I finished the ATtiny Sensor based on the drawing. It was really tricky to solder everything because the circuit was so small.

for learning new crafting skill, I learned to crochet. I already knew how to knit but crochet was a very different skill. Not like knitting, the really good thing about the crochet skill is easy to make round shape. I had a hard time making a flat cup coaster. I had to count every line and remember the right number to make a perfect pattern. After practicing, I used to the skill and play around with making different patterns. It’s harder than knitting but much useful for making a pattern such as lace, cover, and blanket.

I identify myself as a maker, designer, learner, craftsperson.

I would say my favorite tool is the pencil. As an architecture student before came to DT, I have spent tons of time drafting and drafting and drafting. I think it’s still weird that I once could have that patience drafting on the table for 14 hours.

In this week’s new craft assignment, I decided to make the Chinese knotting bracelet.

I have searched several pictures to guide me working on this. There are millions of types of Chinese knotting bracelet that I can learn and I chose a nice looking one. It looks simple at first, however, after I started to work on this, it took me several minutes to figure out the method.

It turns out looking good on my wrist!

It was a fun process doing this. The ending part was not sure since it got some button in the tutorial but I didn’t have that. Therefore, I just made a random knot in the end.

I would like to learn more types of Chinese knotting bracelet and make several of them in the future.

If I were to describe myself in a few choice words, some of those would be: Maker, craftsperson, designer, artist, student, teacher, gamer, athlete and poet.

As someone who has worked as a sculptor and then a carpenter, I have used many tools… so choosing one is a controversial subject for me. However, for me, one of the most useful tools is the sliding table saw! The reason being is that it is capable of squaring up any odd shaped board.

For this week, I have finally tried something that I’ve always wanted to try my hand at. I learned to use the wood turning lathe! I have a pretty comprehensive background in wood working but the lathe is one things I have just never gotten a chance to work with. During my undergrad, the school was extremely protective over who was allowed to use the lathe and the professors would tell horror stories of the worst (although rare) tragedies; so it goes without saying I found having the opportunity to learn, more trouble then its worth.

Anyway, I began by watching a few tutorials online so that I would have at least a vague sense of what I was getting myself into before walking into the wood shop. I knew that the lathe is a tool that makes square or a-symmetrical pieces of wood into round pieces. So the easiest thing to do firstly is to shape my material to be as round as possible before putting it on the lathe. I had a square block of wood and used the table saw to cut 45 degree angles on each corner to make it into an octagon. Once done, I centered and locked into place the block of wood onto the lathe. When I switched on the lathe, the machine made a powerful hum as the motor began to turn the material. Then I began to cut the piece with a rough gauging chisel that needs to engage the material just below the center and at a slight angle.

As I was workng with my first piece, I began to wonder to myself, why have I been afraid of this thing for so long?? Using the lathe reminded me of both working on the potters wheel or glass blowing. The main difference is that wood turning is strictly a subtractive process rather then additive. I think its safe to say that I plan on working with the lathe more in the future!!

Below are two pieces that I ended up with. The one on the right was my first piece where I was trying to get comfortable with using the machine. The one on the left however, I tried to get more intricate with what kinds of shapes I could get. I am absolutely interested in revisiting this tool to experiment with more advanced techniques in the future.

Here are some photos of my ATtiny circuit:

1) I would identify myself as an artist, coder, hacker, and gamer in that particular order. I like to make work that responds to my own experiences and seek to see how people respond to my work. Truthfully, I use to hate coding in undergrad because it was super lonely. In my final year in undergrad as well as after coming to DT, I came to appreciate code a lot more and I think coding can create more than just software by creating visuals and installations. I think of myself now as a hacker because over the past year, I have had to figure out things that I wouldn’t necessarily be an expert in and I have always loved playing video games so I would call myself as a casual gamer.

2) I don’t remember what I put down last time for my favorite tool, but right now I think my favorite tool is a pen because I can use it to write words to express myself, but I can also use to to sketch and draw. Whether it is to draw something simplistic or to draw something more formally, it is a very versatile tool to express oneself in a multitude of forms.

3) The new craft I decided to learn was knitting. I used this youtube tutorial and I found it to be really easy to follow. The first attempt was not the easiest, but I was honestly proud that I made it through to the end. I messed up a few times where the yarn fell off the needle and I couldn’t figure out how to get back to that knot, so I just kept going and so there are a couple of holes in it.

The second try as a better and easier as I got into the zone, but I still messed up.

Finally the third try, I did the best. I think it looks good, but the hardest step I think is always the first row of knitting after casting onto the needle. I am not sure why it is the most difficult step. I also had some trouble with casting off, but after the first and second, I got use to doing it and I have to say it is easier now.

Overall I really like knitting. I think once I get into the zone, I can just keep knitting mindlessly and multitask while watching TV or something. My advice would be to definitely use the tutorial I used because I found it super easy to follow.

I would classify my practice as storyteller, maker, learner, and educator. 

Growing up, I really loved cartoons. I loved watching cartoons, drawing cartoons, and reading about cartoons. Because of this, I went on to study animation at Massachusetts College of Art. Every project I make has some sort of a backstory or story element to it. It makes sense for me to make projects with stories.

Having taken Physical Computing my last semester, I realized that I really loved making physical things. With the projects I am working on now, I am trying to bridge the gap between the 2D realm and the physical space.

Lastly, I think being a learner and educator go hand-in-hand. I consider myself an educator because that is one of the reasons I came to DT, I want to teach in the future. Having taught Bootcamp this summer, I found that I actually learned a lot as I was teaching. I think that as educated members of society, it is our duty to share the knowledge that we hold, and to pass on our skills to those who are willing to learn.

My favorite tool is my sketchbook and pencil. I think I am cheating a little by saying these two things, but I consider them as one. My sketchbook is where I keep track of all the ideas and thoughts that I have. Without my sketchbook, I would not get very far- I would just forget everything.

This week, I decided to try knitting. This process was very frustrating at first. It took me 2.5 hours to get the first row done. Then, of course, I had to leave to work on something else. So, by the time I got back to the knitting later in the day, I had lost my flow, and had to start from scratch. The second time didn’t take me as long to get started, though.

I got frustrated the first time around because I kept messing up and restarting. The second time around, I just worked through the mistakes. I found that the mistakes weren’t even very noticeable in the swatch itself, and if you’re not looking for it, you can’t even find it.

if someone wants to try knitting, I would tell them to make sure they take cramps. This exercise was very strenuous for my hands, and they kept cramping up. Also, I would say to just keep knitting even if you make mistakes. They’re really not that big of a deal.