Informed by Yarns - Proposing Knitting Patterns for Revealing Digital System Activities

In order to broaden the creative and innovative possibilities of our ongoing collaborations with fabrication machinery, we are increasingly required to program or hack the machines to fabricate outside of their original envisioned scope. However, while programming errors can be clearly marked on digital platforms, errors can occur anywhere when programming fabrication machine setups. This is because software, firmware, additional hardware devices, and materials need to be considered in addition to the machine itself. In this paper, we look at textile outcomes as a medium to turn the black box of a digital textile fabrication system inside out. Our approach was to develop customised software and hardware for SilverReed domestic knitting machines in order to unfold the complexity within such a digital fabrication system. We propose that such a hybrid approach enhances the readability and interpretability of unexpected fabrication outcomes by combining debugging and knitting strategies.