Customer Reviews

Mathematical Quilts: No Sewing Required (Blackline Activity Masters)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As the authors clearly say, this is not a quilting book. You will not find any patterns, instructions, or useful information about quilting. In fact, most of the amazing quilts they show (on the covers only) are, to my mind, made in such ugly fabric combinations that they are not even inspiring.
However, for experienced quilters who want to push the envelope, this is an amazing resource! You will learn how to draft exciting quilt designs using spiral forms and other surprising geometric arrangements. If you have enjoyed designing your own patchwork with squares and rectangles and triangles, and are ready to move on, this book will allow you to translate your most far-reaching ideas into fabric reality.
I think this might be especially good for those who are planning to make quilts for men, or for those who do not like the traditional pretty quilt look.
If this isn't a quilting book, what kind of book is it? It is a math book, an excellent book on geometry. As a math book it rates 5 stars. You will find that it spices up your geometry lessons, or makes interesting principles of geometry accessible to you even if it has been a long time since High School geometry class. The quilt patterns are actually designed to be done on paper. But if you are a quilter, you will be tempted to transfer them to cloth.

This is quite an amazing ,as well as ,excellent book.It took the real unique combination of the love and knowledge of Mathematics,and Geometry in particular,coupled with an interest in making Quilts to come up with a book like this.Not likely a typical Mathematician such as Martin Gardner,or Einstein,nor someone like Martha Stewart ,or even someone like the artist M.C.Echer would ever dream of such a book.On top of all that,to produce such a book to use as a teaching aid to introduce students to the magical world of Mathematics,Nature, and the age old art of Quiltmaking.What it took was these two teachers,both with degrees in Mathematics and an interest in Quilts.

Although the closest I'll ever come to making a quilt was as a kid watching my mother and grandmother ,with their quilting frame set up in our living room ,making quilts on cold winter nights,Some of those quilts are over 60 years old and still keeping me warm today.I have,like the authors,also have a degree in Mathematics,and still retain a great interest in all types of Mathematics ,Puzzles and Art,particularly Graphical art such as M.C. Escher.

When I first came across this book,the title caught my attention;but it wasn't 'till I turned it over and saw the illustrations on ther back;that I realized what a fascinating book this really was.Anyone with a knowledge of Mathematics,knows that Mathematics pops up everywhere in Art,Architecture and through the magnificent structers found in abundance in the Flora and Fauna around us.

If you have ever been to a major Exhibition of Crafts,you'll surely remember the beautiful and intricate designs that are incorporated into the Quilts.I often wondered how these ladies ,whose sewing skills are obvious,and probably who had little knowledge of Mathematics;came up with these wionderful designs.

These Mathematical ideas are classics and carry such names as Fibonacci,Kepler,Golden Ratios,Pentagons,Polygons,Logarithmic Spirals,Wheel of Theodorus,Bhaskara's Proof,Pythagoras,Thessellations,Tetrominos,Tiles,Quasi-Crystals and Staircases;all well known in of Mathetics.

The authors explain all of these ,and shows how they are constructed and what importance they have.

While this book shows how these ideas can and are used in quilts,they can also be applied in other art forms.

Even if you never actually make a quilt using these ideas,after reading this book and learning the Mathematics behind these designs;you'll recognize them when you see them;whether it in in some award-winning intricate quilt design or in the fascinating configurations seen in flowers,the pleasing proportions in art or architecture,or even some of nature's most beautiful designs such as a starfish or nautilus.

The authors have done an exceedingly excellent job of taking complex Mathematical idea and making the understanding of them simple ,interesting,and most of all,enjoyable .

This is a good book on quilting that was featured in Quilter's Newsletter Magazine in October 1997. I recommend it for those who enjoy quilting.