Knitting and Science

Scientists seem to be a relatively large, identifiable group of knitters. Many of these knitters are working on adding or already have a Ph.D. as a part of their name. This subgroup of knitters bring an entirely new, complex and interesting context to the knitting realm. Here's a peek at some of what they do.

Want to add a molecular design to a sock or sweater, check out the patterns at ChemKnits. This chemist has put down on graph paper no less than 20 different natural amino acids. (As if I'd know if they were natural or not.) The symmetry of Asparagine speaks to me. Here it what it looks like:

Apparently poor asparagine is not an essential amino acid but it plays with sugars in such a way it causes the crispiness of French fries, potato chips and crusty baked breads. Ah, that's why I was drawn to it, it helps create one of my most favorite food groups!

Or maybe your thing is neurons found in the brain.

A knitted neuron

Two doctors of science from the UK formed a site called Knit a Neuron where they shared free patterns to make your own neuron (just click on the hyperlink). Their mission was to have knitters make enough neurons to be able to show what neurons look like in the brain and how they are impacted by a head injury (see the dark hole in the photo below). Apparently they were successful enough to create a final project which is now housed at the Headway Centre in Henley-on-Thames. Headway is a national charity that, “works to improve life after brain injury”. The Headway Centre runs a day care program of physical and cognitive therapy and provides vital support to sufferers and carers affected by head injury.

Or what about the periodic table on your sweater? If I'd have owned a sweater like this one when I was attending high school it would certainly have made some chemistry tests a lot easier! Click here to see that back of the sweater; it too has information on it. Boy, I just can't imagine designing the grid used to make all this come together.

Avital Pinnick husband's Periodic Table Sweater

Finally, isn't this a really realistic-looking coral reef:

Two Australians crocheted it using the techniques of hyperbolic crochet, to create kelp, anemones, and a rich diversity of corals. This photo features urchins by Christine Wertheim and a sea slug by Marianne Midelburg.

So knitting can be used to create a wide range of items, for example fake food, fake coral, fake neurons and even the occasional socks, sweaters and scarves. The craft is enriched by having those very well educated knitters among us.

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