We had been getting more and more interested in optical illusions. We were very familiar with the concept of impossible shapes and this one was relatively easy to work with. It is a representation of the Penrose Triangle (which is sometimes referred to as a Tribar). Although it was first created by the Swedish artist Oscar Reutersvärd in 1934, Sir Roger Penrose and his father, Lionel, independently devised this and other impossible figures in the 1950s. Their discoveries are known to many as the underlying constructions of several works by M.C.Escher.
At first glance it seems to be a perfectly normal triangle made from three bars with
square cross-
This is an unusual shape for an afghan but we have discovered, over they years, that doesn’t deter knitters much. Despite its shape it is quite useful as it is long in the middle to cover your feet and can wrap round your body. It would be particularly impressive as a floor rug where it would always been seen completely flat.
The technical problem with this was getting the pattern into a form where it could be made to any size, using any yarn, by just repeating a simple set of instructions. Only one yarn is used at a time. I used variegated yarn because I happened to have it lying around. I’m still not sure whether the definite stripes it created add to the effect or not.
