Final Project Update – Liz DiGioia

Progress

As a reminder, I’m creating punchcards and machine knitted fabric for my final project.

I began learning to machine knit on a KnitKing PC Bulky machine. I was able to get most of the basics down on that machine. However, the “bulky” machines are intended for use with thicker yarns than I am using so I’ve recently switched to using a Toyota KS901. This machine’s needles are much closer together, allowing for finer knits to be created. The designs knitted on the Toyota are much “higher resolution” than those I knitted on the KnitKing.

Punchcards

I’m creating my punchcards by coding them as a PDF in Python and then using a laser cutter to cut the punchcards out of cardstock. I am currently making the final tweaks to my basic punchcard template. The commercial punchcards for the machines I’m using have a standard pattern of punches apart from the design. These have specific purposes including places to join punchcards together and vertical punches used to move the card through the machine. I’ve almost got my template matching the commercial cards, I just need to tweak the vertical punches as they’re off by a few millimeters. To begin thinking through how to implement designs onto the punchcards, I’ve created a couple of PDFs with sine waves on them. This has helped a lot, as I can’t just throw actual continuous functions at the program due to the highly discrete nature of the punches. Going forward I plan to implement more interesting designs, including the Koch snowflake.

Milestones

Nov 4-10: Set up knitting machine. Familiarize myself with both the machine and the punchcards by knitting some swatches using preexisting punchcards. ✅

Nov 11-17: Learn how to use a laser cutter; begin design of punchcards. ✅

Nov 18-27: Laser cut initial punch cards; iterate design based on knitted swatches and laser cut again as needed.

Dec 2-6: Knit final designs; Time permitting, create objects from the fabric.

Deliverables

• At least 3 custom punchcard designs
• At least 3 swatches of machine knitted fabric made with the punchcards
• If time permits, objects featuring the designs I create. This is seeming less likely to happen, but I’m still hopeful.