Knitting

Yarn and other kinds of threads can be woven in loops to create a cloth. There are multiple techniques for knitting, and the effect varies with the texture, colours and weight of the yarn used as well as the type of needle.

Materials required:

  • Yarn, ribbons, etc
  • Plastics, cords and wire
  • Knitting needles

Technique:

The internet is a treasure trove of tutorials! With both video and pictures, patterns and  stitches can be learnt through practice.

Basic stitches taught on http://newstitchaday.com/category/guides/knitting-101/

Using the wool yarn, techniques like casting on, purl stitch, knit stitch, slip stitch, “yarn over”, increasing, decreasing and binding off were practiced.  It progressed to the incorporation of lace patterns such as those in the images below.

From the Flax and Twine website I used Pattern 1 and Pattern 4

Taken from https://www.flaxandtwine.com/2015/05/easy-lace-knit-shawl-pattern/

Knitted wool yarn with multiple techniques

For the plastic knit, Lace Pattern 1 was followed.

Plastic yarn knitting process

For the wire knit, Lace Pattern 4 was followed. Wire was a challenge to manipulate, however, the resulting strength and elasticity gives the material a new character.

Knitted square made of wire

Applications include:

  • Variations of thick, thin, sparse and tight-knit surfaces for different uses
  • Making “Plarn” (plastic yarn) products, reusing old plastic bags
  • Wire meshes that layer atop each other to create dimension ( decorations, lampshades, baskets, accessories)
Knitted pieces found on Pinterest (yarn, plastic, metal)

Personal Reflections:

The technique is similar to macrame. However knitting allows more stretchability while macrame makes use of knotting to secure the threads. Perhaps both can be combined in one fabric to give mixed properties?

We often think the knitted wear is meant for winter but there are also ways to make knitted materials cooling though the use of spacing and thinner thread (e.g. linen). Combining the different stitches into one piece make it interesting especially when the build-up is slow! 

The presence of 3D knitting machines (where the digital design is turned into a knitted piece) allows us to contemplate how our knitted works can be different from the industrial-made 

Manual vs 3D-knitting (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/08/3d-knitting-weaving-spinning-printing)

 

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