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Check Out This Fantastic Knit Map of the Constellations

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machine knit star mapIt’s amazing what can be done with knitting. The combination of knitting and science (and some computer programming skills) made it possible for Sarah Spencer from Melbourne, Australia to program a knitting machine to help her knit a giant map of the night sky.

I totally just typed “knit sky.” Which I guess is also accurate.

The map was worked in seven panels and includes all the named constellations, which stars varying in size based on their brightness. The full map is about 9 by 15 feet and weighs more than 30 pounds.

The piece was shown at a technology and arts festival in the UK in late August, and Spencer says she doesn’t know where the piece will land but we hope it’s somewhere lots of people can see it and be inspired by it.

[Photo via Atlas Obscura.]

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Comments

  2. BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO
    The work you have done to create this knitted tapestry is really a WORK OF ART. I am appreciative to have seen this exquisite creation. I hope a Museum or a Cosmodome organisation will acquire it . More eyes will be dumbfounded by your extraordinary creation.
    Merci encore BRAVO
    MIMIYOYO

Have you read?

Fun Tank Top Knitting Patterns

It seems like every summer there’s a new crop of tank top knitting patterns, and what I noticed about a lot of the new releases this year is that they have fun little details that make them a little more interesting both to knit and to wear. 

Like the Sailoress Top from Joji Locatelli, which has a pretty cable worked up the center from and back, with shorter sections of cable work on the shoulders. It uses DK weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes up to a bust circumference of 72 inches/ 158 cm. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Combine lace and cables in an allover pattern on the Mountain Laurel Top from Andrea Gaughan. This sport weight pattern is worked from the bottom up in the count and has 10 sizes. It’s available on Ravelry.

The Vienna Textured Tank Top by Sarah Hatton has wide ribs broken up by eyelets. There’s very little shaping so it’s a pretty easy knit worked in fingering weight yarn. There are nine sizes available and it’s a free download on Ravelry.

Make a tank with a boho vibe perfect for festival season with Mary Beth Temple’s Tropical Sunset Tank Top. Worked in worsted weight cotton yarn, it’s knit from the bottom up in pieces to make it more stable. The coloring changing yarn is perfect for this one, or you can make it solid or work in your own stripes. You can get the XS size free on her blog, and other sizes are available on Ravelry.

Looking for a cropped lacy V-neck top to knit for summer? Jessie Maed Designs has the Sundae Swirl Tank, worked in DK weight yarn in the round with a fun combination of lace and cables. The ribbing under the arms helps give it a great fit. There are six sizes up to a chest measurement of 62 inches/157.5 cm. You can find this one on Ravelry.

How about a tank top with buttons? The Ridge Tank Button Down from Bluebird Pine Shop could double as a vest in cooler weather. This one is made with light fingering weight yarn and comes in 10 sizes. Grab a copy on Ravelry.

An otherwise simple top can be made a little more interesting with the addition of a fun edging, like on Sarah Opie’s Seashell Tank. Worked in fingering weight yarn, it has a whopping 24 sizes and lots of customization options for making it fit the way you want. The edging is crocheted. Learn more on Ravelry.

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