Abstract:

The transition from analog to digital methods is profoundly impacting design practices, tools, and workflows, particularly in fields with a strong emphasis on materiality. In knitwear design, this digital shift—embraced by the fashion industry—raises questions about the role of experiential knowledge and tactile skills in learning how to create knitted artifacts.

The concept of "digital" in knitting primarily refers to the advanced knitting machines and the specialized software used to program them. Less frequently, it pertains to open-access 3D simulation systems, which are often more relevant to woven textiles and broader fashion applications than to knitting itself.

While these power knitting machines are designed for fast and efficient production, they are complex and not easily accessible. Similarly, the software that operates them can be challenging to navigate. Typically, these machines are operated by experienced technicians whose deep understanding of knitted structures, materials, and stitches is often more critical than their computer skills. As a result, designers frequently collaborate with these technicians, leading to a significant challenge within the supply chain: a communication bottleneck between two professionals with different mindsets, expertise, and terminologies.

Despite these challenges, power knitting machines and their associated software are essential tools for contemporary knitting and innovation—both within the fashion industry and in less explored interdisciplinary research applications. This raises an important question: to what extent should designers learn to control these tools, and for what purpose?

This article describes and discusses the structure of the ***blind*** course at ***blind***, inside the Knit Design concentration. Here, designers are taught to understand and utilize digital tools for knitting—not to become technicians but to gain insight into how their designs will be industrialized and produced. This knowledge enables them to communicate effectively with technicians and collaboratively guide the design process toward innovation.

Through a reiterative process, the course has evolved into one of the foundational elements of the Knit Design concentration. It remains closely linked with both manual skills training and theoretical learning modules, fostering a comprehensive understanding of both digital tools and traditional techniques. This educational approach prepares designers to navigate the complexities of modern knitwear production while promoting innovative practices in the field.

Keywords:

Technology, knitting machines, knitwear design, design education.