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> I've always believed knitting pattern design is programming. Not to belittle the point—I think it's worth saying—but does anyone who's ever actually looked a
by JadeNB 2y ago
> I've always believed knitting pattern design is programming.
Not to belittle the point—I think it's worth saying—but does anyone who's ever actually looked at a knitting pattern think otherwise?
- Hnrobert42 2y agoI am a programmer, and I crochet. It never occurred to me to think of a pattern that way. I now sorta see it. Maybe knitting is different enough from crocheting that the link is more obvious.
- photonthug 2y agoin ancient times, knitting was more associated with grandmas than hipsters
- ggm 2y agoThe programming would be writing the knitting pattern. Not executing it. How many knitters write knitting patterns? How many know how to algorithmically modify a pattern to suit their body type? I used to teach computing at night school in the 1980s and as a metaphor it was remarkably useful for motivation with older women who were in an "I can't do this" frame of mind. Pointing out that if they did any design work in knitting or crochet, or at least could understand how to modify a complex pattern e.g. around a neckline, or cabling, they were already "doing it" A jacquard loom is for weaving. Knitting machines are very programmable.
- munificent 2y ago> How many know how to algorithmically modify a pattern to suit their body type? I would assume most do. Most knitting patterns I see are parametric over a range of sizes and the author assumes the reader can apply the parameters correctly for the size they want. It usually looks something like: "This hat can be knit small (medium, large). Cast on 84 (96, 104) stitches..." So the "small (medium, large)" part tells you the pattern is parameterized over size which can be one of three values. Then whenever you see a value like "84 (96, 104)", you pick the first if you want small, the second for medium, or the third for large. (As a language designer, I confess I don't like the syntax for this, but it seems pretty standard.)
- nextaccountic 2y agoKnitters may not write the program but they execute an algorithm when they knit. They are the computers, not the programmers!
- JadeNB 2y ago> The programming would be writing the knitting pattern. Not executing it. But that's what was said—knitting pattern design, not knitting. > > I've always believed knitting pattern design is programming.