How many to cast on?

[figaro]

I have been wanting to knit the Lace Kitchen Curtain from KnitPicks for a long time. The problem is the math, I hate math and when I do have to do it, most of the time it is wrong. The measurements for the one in the pattern is "Approximately 48” x 15”, excluding hem" and the measurements on my back door window are 26" wide and 39" long, I am not worried about the length, it is the width that is getting me. The pattern says to cast on 198 stitches but that is a 48 inch wide curtain and mine is only 26 (I just tried to figure it out in my head and I think I heard a pop!). The pattern repeat is 10 stitches plus 4 if that helps.

Can anyone be so kind as to help me figure out how many stitches to cast on please?

[Jan in CA]

Do a swatch in the yarn and needle size you want to use and then it'll be easier to figure out.

ETA: I just looked at the pattern. The finished curtain is 48 inches not the window. Since it's supposed to be slightly gathered up it'll be even easier. You don't want it to be exactly 26 inches. I think a good amount of gathering would be appx 1.5 times the window width which would be 39 inches in your case. With those measurements I would think you could just take off half a few repeats. Each repeat appears to be fairly wide so maybe two, three max IMO.

[figaro]

Does that include me doing math?

[LovelyLinda]

I'm just wondering, when you hang curtains don't you usually want the curtain wider than the window so it can pleat and hang a bit fuller? Usually you buy a curtain that is 2-3x the width of the window depending on how pleated you want the curtains to be.

Or, are you wanting the window covering to hang flat against the window?

[suzeeq]

Easy way - divide 26 by 48 and that's .54 so you multiply that by the CO sts for the 48" and that would be about what you need for a 26", adjusting for however many you need for the stitch pattern and the edge sts. Although taking your sts/in times 26 should give you about the same number, again, adjust for the st pattern. Since 198 doesn't work out to 10 sts plus 4, there must be at least 2 sts on each edge for a border.

[Jan in CA]

Does that include me doing math?

I'm lousy at math so I understand. This one was pretty easy though. If you use my idea just lop off 20-30 stitches from the total. In the end, it's a curtain.

[figaro]

Suzeeq, you are so funny! I lost you right after you said Easy way!

LovelyLinda-I think I am wanting it to be fairly flat against the window, it is going to go on our back door so it will be moving quite a bit. I don't want to to be much bigger than the window width as I don't want to always have to open the door to get the curtain out of the door.

Jan in CA-I think I am going to try casting on 160 stitches and knit a few rows and see how it fits.

Thank you all for trying to help me in my bad math brain. My husband on the other hand works with numbers all the time and just about breathes them!

[Jan in CA]

You need to only remove in groups of 10. If the cast on is 198 go with 168 or 158. It's very difficult to tell with only a few rows though. Patterns often need more to get the full effect. Can't wait to see this!

[suzeeq]

Actually if you look at the numbers 48 is a little less than twice as much as 26, so you need something like 106 sts, not 160.

[figaro]

Thank you all so much!