Suppose you want a nice two-dimensional surface, but only have some one-dimensional string. Is all hope lost? Or could you entwine your string with itself in a way that approximates the surface you dream of? Good news: knitting’s got your back! And all you need to do is pull some loops through other loops. Knitted fabrics are breathable, flexible, and easy to construct either by hand or with a machine. They can stretch to about double their length without lengthening the constituent yarn. Knits are so popular that you are probably wearing one right now!

In this talk, we will learn how knitted textiles are constructed and explore topological models of knitting. We will learn what it means to be knittable and meet a new knitted stitch that physicists designed to be less prone to unraveling than standard knitting. You will also get to practice knitting a few stitches for yourself!