The Evolution of Simple String Theory
December 2, 2008 7:26AM | Filed Under Contemporary Quilts, Technique:Design, Twelve by Twelve |
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Whether or not you like how a quilt turned out, it is often instructive to review the design decisions that you made along the way. In the case of Simple String Theory, the following steps were involved:
- the spark of an idea - colourful strings hanging down;
- audition of colour - these fabrics were from the same batch of hand dyes;
- consideration of scale - I was aiming to make a 12×12in work and was conscious that seam allowances will reduce the width of the lines;
- line marking - although many of my designs involve entirely improvisational free cutting, here each line and curve was quite intentional;
- eight strings were not enough; and
- the fluid quilting lines complement the piecing.
This piece started out as a contender for the Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt project but I decided it was too abstract and slightly off-theme (string theory, while relying heavily on mathematical formulae, is more physics-oriented). Pop over to the Twelve by Twelve blog to see what I finally selected and all the other imaginative interpretations of the mathematics theme.
Well all you had to do for me was TELL me it was maths based and I would have happily believed you
Comment by Helen Conway — December 2, 2008 9:50 AM#
It may not have been the perfect quilt for our Maths challenge, but it’s very nice on it’s own. I hope it finds a nice little spot to hang in your home.
Comment by Kristin L — December 2, 2008 10:41 AM#
Brenda,
String Theory certainly works best with nine string lines for some reason odd numbers seem to please the eye and the mind better.
Comment by Judy — December 3, 2008 4:39 PM#