I'm in Good Shape Today!

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I was up early this morning at five - like you would.

Went into the kitchen - like you could.

Bent down to feed the cats - like you should.

And I ended up looking at the lino or ‘cushion floor vinyl’ as it is now known.

It was the pattern that I found interesting.

Not squares or hexagons but, many repetitions of a complicated single shape which interlocked and covered the whole floor. This is a very common feature on Italian kitchen floors (so I’m told).

In mathematics these shapes are called tessellations. They were the brainchild of a Dr Lation, and named after his third wife, Tessa.

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First off, we have the three regular tessellations, squares, equilateral triangles and the favourite of all the quilting ladies, hexagons. (or hexies as Kath calls them).

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The versions comprising squares are found everywhere - as in a chessboard. The hexagons can be see in honeycombs and wire netting. The triangles are not so common, but I believe orchards are, or were, planted in this way to improve pollination. One identical shape to fill the whole space (or quilt).

If we introduce two shapes, say a square and a triangle, these are known as semi-regular tessellations and of course there are many designs to be had.

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Favourites with vinyl floor manufactures in this country, are the ‘hexagons & triangles’ and the ‘octagons & squares’.

Now if we visit Italy, tile manufacturers have a field day there with very intricate interlocking shapes.

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But the ultimate for me is the incredible work done by the Dutch artist M.C. Escher.

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Here is a real challenge to all those lady quilters.

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Shake off your ’Hexies’ and cut out a few of these fantastic shapes to make a

“Quilt to beat all Quilts“.

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I do apologise for the layout. I'm no expert at getting these 'medium' and 'small' pictures to appear in the right place. Think I'll have to stick to all 'large' size in future.

(Unless someone has a few hints or tips).

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