Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Secret Revealed

It was way back in July of last year when I reported to you all I was working on a 'secret' project. Well, I found out today that the book has been published and I can share the work with you.


Here's a book edited by Sarah-Marie Belcastro and Carolyn Yackel. It's Crafting by Concepts: Fiber Arts and Mathematics.

This was my first attempt at pattern testing. The process was a great experience and I hope to be able to do this again.


AND...Here's the piece




It's a Sierpinski Triangle. This triangle design is named after Polish Mathematician Waclaw Sierpinski. The large blue triangle consists of three smaller triangles, which consist of three smaller triangles, and they consist of...you get the picture. It's pretty cool.

The pattern is simple and yet a bit challenging as the fundamental tatted piece begins with three joined rings.


The final join was a new learning experience for me. You can see how I had to tackle the a recurring twist before proceeding to the larger project.

And, yes, there were 81 ends to hide.

And a close up...

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18 comments:

  1. Carol Schockling LaweckiApril 13, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Very cool!!

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  2. Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ DianeApril 13, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    That is an amazing piece of tatting! I don't understand math at all, so that makes it even more impressive. Congratulations!

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  3. CindyApril 13, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Wow - fantastic! Congratulations in a big way. I am mathematically challenged for the most part, but I love geometry even though I don't necessarily understand it :)

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  4. FoxApril 13, 2011 at 9:09 PM

    F abulous
    O utstanding
    X -tra-specially great

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  5. GinaApril 13, 2011 at 9:30 PM

    Kewl! What will you do with it now? That would make a stunning frame for photos and be framed itself at the same time. Or you could frame other bits of tatting.....and that would be a mathematical nightmare figuring out what would fit in there and complement it. It's in the book, right? That's fabulous!

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  6. A.G. April 13, 2011 at 11:00 PM

    Wow, that's great!

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  7. SherryApril 14, 2011 at 2:43 AM

    Awesome!! I also do stained glass and enjoy doing 9-sided mandala-type pieces which I sketch until something comes up catching my eye then I draft in AutoCAD... At a large showing in Phoenix I found it interesting that during the two days three gentlemen stood at a distance and studied my work for a while - then finally came up and talked... they were all engineers and draftsmen and expressed interest in my unusual designs - some of them worked out via mathematics! Yes, there's plenty of room for MATH in the art world! We often forget that most of our motifs and the doilies they evolve into are quite geometric, and we especially seldom recognize the engineer in EVERY TATTING DESIGNER and tatters who come up with new techniques like split rings, chains, SCMRs, the list goes on!! What a GREAT project to be a part of! Keep up the WONDERFUL work!!

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  8. Tat-a-RendaApril 14, 2011 at 5:15 AM

    Interesting! I like Math and I think I would enjoy the book.
    81 ends to hide! I would imagine that this can be avoided with using two shuttles and split rings. Tatted in a certain sequence, you can start from the top and work your way down and still achieve the triangular shape.

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  9. JohnApril 14, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    Thank you to you all! Jon, I agree with you. I figured you could at least cut the ends in 1/2 using two shuttles.

    I also forgot to mention....I believe this is the only tatting pattern in the book. But, won't it be interesting to see all the other projects.
    j.

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  10. Margarets designer cardsApril 14, 2011 at 7:52 AM

    Wow that was a job and a half, must have taken you ages to do and work out . Well done getting your work into a book.
    Margaret

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  11. ShawklApril 14, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    Whoa! That is just too cool!
    Kathy
    www.shawkl.com

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  12. SuztatsApril 14, 2011 at 4:07 PM

    Wow! Fabulous, John!

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  13. IsDiharaApril 15, 2011 at 1:50 AM

    It doesn't take a mathematical genius to see the genius in this mathematical (and artistic) work. Thank goodness and color me impressed! Will you be sharing this lace with the folks at Palmetto Tat Days this year?

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  14. Noreen Crone-FindlayApril 20, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    Oooh ooooh oooh John!!!!!!! That is JUST GORGEOUS!!!! Congratulations on your exquisite workmanship. I love it- hopping up and down with excitement!

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  15. UnknownApril 21, 2011 at 9:34 PM

    DS and I both had the same reaction - it's the Triforce from Zelda!

    Great job of tatting!!

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  16. Art by JoyMacApril 24, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    WOW what a fabulous piece I love it...keep up the great work, your tatting it lovely
    Joy in OZ (Australia)

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  17. Joshua HoldenDecember 26, 2018 at 7:20 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. Joshua HoldenDecember 26, 2018 at 7:21 PM

    Hi, John --- your stuff is great! If you are still getting these comments I'd love to be able to include a picture of your tatting in a book chapter I'm writing about cellular automata and fiber arts. Hopefully there's a way we can talk privately. Take care, Josh

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