Math Troubles

[astonh]

So I'm incapable of doing math today. All my attempts have not worked. I should have turned to you guys first but... I'm here now!

So I have a pattern that I'm wanting to knit up in a different weight yarn/different size needles. I realize I'm going to have to change up the pattern (although it won't take much from a design standpoint) and have figured out how to do everything EXCEPT figuring out how many stitches I should cast on. Can any of you math whizzes help?

ORIGINAL PATTERN: Finished piece is 22.8" (almost 23" and I'm fine with using that number) wide. 27.5 sts/4" on gauge (row gauge doesn't matter on this). Cast on 128 sts. (was done on US 2 1/2 needles with sock yarn)

ME: Want finished piece width to be same as above. I've got 23 sts/4" knitting with DK/Sport on size 6 needles.

QUESTION: How many sts would I cast on to end up with the same width on finished piece?

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU....

[suzeeq]

23" x 5.75 sts/inch = 132.25 sts, or round down to 130-132, depending on the st pattern.

[Jeremy]

Wow. This sounds more like a gauge problem than a math problem. In the original project your gauge swatch 27.4/4" equals 6.8 stitches per inch. But the whole project, 128/23" = about 5.5 stitches per inch. So something is off. I would knit a gauge swatch in the round for about four inches with a needle that gives you a knit that looks good. Then you can get a good per inch gauge and if 23" worked the first time then multiply it by 23.

[imrachel]

Yeah, something's off. You take 27.5 divided by 4 to find the number of sts per inch they were working with. That gives you 6.88. Multiply that by the number of inches, which is 22.8, and you would have cast on 156.86 sts, or rounded to 157 sts to get their numbers. But you say it was a cast on of 128. Do you increase at some point to get 157 at some point, say, after some ribbing?

But to get the dimensions you want-- you are getting 5.75 sts per inch and you want 22.8 inches. So you multiply 22.8 X 5.75 and that = 131.10, or rounded down to 131 sts.

But I'd check out the pattern carefully before venturing forth-- as their original calculations are wrong to begin with.

[astonh]

Well at least I'm not completely crazy. I kept getting the same numbers as you guys and it just doesn't make sense.

no, I've not found anywhere in the pattern where there are increases (from ribbing to the st st).

I may just have to create something to suit my needs based on the numbers for MY sts and forget comparing it to this pattern which has me completely confused.


Thank you all so much. If I figure it out, I'll let you know.

[suzeeq]

That's what I do - figure the measurements I need, then use the number of sts for my gauge that will get me there.