Making Mathematics with Needlework: Ten Papers and Ten Projects

by belcastro; sarah-marie

• ISBN13: 9781568813318
• ISBN10: 1568813317
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-12-12
• Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS

Summary

Mathematical craftwork has become extremely popular, and mathematicians and crafters alike are fascinated by the relationship between their crafts. The focus of this book, written for mathematicians, needleworkers, and teachers of mathematics, is on the relationship between mathematics and the fibre arts (including knitting, crocheting, tatting, and quilting). Each chapter starts with an overview of the mathematics and the needlework at a level understandable to both mathematicians and needleworkers, followed by more technical sections discussing the mathematics, how to introduce the mathematics in the classroom through needlework, and how to make the needlework project, including patterns and instructions.

Author Biography

sarah-marie belcastro is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Smith College, Northampton, MA, and co-directs the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics (www.hcssim.org). She has a Ph.D in mathematics from the University of Michigan.Carolyn Yackel is an Assistant Professor in the mathematics department at Mercer University, Macon, GA, where she has developed a generaleducation course in mathematics through fiber arts and regularly teaches in the Interdisciplinary Studies program. She has a Ph.D in mathematics from the University of Michigan.

Table of Contents

Introduction: An Overview of Mathematics and Fiber Arts	p. 1
Welcome!	p. 1
A Short History	p. 1
Fiber Arts and Mathematics Education	p. 2
Current and Future Research	p. 4
Conclusion	p. 7
Quilted Mobius Band	p. 13
Overview	p. 13
Mathematics	p. 17
Teaching Ideas	p. 21
How to Make Mobius Quilts	p. 24
Picking Up Stitches and Diophantine Equations	p. 31
Overview	p. 31
Mathematics	p. 34
Teaching Ideas	p. 36
How to Make a Bi-Directional Hat	p. 36
The Sierpinski Variations: Self-Similar Crochet	p. 41
Overview	p. 41
Mathematics	p. 41
Teaching Ideas	p. 48
How to Make a Sierpinski Shawl	p. 50
Only Two Knit Stitches Can Create a Torus	p. 55
Overview	p. 55
Mathematics	p. 56
Teaching Ideas	p. 62
How to Make a Torus	p. 65
Symmetry Patterns in Cross-Stitch	p. 71
Overview	p. 71
Mathematics	p. 75
Teaching Ideas	p. 81
How to Make the Symmetries Sampler	p. 83
Socks with Algebraic Structure	p. 91
Overview	p. 91
Mathematics	p. 93
Teaching Ideas	p. 98
How to Make Algebraic Socks	p. 100
Fortunatus's Purse	p. 105
Overview	p. 105
Mathematics	p. 106
Teaching Ideas	p. 112
How to Make Fortunatus's Purse	p. 114
(K)Not Cables, Braids	p. 119
Overview	p. 119
Mathematics	p. 120
Teaching Ideas	p. 125
How to Make a Pillow of Braid Equivalence	p. 127
The Graph Theory of Blackwork Embroidery	p. 137
Overview	p. 137
Mathematics	p. 141
Teaching Ideas	p. 148
How to Embroider a Holbeinian Graph	p. 149
Stop Those Pants!	p. 155
Overview	p. 155
Mathematics	p. 158
Teaching Ideas	p. 166
How to Make Hyperbolic Pants	p. 169
About the Contributors	p. 179
Credits	p. 181
Index	p. 183
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.