The Saddle Stitch Digital Clock

The Saddle Stitch Digital Clock

This clock simulates Textile Manufacturing and Surface Topology.

The Concept

"Time is crafted."

• The Material: The screen is a sheet of high-quality, full-grain leather (generated procedurally with SVG filters for bump-mapping).

• The Mechanism:

  • Sewing (Creation): The numbers are not pixels; they are physical stitches. A virtual needle creates a puncture, and a thick, waxed thread is pulled through.

  • Ripping (Destruction): When the time changes, the thread is violently pulled out (unstitched) in reverse order. The holes in the leather slowly "heal" (fade) over time.

• The Physics:

  • Thread Tension: The thread isn't a static line. It vibrates like a guitar string when the needle pulls it tight.

  • Puncture Depth: The holes create visual depressions (inner shadows) in the leather surface.

Description: The Saddle Stitch Digital Clock

1. The Mechanics (Sewing vs. Ripping):

• Sewing: When a number forms, the Stitcher calculates a path through the grid points. A metallic needle travels this path physically, leaving a trail of ctx.lineTo thread segments behind it. It feels additive and constructive.

• Ripping: The transition is unique. The needle doesn't just jump. It reverses course violently (currentIndex -= 2), effectively ripping the thread out of the leather. Only when the old number is gone does the new sewing begin.

2. Visual Fidelity (Texture):

• Leather: Uses a CSS url('data:image/svg...') with fractal noise opacity to simulate the grain of cowhide without loading heavy external images.

• Thread: The thread uses ctx.shadowOffsetY = 2 to cast a small shadow on the leather, making it look raised and 3D.

• Punctures: Before the thread arrives, faint dark holes are drawn (rgba(0,0,0,0.3)), simulating the pre-punched pattern of a craftsman.

3. Reliability (Grid Logic):

• Like the Sandstorm clock, this uses a robust 10x15 grid scanner. It guarantees the thread will always form a readable number, regardless of device size.

4. The Feel:

• It's slow and deliberate for Hours/Minutes, but the Seconds hand rips and re-sews constantly, giving the clock a busy, "workshop" rhythm.