Deconstructed Moebius II
Designer and Artist: Li-Mei Lim
Material and Method: Knit and crocheted wool yarn
Year of Creation: 2022
Take a strip of paper, twist it 180 degrees three times, and join the ends to make a three half-twist Moebius band. If you split this Moebius band down the center, what will happen? Try it if you've never done it before--the result might surprise you!
But if you don't have paper, tape, and scissors with you, you can look at this knit piece. When Deconstructed Moebius II is buttoned, it's a three half-twist Moebius band. Unbuttoned, it is a trefoil knot with three full twists! In fact, the edge of a three half-twist Moebius band forms a trefoil knot, which is why a trefoil results when the band is split down the center line. While it is impossible to join to knit in the round introducing three half twists, it is possible to make any number of full twists, and (in principle) it is possible to put any knot into the cable of knitting needles. Therefore, while it is impossible to cast on normally and join to work in the round to make a three half-twist Moebius band, it is possible to knit a deconstructed one that can be buttoned up, as shown here.