If you understand crochet, you’re actually well on your way to understanding various scienti c and mathmatical concepts – they’re more similar than you might think!

Daina is known for her pioneering use of crochet models to illustrate and teach geometric concepts

Some see artistic and STEM subjects as opposite ends of the school-subject spectrum, but when it comes to crochet, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Crochet is being increasingly used to explain and teach about various STEM (that’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) fields. In fact, recent research suggests that a sensory learning experience, such as illustrating a concept through crochet, can greatly increase understanding. We speak to three STEM professionals, each with a different area of expertise, to discover how they use our beloved craft to teach others.

DAINA TAIMI A, RETIRED MATHEMATICIAN

As a maths educator, Daina has used fibre arts and the mathematical themes underlying them as a teaching device throughout her career. “Both knitting and crocheting are about creating patterns and my field – mathematics – is a study of patterns,” says Daina. In fact, she’s known for pioneering the use of crochet models to explain the geometry of a hyperbolic plane, or a surface that curves away from itself at every point.