Knitting Needle Table
A coffee table made from hickory and hard maple, and removable knitting needle shelving. A demonstration of the natural and aesthetically timeless possibilities in utilizing discarded objects to design higher-end products.
@ CMU School of Design
7 Weeks. Fall 2025.
Material re-use can often appear ‘DIY’-ed.
I wanted to design a table that demonstrates a beautiful, professional, and timeless integration of second-hand objects. In this design, the objects would act as crucial components of the table’s functional utility and visual identity.
Integrated object: knitting needles.
The knitting needles’ role within the table design is both functional (storage rack) and visual. It’s presence implies a textile function too—segueing nicely to the blanket storage feature and appropriately embodies an energy suited for its intended context within a living room.
The needles are also easily interchangeable, allowing for easy replacement and customization to the color and amount of ‘rungs’ present at any one time.
The Table.
Made from hickory and hard maple, with a center stripe feature on the table-top. Joinery and assembly that supports a long life.
Storage Rack.
Knitting needle rack with interchangeable rungs. Can be used as a shelf or as a magazine/literature rack.
Blanket Storage.
A gap created by the form to store throw blankets when they are not being used.
Drawing and brainstorming the use-cases for the knitting needles, the form it takes place, and the context for the table they fit into.
Some early drawings: needle integration and general ideas.
CAD Modeling: for 3D visualization and refining ideal measurements.
Board plans: to help figure out how much wood to buy.
Shop drawings/Fabrication Solving: made before for approval to begin machining and during machining to guide myself through the fabrication and assembly process.
Creating the table. Working with hickory and hard maple was a fun challenge. The thin, splintery hickory and thick, heavy hard maple made for a vicious yet beautiful combination.
The pieces: machining the wood into the final pieces.
Matching grain from different parts of the board^
Edge Joining: using dominoes to edge join the table and side surfaces.
Needle Rack: drill press and tablesaw to machine the needle rack.
Assembly: putting all the pieces together.
Finishing: with danish oil, surface sanding and cleanup, plugs, etc..
SKILLS
Drawing
Prototyping
Machine & Hand Fabrication
Woodworking
TOOLS
SolidWorks CAD
Wood Machining
Chopsaw, Jointer, Planar,
Table Saw, Drill Press, Domino Cutters, Etc.
Hand and Power Tools