START
KNIT HYPERBOLIC PANTS
Time: A Weekend Complexity: Easy
A few notes on the pattern and instructions:
» This pattern is not scalable, and it is highly dependent on the gauge for fit.
» It is forgiving of small mistakes. That is, if you occasionally K40 before a decrease rather than K41, it
won’t matter. Just be careful near the bind-off row to make sure you have the desired number of stitches.
» Where K2tog or P2tog is marked, feel free to do whatever decrease you find quickest and easiest; it
doesn’t matter in terms of the finished product. Knitting/purling into the fronts/backs of the loops is fine.
» This pattern is for 6-month-old baby pants, but Making Mathematics with Needlework has a range of
pattern sizes.
1. CAST ON
Using a long-tail cast-on, cast on 280 stitches. Place split stitch markers on the cast-on edge (not the
needle) between the 45th and 46th stitches, 118th (= 45 + 73) and 119th stitches, 162nd (= 45 + 73 + 44)
and 163rd stitches, and 234th (= 45 + 73 + 44 + 72) and 235th stitches. These will be used as guides for
seaming the pants, and must be placed before any more knitting occurs to avoid difficulty in counting once
decreases have been made.
2. KNIT THE ROWS
Row 1: *P39, P2tog*
Finish the row when the stitches run out.
Row 2: *K39, K2tog*
Finish the row when the stitches run out.
Row 3: P34, *P2tog, P39*
Finish the row when the stitches run out.
Row 4: K34, *K2tog, K39*
Finish the row when the stitches run out. Repeat this pattern
23 times, for a total of 92 rows (or until there are 44 stitches
on the needles).
Row 93: Purl across. Bind off loosely purlwise.
NOTE: At this point your pants will not look like pants, but
instead like a piece of a pseudosphere, as shown here.
