Thinking Through Knitting: Hand Knit making for rapid architectural prototypingUntitled Item

This paper demonstrates the value of hand knit process in architectural prototyping. Knit is a highly

specifiable, additive manufacturing process. Knit architectures rely on knit fabric properties to

generate form which requires prototyping to assess material behaviour; this is developed in

conjunction with computational design approaches. Hand knit can be a successful alternative in

prototyping, combining simplicity of production with additional craft knowledge gained through the

experience of manipulating materials directly. Four parameters were investigated at two scales of

materials, resulting in a lexicon of knitted forms. The outcomes demonstrated self-supporting 3-D

forms utilising the inherent curvature of knitted fabrics and integral shaping techniques. The

importance of hand process in the investigation was key, allowing simultaneous evaluation of

materials and production methods but more importantly extending the cognitive dimension of design

development by restoring the intimate relationship between maker and materials experienced

through craft process.