Knit Knots: Large-Scale Soft Conformations of Minimum-Ropelength Knots and Links
Laura Taalman

Proceedings of Bridges 2023: Mathematics, Art, Music, Architecture, Culture
Pages 369–372
Short Papers

Abstract

In this paper we present a method for constructing large, stuffed, machine-knit models of knots and links. Our approach is based on the minimum ropelength of knots, a measure of the minimum amount of rope needed to tie a given knot. We combine known mathematical bounds for minimum ropelength with physical measurements and knit gauge to determine appropriate row counts for creating large-scale stuffed models of particular knots and links on a flatbed knitting machine. The resulting soft sculptures invite tactile, playful exploration of knotted and linked mathematical forms, and are surprisingly huggable.

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