Module 2 Chapter 12

'Piecing' - a method of cutting and seaming.

I just don't know where the time has gone since Summer School at Urchfont Manor, but it's good to get back to this!

This chapter is about designing with cut paper based on Seminole patchwork methods, where two pieces of fabric are seamed together and then cut and reseamed to create quite complex patterns.

2.10.1

2.10.2

2.10.3

2.10.4

2.10.5

2.10.6

2.10.7

2.10.8

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2.10.10

2.10.11

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2.10.13

2.10.14

2.10.15

The last task is make a mosaic by continually cutting and seaming, starting with a strip of black material and a strip of white material joined together. A section (the first in the Fibonacci sequence 1 - 2 - 3) is cut off and retained. The remaining section is cut and reseamed twice and then another section (the second in the Fibonacci sequence 1 - 2 - 3) is cut off and retained. The remaining section is then cut and reseamed as often as possible.

I found it quite difficult knowing when to stop, so I decided to take photos at various stages. For this first image, I laid the tree sections together.

2.10.16

I took this second image after I had cut and reseamed two more times, and once again the three sections are laid together.

2.10.17

I cut and reseamed twice more, but this time, I joined the fabric by butting up the edges of the fabric and using a zigzag stitch. I also cut and reseamed the second section once, to further delineate it from the top section and give a smoother transition between the sections.

I particularly like the uneven edges of the third section, and didn't want to loose that by making a seam, so to join the second and third sections together, I laid one over the other and topstitched.

I probably could have done some more cutting and reseaming, but I like the fractured nature of what I've got, with the differences in the size of the shapes, and felt I should stop there.

I enjoyed doing this - It would be fun to do it in colour.

2.10.18

Coincidentally......

.....my local quilt group, which meets monthly, had a workshop yesterday on Seminole patchwork, and these are the four samples we made. After all the black and white it was lovely working in colour!

Module 2 Chapter 9

The Fibonnaci Sequence and the Golden Section

Leonardo Fibonnaci was a thirteenth century mathematician who devised a sequence of numbers, each being the sum of the previous two - 0 + 1 = 1 ; 1 + 1 = 2 ; 1 + 2 = 3 ; 2 + 3 = 5 ; 3 + 5 = 8 ; 5 + 8 = 13 ; 8 + 13 = 21 etc.

The numbers in the sequence are in the same ratio as a number of patterns in nature:

• the spiral of seeds in a sunflower
• the spiral of shells and ammonites
• pine cones
• the division of stems and branches of plants and trees
• the number of petals in a flower

Using these proportions makes a pleasing series of stripes, and all the following designs are made by cutting paper using the sequence and rearranging them.

2.9.1

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2.9.11

The Golden Section is a series of squares drawn using the Fibonnaci sequence.

2.9.12

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2.9.14

2.9.15

2.9.16

2.9.17
2.9.18

Module 2 Chapter 8 - a few extras

Following a very thought provoking critique from Sian, I decided to explore a few things in Chapter 8 a bit more.

Firstly Sian suggested making the fabric insert in the seam act as a transition between 2 different fabrics. Below are 2 attempts.

2.8.10

Next, to try and make the join on one particular sample (image 2.8.3 in the main Chapter 8 post) more important but keeping the shapes of the pattern.

2.8.11

And finally to make some strips that are more organic.

2.8.12

Module 2 Chapter 8

Not what it seams!

First, a series of inserts into seams to decorate them.

2.8.1

2.8.2

2.8.3

2.8.4

2.8.5

2.8.6

Then a series of decorated strips and ribbons.

2.8.7

2.8.8

And finally cords and toggles.

2.8.9