you are getting 4 stitches per inch and you want your item to be 12 inches across (just an example) then you would cast on 49 stitches (48 +1).If you are ending up short on your rows this is usually because somewhere along the line you are forgetting to do a yarn over. Knitter's often tend to forget either the first or last yarn over in the pattern. Please let us know if you require further clarification. --Joelle