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Knotty: A domain-specific language for knitting patterns

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Re: Knotty: A domain-specific language for knitting patterns

#31

Post by zokier »

fipar wrote: post #28
zokier wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's pretty easy to see the translation between a Jaquard loom and an abstract Turing machine I'm not really seeing that translation, could you expand how you envision that working?

What I remember from school (late 90s) is that Babbage was inspired by Jacquard’s punched cards to use then in his Engine, and either this, or Jacquard directly, inspired the same in Hollerith. I don’t recall it as there being a direct line in terms of “modified loom is general purpose computer) but it was certainly an important influence. In hindsight it seems easy for some of us to make the connection, but, at the…

I'm not disputing the influence of jacquard machines in general, but there is big difference between "having influence on computing" and "is a computer".

Re: Knotty: A domain-specific language for knitting patterns

#33

Post by Beijinger »

zokier wrote: post #12
qdw wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Punch-configured textiles go all the way back to the 1700s! The 1804 Jacquard Loom, which used cards, was a big part of the Industrial Revolution and influenced Babbage's Difference Engine and Analytical Engine, both of which use punchcards. More background: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine

Worth noting that weaving and knitting are two different production processes.

You forgot one, that has no separate English name and will also be translated to knitting. "Wirken".

Also:

Kettenwirken = warp knitting

Kulierwirken oder Flachwirken = weft knitting

Rundstricken = circular knitting

Flachstricken = flat knitting

Re: Knotty: A domain-specific language for knitting patterns

#35

Post by yeasku »

willvarfar wrote: post #2

A quick googling says that lego knitting machines have been built. Now it's just to program them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV19wqtfyF0 Is it only a matter of time before you can get generative AI to create a pattern based on a prompt and then some service mails gift wraps and mails it to you/friend (along with video of the lego machine making it)? Just in time for the holiday season :D Added: there are lots of…

The Jacquard loom, invented in 1804, introduced a system of punched cards that controlled individual warp threads.

Re: Knotty: A domain-specific language for knitting patterns

#36

Post by eszed »

haunter wrote: post #10

Some say the Jacquard machine was the first real computer using punched cards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquard_machine

There are examples of these in the London Science Museum. I strongly recommend a visit - and not just for those: there's also a (working) full-scale replica of Babbage's difference engine; the entire early history of steam engines (the genuine articles); a duplicating lathe, from the early 19th century; models of the entire history of the (British, at least) tractor; an entire analogue telephone exchange; and way, way, way more. It's a geek's delight. One of my favorite museums ever, but be warned: it took me more than a week's worth of visits to feel like I'd seen it thoroughly.

Re: Knotty: A domain-specific language for knitting patterns

#37

Post by dleeftink »

zokier wrote: post #31
fipar wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What I remember from school (late 90s) is that Babbage was inspired by Jacquard’s punched cards to use then in his Engine, and either this, or Jacquard directly, inspired the same in Hollerith. I don’t recall it as there being a direct line in terms of “modified loom is general purpose computer) but it was certainly an important influence. In hindsight it seems easy for some of us to make the connection, but, at the…

I'm not disputing the influence of jacquard machines in general, but there is big difference between "having influence on computing" and "is a computer".

It's an interesting question, where the boundaries of an innovation lie. If we take Jacquard's loom as an 'ordinateur' or information ordering machine, its 'computing' properties become more recognisable -- composite outputs and patterns derived from stringing together smaller bits (and strings) of information.

Re: Knotty: A domain-specific language for knitting patterns

#38

Post by nvader »

willvarfar wrote: post #2

A quick googling says that lego knitting machines have been built. Now it's just to program them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV19wqtfyF0 Is it only a matter of time before you can get generative AI to create a pattern based on a prompt and then some service mails gift wraps and mails it to you/friend (along with video of the lego machine making it)? Just in time for the holiday season :D Added: there are lots of…

I have a vision of a device kind of like a pair of scissors, except instead of shears there are two levered attachments: a holder for a needle and a hook to manipulate yarn.

Every time you close and open the handles, it puts one standard knot onto the needle. This could make knitting a row as easy as snip snip snip, but I don't know if it would actually be useful in knitting real projects.

Re: Knotty: A domain-specific language for knitting patterns

#39

Post by sleepybrett »

foofoo12 wrote: post #4
willvarfar wrote: post #2

A quick googling says that lego knitting machines have been built. Now it's just to program them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV19wqtfyF0 Is it only a matter of time before you can get generative AI to create a pattern based on a prompt and then some service mails gift wraps and mails it to you/friend (along with video of the lego machine making it)? Just in time for the holiday season :D Added: there are lots of…

Programmable (punch cards I think) sliding knitting machines were a thing in the past (70s or 80s). They occasionally pop up for free on FB marketplace or little on ebay and such. Or perhaps you had to flick switches instead of punch cards?

they still are. Brother among others make them. You think all those ugly christmas sweaters populating every store in december are all hand knitted?
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