The University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) has introduced a new digital knitting machine that enhances students' capabilities in creating advanced textiles, fashion designs, and smart materials. This machine combines software with 3D prototyping, enabling students to develop skills relevant to the industry and produce complex 3D knitted structures.
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The Stoll CMS 530 K 7.2 multi-gauge knitting machine, measuring 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and weighing 3,200 pounds, arrived at the university on January 30, 2026, after being transported by ship and train. It equips the DAAP community to advance in various areas, including textile innovation, knitting structures, and embedding smart materials into product design.
Professor Zach Hoh, an associate professor of practice and fashion design program coordinator, emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the machine. He noted that knitting as a process allows for the construction of garments from yarn rather than traditional fabric cutting and sewing. Hoh described the machine as enabling designers to simultaneously consider structure and 3D form through the evolution of 2D shapes.
He also highlighted the role of digital software in expanding creative possibilities. "The software and the knitting machine we’ve just received really allow us to take designs to the next level," Hoh stated, expressing his commitment to enhancing both his and the students' capabilities.
The machine is designed to equip students with competitive, industry-ready technology skills. Hoh remarked, "This is how the fashion industry produces goods today," pointing out that the software opens up job opportunities after graduation. Features such as the Pantone X-ray scanner and Clo3D software enable students to scan textures, prototype virtually, and knit directly from their designs, making the process faster and more accurate.
Additionally, the project received funding through joint efforts from the Ullman School of Design, the Ullman Technology Fund, and FEMA for initiatives developing protective textiles. Hoh plans the inaugural project on the machine to knit the "Next Lives Here" emblem into a sweater, symbolizing the university’s innovation agenda and the resources available to students and researchers.
This development positions DAAP students at the forefront of digital textile and fashion innovation, preparing them for careers in the rapidly changing design and fashion landscapes.