Math for Knitters: Virtual Workshop with Kate Atherley

Details

Date: Friday, December 5, 2025

Time: Noon-1:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Location: Zoom—this is a virtual event. The class will be recorded, and participants will have access to the video indefinitely—we won’t take it down, but we recommend that you watch it as soon as you can!

The Class

Math underpins everything in knitting, from the logic of knitting patterns (decrease 10 stitches evenly across? increase every 8^th row 12 times?) to calculating stitch counts in designing and adjusting patterns. This session explains how knitting math works, with a view to making you a more confident pattern reader.

You don’t need to love math! Kate’s approach is about understanding how much math you want to do, and finding shortcuts and solutions for dealing with these number puzzles in a way that makes sense and is easier for you.

If you want to dive deep into garment alterations and design math, Kate will show you the path, and if all you want to do is make sure you end up with the right yardage and the correct number of stitches, this session will help with that, too. Along the way, Kate will dispel a few myths and show you the power of a simple division.

The Book

Purchase of Kate’s book is not required for this class, but we bet you’ll want to get it afterwards!

We have the first copies of Kate’s new book Math for Knitters available for purchase here.

Our Workshop Leader

Kate Atherley is a triple threat: technical editor, designer, teacher.

Her biggest high-wire act is her exquisitely precise work known as technical editing. As Knitty.com’s Managing Technical Editor, she makes sure that a pattern actually works—the math, the wording, the stitch counts, the all of it. She’s also the co-publisher of Digits & Threads. External Link. Opens in new window., an independent, member-supported online magazine about Canadian fiber and textile arts, crafts and industry.

Also a seasoned knitwear designer, Kate creates designs with a special attention to detail. Her book Knit Mitts!. External Link. Opens in new window. captures the charm of mittens along with the puzzle of making them fit right. Custom Socks. External Link. Opens in new window. is a next-level guide to making excellent socks. And her technical guide, The Knitter’s Dictionary: Knitting Know-How from A to Z. External Link. Opens in new window., is a bookshelf essential.

Kate has published Custom Shawls for the Curious and Creative Knitter. External Link. Opens in new window. with co-author Kim McBrien Evans. Custom Fit Hats. External Link. Opens in new window. is the latest in her series on making knits exactly the way you want.

Kate teaches at knitting events around the world. The combination of her university degree in mathematics, professional experience in software development and usability, and training in garment and fashion design gives her a unique perspective.