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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.]

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?

Knits for the Table for Thanksgiving and Beyond

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long. 

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders. 

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well. 

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn. 

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions. 

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table. 

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter. 

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.