Kinematic Knits

Kinematic Knits is a series of three wall-mounted studies that pair knitted textiles with movable wooden scissor structures. A linear grid, a circular grid, and an S-shaped grid each test how knit stretch affects a frame’s movement and resting position. As the structures expand or contract, the textiles change shape with them.

In the linear study, the knit stretches along the expanding frame and helps hold it open. In the circular study, angled wooden members create a radial movement that changes the textile’s tension across the form. The S-shaped study offsets the scissor joints to produce a curve, requiring the knit to accommodate different amounts of stretch along its edges. Together, the pieces show how a textile can help establish a movable structure’s resting position while making its geometry and forces visible.

The knits were dyed green, blue, and red using different Kool-Aid flavors. Displayed at rest, the pieces show one position within a larger range of motion; QR codes allow visitors to see each structure expand and contract. The series examines textile elasticity as both a material property and a means of shaping architectural movement.

Project information

• Exhibited at: Kinematic Knits, Hanbury Design office, Richmond, Virginia, February 1–23, 2024

• Developed: January–February 2024

• Project type: Installation and deployable structure research

• Materials: Knitted elastic yarn, Kool-Aid dyes, wood, and bolts

• Dimensions: 4 × 6 × 3 ft

• Published research: Virginia E. Melnyk, “Collapsible Scissor Structures with Knit Membranes,” Proceedings of the IASS 2024 Symposium: Redefining the Art of Structural Design (2024)