dit dit dit dit dah, purl one

November 16, 2011 9:17 AM

Kristen Haring knits Morse Code (SLYT) (via)
posted by scruss (12 comments total)

Back when I learned to knit flat things, I used this technique to knit classic Mac (1984) icons.
posted by D.C. at 9:32 AM on November 16, 2011

My sister-in-law is an artist and had a show called "Code" back in 2008 where she did this exact thing.
posted by chococat at 9:36 AM on November 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yarn.
posted by pracowity at 9:37 AM on November 16, 2011

Morse code is cool, but I prefer to knit in purl.

*ducks*
posted by Salvor Hardin at 9:37 AM on November 16, 2011 [8 favorites]

So we've got a tool for writing this code (knitting needles), is there a good tool for reading/translating it? Something appropriately cuddly would be appreciated. I'm picturing a player-piano version of Teddy Ruxpin.

This reminds me of Incan knot codes: "Quipu".
posted by Popular Ethics at 9:50 AM on November 16, 2011

You're actually still not allowed to get a BFA in North America without doing at least one project using either Morse code or Braille. This has been true since at least the mid-nineties. For full credit, the Morse code should be used in a non-auditory medium, the Braille in a non-tactile one.
posted by wreckingball at 9:52 AM on November 16, 2011 [3 favorites]

This is probably the most interesting lecture I've heard in along time. Thank you.
posted by koeselitz at 9:56 AM on November 16, 2011

This is probably the most interesting lecture I've heard in along time.

Clearly you don't go to Arizona State.
posted by Fizz at 10:10 AM on November 16, 2011

That was really interesting.
posted by Kimberly at 10:25 AM on November 16, 2011

I've said for a long time that I don't want to have unattractive furniture, or *things*, in my house, and I don't want to have art that serves no function other than to look at. I want my possessions to be functional art.

A blanket with a message in Morse Code is a particularly awesome way of accomplishing this.
posted by LoudMusic at 11:17 AM on November 16, 2011

I was kind of hoping she'd be involved with OWS and knitting the names of corporate oligarchs into her work, but oh well.
posted by LionIndex at 11:28 AM on November 16, 2011 [2 favorites]

I spent three months of 2006 on a cargo ship, learning Morse by knitting the names of the ports we visited. I still haven't done anything with the resulting panels of knitting, though.
posted by Lebannen at 11:47 AM on November 16, 2011 [1 favorite]