Knitting with Computer

December 20, 2025

"k k k k yo ssk yo k2tog ..." Knitting has its own language.

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As I learned knitting from my grandmother and my mother, and translation by seeing how my mother worked, I am gradually interested in the knitting language.

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My question was; "how is it like when a computer or a computer program speaks the knitting language?"

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Lace patterns from websites such as Gathered were learnt by a program with a Markov model library Markovify. Out put is adjusted so that the current row can be knitted on top of the previous row (number of stitches should be matched).

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Based on the produced patterns, I knitted samples to display. There is a co-existing randomness and order, which may not be easy for us humans to implement.

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The project took place at Interface Cultures, Kunstuniversität Linz in February 2023 and is supported by Culture Moves Europe program.

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A guest lecture is planned at Interface Cultures, Kunstuniversität Linz on 1st March 2023:

https://kunstuni-linz.at/News-detail.2042+M5f2bb1f20a1.0.html

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A knitted piece according to a output from a computer program

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The pieces shown at Interface Culture, Kunstuniversität Linz
Knitting language

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