The Ins and Outs of Knit Theory

"Knitting is coding," says Elisabetta Matsumoto, assistant professor in the School of Physics. She made this argument during a Boston knitting session she co-hosted in March as part of her five-year, National Science Foundation-funded effort to study the mathematics and physics behind knitting. The New York Times was there for a session that was half relaxing hobby, half scientific exploration of the patterns, topology, and geometry involved in knitting (which has been around since the 11th century) and how Matsumoto's research could lead to "programmable" fabrics.