Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Dear Arachnites, if you are at ease with computers, it would be helpful to post a URL link to an image of the lace they have in mind when arguing for the mathematical precision of a lace design. For example, it would clarify the drift of the conversation for me if Kathleen and Devon, say, would post the URL of an images of a pattern or lace close-up and show us what makes something "intensely mathematical". On Sun, May 20, 2018 at 10:33 AM, Devon Theinwrote: > Kathleen writes: I wonder if it is simply that bobbin lace appeals > particularly to scientists and especially mathematicians. Moving on > from this, is it the more âregularâ laces which appeal, I.e. Torchon, > Bucks and Flanders, rather than Bedfordshire for instance? > > Actually, I have always thought that Bedfordshire was intensely > mathematical. Isn't Bedfordshire a lace where you are presented with a > design that has acanthus leaves strewn all over it, in different > orientations, all basically the same shape, but you work each one > differently as you have to keep the weaving line perpendicular to the > edge? Similarly, laces such as Milanese and Duchesse present you with > the mathematical challenge of making each stitch of linen stitch > appear at a perfect right angle like a weave, while the tape or flower > curls around. One time a museum colleague, looking at a Duchesse piece > said, "It is like an Escher". I think that it is like the Escher that > has all the stairs going hither and yon, always looking very > straightforward and mathematical and yet not being that way at all. > > - > To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: > unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to > arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ > - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Kathleen writes: I wonder if it is simply that bobbin lace appeals particularly to scientists and especially mathematicians. Moving on from this, is it the more “regular” laces which appeal, I.e. Torchon, Bucks and Flanders, rather than Bedfordshire for instance? Actually, I have always thought that Bedfordshire was intensely mathematical. Isn't Bedfordshire a lace where you are presented with a design that has acanthus leaves strewn all over it, in different orientations, all basically the same shape, but you work each one differently as you have to keep the weaving line perpendicular to the edge? Similarly, laces such as Milanese and Duchesse present you with the mathematical challenge of making each stitch of linen stitch appear at a perfect right angle like a weave, while the tape or flower curls around. One time a museum colleague, looking at a Duchesse piece said, "It is like an Escher". I think that it is like the Escher that has all the stairs going hither and yon, always looking very straightforward and mathematical and yet not being that way at all. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Or... is it that one style appeals whilst another doesn't? By that I mean the finished piece... A bit like art really. And nothing to do with mathematics or science... Sue in East Yorkshire UK Sent from my iPhone > On 20 May 2018, at 07:55, Kathleen Harriswrote: > > I wonder if it is simply that bobbin lace appeals particularly to scientists > and especially mathematicians. Moving on from this, is it the more “regular” > laces which appeal, I.e. Torchon, Bucks and Flanders, rather than > Bedfordshire for instance? - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
RE: [lace] Lace and maths
I'm a Maths graduate (Leeds, 1987), I taught myself Torchon in the early 1980s while still at school. I think the connection isn't Maths as such but some of the things Maths, Science, Computing, psychology teaches you namely logic, analytic thought, sequences, patterns and coding/representation. But to be a good lacemaker you also need creativity. I remember struggling reconciling the academic and creative sides of me when I was younger but later reconciled this as what I called "logical creativity". The laces I now choose to work are the complex Belgian laces such as Binche and Flanders that use coloured technical drawings (essentially a form of coding but a form that anyone who understands the coding can understand regardless of their spoken language). One really interesting thing we have done in classes in Brugge (particularly as a lacemaking teacher for my understanding of how others understand lace structures) is to take an enlarged copy of an old lace and try to w! ork out how it has been worked. It is fascinating to watch others working on the task, while most people are quite happy with cloth stitch and can quite happily think of two horizonal lines being a worker it is fascinating watching them with half stitch and struggling with the working path (in Binche the working path could be either horizontal, diagonal or a combination of the two). In terms of Kathleen's question about laces that appeal, for me it is the laces which have grids in/behind them, and I class the Belgian laces and Honiton as geometric because of the grounds. Kind Regards Susan Website: www.susanroberts.info e-mail address: su...@susanroberts.info YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTWfnh8ulGj3pS1V0f6O1jQ -Original Message- From: owner-l...@arachne.com <owner-l...@arachne.com> On Behalf Of Kathleen Harris Sent: 20 May 2018 07:56 To: lace@arachne.com Subject: [lace] Lace and maths I wonder if it is simply that bobbin lace appeals particularly to scientists and especially mathematicians. Moving on from this, is it the more “regular” laces which appeal, I.e. Torchon, Bucks and Flanders, rather than Bedfordshire for instance? Sent from my iPad - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Lace and maths
I wonder if it is simply that bobbin lace appeals particularly to scientists and especially mathematicians. Moving on from this, is it the more “regular” laces which appeal, I.e. Torchon, Bucks and Flanders, rather than Bedfordshire for instance? Sent from my iPad - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Dear Nancy, Because of these two observations, I've always thought that people who are good at bobbin lace would make good software engineers, whether they know it or not, and whether they are good at arithmetic or not. This is the other way around from some of the observations that have been made, but related I think. Whilst I have always been a natural mathematician, it was when I did the super-dooper psychiatric tests in the army and they made me an interpreter that I was told it's not just maths that I'm good at, it's the part of the brain that deals with code-breaking! And that includes all those things such as: mathematics; reading and creating music; languages; Braille; typing, and not doubt many more. Just food for thought David in Ballarat, AUS - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Dear spiders, I'm not sure where I fall in this debate but I have a couple of observations to offer. They may be food for thought, or they may deserve to be ignored--I hope the former. I wonder if 'maths' is the right term or not. Just for some context, let me note that I like precision and 'correctness' but I prefer to make floral varieties of lace and have been told by one author and teacher that I am a natural at Binche. I always scored very high on the math section of standardized tests (99th percentile) but have never liked math or felt any good at it. I can add and divide and all that but am much more reliable with a calculator, and I was not any good at calculus. What I am, however, is a software engineer and I love designing and coding software programs. The observations I offer are: 1) there is no addition etc. form of maths in software development. Instead there is logical thinking and being able to analyze the sequence of actions necessary to produce the desired result. This is a type of 'maths' that seems to me necessary to do bobbin lace at all, regardless of the creativity side of it. 2) My second observation is very subjective, but one I have found fascinating. When I do a complicated bit of bobbin lace, it FEELS in my head the same as when I'm doing software design and coding. I get the same positive feeling FROM doing both bobbin lace and software development, yes, but more than that: it feels the same WHEN I'm doing it, like I'm doing basically the same thing. Like I said--subjective! Because of these two observations, I've always thought that people who are good at bobbin lace would make good software engineers, whether they know it or not, and whether they are good at arithmetic or not. This is the other way around from some of the observations that have been made, but related I think. I believe that the same analytical and logical skills are required in both, and also creativity to think of novel and more effective ways to do something. So maybe both 'sides' in this debate are right but talking past each other? Just a suggestion. Nancy from Connecticut, USA, but currently in Bruges, Belgium :-) with an appointment to see some old Binche lace in the museums' collections tomorrow and to photograph lace from a private collection this afternoon :-)) From: Maureen maur...@roger.karoo.co.uk To: alexstillw...@talktalk.net alexstillw...@talktalk.net Cc: Arachne reply lace@arachne.com; Clay Blackwell clayblackw...@comcast.net Sent: Sunday, July 7, 2013 3:18 PM Subject: Re: [lace] Lace and maths Hi all As a non mathematical person I feel I must comment from those of us who are mathematically challenged. I like to think I am a reasonable lacemaker, I can draw out patterns on graph paper and use a lace design programme and I teach students how to draw out patterns to help understand the working of lace. But I cannot add up for toffee and some maths completely confuses me. I admit I am better with floral type laces, Bucks, Honiton etc but I don't like to make mistakes and teach accordingly. Please give consideration to non mathematical Lacemakers as well. There is a place for us all. Regards Maureen - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Lace and maths
Could I suggest that many lace makers are problem solvers. This would include mathematicians, and many scientists. I love puzzles of any kind but especially logic problems, and when I am making lace, I can see a problem-solving element in the process, even in a simple piece of Torchon. I can also see a connection between this and design - where should I place this element of my design? - whether it is lace, any other textile, or something more solid which requires engineering skills as well. But, as in every other field, not every lace maker is a mathematician or a puzzler, and not every mathematician or puzzler makes lace, though it might give them a head start if they wanted to learn. Kathleen In Berkshire, where it is too hot to make lace at the moment, but I hesitate to complain! - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Lace and maths
I don't think it's maths in particular, but we all know that ALL, absolutely ALL women are totally and absolutely logical in their thinking and there's logic to where the threads move next. The majority of lacemakers are women so the men who make lace are obviously demonstrating their feminine side. And before anyone shoots me down, you can't hear the grin in my voice. Jean in Poole, Dorset, UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
RE: Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Dear Lynn, et al Thank you for your email.I was not suggesting that there is not a mathematical aspect to making lace, only the following comment is, I think unfair. 'The best lacemakers are computer programmers, maths graduates and architects and anything that develops judgement of space and line is bound to help.' Lyn wrote: There is, I think you will agree, a mathematical aspect to lace. Doesn't mean you have to be a math expert to do it. Your drawing on graph paper, and using a computer program for lace design can be considered mathematical. One learns a lot of things making lace, from the proper winding of bobbins to solving the puzzle of why there is an extra pair where it doesn't belong. I suspect that some of these skills require the same brain functions as math. Especially things like topology, logic. Being able to visualize the flow of threads in a Flanders or Torchon pattern. I think of these as included in math skills. I don't think a lot of people realize that. Einstein's theory of relativity doesn't involve numbers until it is applied. I think. Not sure about that, but I think so. I agree that maths logic helps the lacemaker to work out where the threads go, which part of the pattern to work next etc., but it also takes skill to visualise the lace whilst designing it and although maths and drawing helps with the skill of designing a piece of lace, the designer needs to have the insight to envisage what the lace will look like once made. The skills of drafting out a lace pattern was taught to me fairly early on in my lacemaking life and I teach it to students so that they can understand the direction that the threads should go into. Practice in working lace helps the understanding and also goes a long way to make a good lacemaker. Maureen wrote: As a non mathematical person I feel I must comment from those of us who are mathematically challenged. I like to think I am a reasonable lacemaker, I can draw out patterns on graph paper and use a lace design programme and I teach students how to draw out patterns to help understand the working of lace. But I cannot add up for toffee and some maths completely confuses me. I admit I am better with floral type laces, Bucks, Honiton etc but I don't like to make mistakes and teach accordingly. Please give consideration to non mathematical Lacemakers as well. There is a place for us all. So as someone said later, there is a place for everyone with all level of skill.I just would not like to see someone discouraged and made to feel that they are not good enough because they are not a maths grad, architect or computer programmer and then give up. Although hopefully there is no one on this list who would feel that way. Maureen E Yorks UK - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Dear Jean Agreed I don't think it's maths in particular, but we all know that ALL, absolutely ALL women are totally and absolutely logical in their thinking and there's logic to where the threads move next. The majority of lacemakers are women so the men who make lace are obviously demonstrating their feminine side. Maureen E Yorks - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Dear Nancy, You have given a wonderful response. Ability to analyze and logical thinking. I think you are right there. And not limited to the realm of mathematics, but a way to think. Your observation on feeling similarly when you make a computer program and making computer software is compelling. Until we become more familiar with the brain, with new technology, it is the best analysis of the thought processes that can be used in lace making. Except that lace is visual, and computer software design probably is not, although that may not be so, if you see it in your head. I bet problem solving could also be included in the skills which can be developed with bobbin lace. Which involves a lot of analysis. Or maybe problem solving is a combination of other skills. In any event, these skills are valuable for students to learn, and having this information could be very helpful in getting schools to allow lace classes, either on campus or off. And you may be correct that 'math' is not the correct term, especially if it is associated only with those pesky numbers. It is the other things involved in math, and, as you rightly say, other areas as well, that I was looking for, and these are more elusive. And I don't think there really are two sides to this discussion. I am being criticized for something I didn't say, and don't believe. What I was trying to say is that lace making involves mental skills that would be useful to school children, and this could be an argument presented to schools to permit a club or advertising a group. I associate those skills with math, although I use them in the practice of law, and in literary analysis, and my father and daughter use(d) them in engineering. I believe I use these skills in lacemaking. Whether my lace is good or poor is immaterial. Lyn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA Nancy wrote: I wonder if 'maths' is the right term or not. Just for some context, let me note that I like precision and 'correctness' but I prefer to make floral varieties of lace and have been told by one author and teacher that I am a natural at Binche. I always scored very high on the math section of standardized tests (99th percentile) but have never liked math or felt any good at it. I can add and divide and all that but am much more reliable with a calculator, and I was not any good at calculus. What I am, however, is a software engineer and I love designing and coding software programs. The observations I offer are: 1) there is no addition etc. form of maths in software development. Instead there is logical thinking and being able to analyze the sequence of actions necessary to produce the desired result. This is a type of 'maths' that seems to me necessary to do bobbin lace at all, regardless of the creativity side of it. 2) My second observation is very subjective, but one I have found fascinating. When I do a complicated bit of bobbin lace, it FEELS in my head the same as when I'm doing software design and coding. I get the same positive feeling FROM doing both bobbin lace and software development, yes, but more than that: it feels the same WHEN I'm doing it, like I'm doing basically the same thing. Like I said--subjective! Because of these two observations, I've always thought that people who are good at bobbin lace would make good software engineers, whether they know it or not, and whether they are good at arithmetic or not. This is the other way around from some of the observations that have been made, but related I think. I believe that the same analytical and logical skills are required in both, and also creativity to think of novel and more effective ways to do something. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and maths
I think many people are concentrating on just the bobbin laces here, when they talk about lacemakers being good at maths or spatial reasoning or whatever. Because, as a needle lace maker, I'm not having to use maths so much. Even when I design my own piece, instead of trying to recreate a 1500s pattern, it's more make the cartoon, couch down the lines, and fill in the spaces with whatever looks good (or is what I can see they did from the blurry pictures I have). Yes, there is *some* maths. But for me it's more how big is this cuff's grid, how big should the grid lines be for this to look good, what kind of detail can I put in with a 35/2 thread vs a 90/2 thread. Maybe it's because I'm so bad at maths, I do a lot of experimenting first. I know there is math for knitting and crochet, but again, from what I recall from when I knitted or crochet mumblemany years ago, not a lot. And as to the spatial thing -- I'm TERRIBLE at it. I have a friend and sewing mentor that can draft out her own patterns, lay them down on checked fabric, and have it all come together perfectly (all the lines and squares meet up). I, on the other hand, need an already made pattern, and need a fabric that has no geometric designs or nap. Then I *might* be able to make something I'm not ashamed to wear! Bronwen, in sunny Colorado Springs, where the temperature is expected to get into the 90s Fahrenheit, or mid 30s Celsius On Mon, Jul 8, 2013 at 2:36 AM, Kathleen Harris ec...@cix.co.uk wrote: But, as in every other field, not every lace maker is a mathematician or a puzzler, and not every mathematician or puzzler makes lace, though it might give them a head start if they wanted to learn. Kathleen -- Out of clutter, find Simplicity. From discord, find Harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. - Albert Einstein - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Lace and Maths
This discussion has been very interesting, however for those of us who came to lace in the middle '70s there were not many 'textbooks' around, certainly in English. My introduction to lace was a Council evening class with Tordis Berndt as our tutor -20+ of us in September 1976.. The only literature/books available were the series from the Lace Guild, Magaret Maidment from approx. 1910. and a few other booklets. Tordis also had her university notes , 2 Swedish booklets which the number of bobbins required , photos etc. but no prickings. I think the need to work these out onto graph paper , whether one was maths inclined or not did not come into it, it had to be done.But, one learnt how important it was to be able to follow the thread pairs through the design. This then leads one to the use of colours for different stitches before the international colour code came into being. Certainly I have found those 2 early years as having laid a good foundation for the years ahead.It has also probably helped when one passed on to designing, not just in geometric but in the 'free' laces so many of us now do. Sheila in Sawbo, who's head is spinning round. with Murray's win and the good weather. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and Maths - Sheila Brown's Contributions to Lace
Before the 20th century few lacemakers anywhere were educated, and most could not even read. However, they were able to produce laces we admire and avidly collect today. Please consider how little was available to anyone who wanted to learn about lace after the two 20th C. World Wars. No matter which nation. We have had some powerful role models, and it is doubtful they thought math and related school subjects were especially important to their lacemaking success. As to her comments (below my signature), Sheila Brown had, by 1990, written a 96-page hardback book published by Batsford - Free Lace Patterns. Lace Guild libraries will have it. Further, between 2000 and 2002 Sheila and her late husband Alan Brown published reprints of four 19th C. government surveys by Alan Cole, reporting on the conditions under which lacemakers worked in England and Ireland. Making these easily available provided numerous lace book authors with verifiable documentation of a period in history when lacemaking was most important to the survival of many people. (Alan Cole was the youngest son of Sir Henry Cole, credited with being the creator of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Search Henry Cole in Arachne archives for more information.) Thank you for your devotion to lace, Sheila! Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center In a message dated 7/8/2013 This discussion has been very interesting, however for those of us who came to lace in the middle '70s there were not many 'textbooks' around, certainly in English. My introduction to lace was a Council evening class with Tordis Berndt as our tutor - 20+ of us, in September 1976.. The only literature/books available were the series from the Lace Guild, Margaret Maidment from approx. 1910, and a few other booklets. Tordis also had her university notes , 2 Swedish booklets with the number of bobbins required, photos etc. but no prickings. I think the need to work these out onto graph paper, whether one was maths inclined or not did not come into it, it had to be done. But, one learnt how important it was to be able to follow the thread pairs through the design. This then leads one to the use of colours for different stitches before the international colour code came into being. Certainly I have found those 2 early years as having laid a good foundation for the years ahead. It has also probably helped when one passed on to designing, not just in geometric but in the 'free' laces so many of us now do. Sheila - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
[lace] Lace and maths
Hi Clay In my experience those with a maths bias tend to be more accurate and can understand how the threads work. In the many years I have been teaching I have come across many who show this ability and who should have been good at maths, but sadly for some reason or other it did not happen. Starting my career teaching maths/science I have always been interested to find out why not. Surprisingly sometimes it was as simple as returning to school after an illness to find the subject had moved on and they feeling they could not catch up assumed they could not do it. Just because a person thinks she cannot do maths does not mean that the ability to think logically and âseeâ straight lines is not there. Being mathematical is not at the expense of being creative. You can be both, although there are some who require perfection and making lace that is geometrically accurate is essential. These lacemakers prefer the geometrical laces and find it very hard to make floral Bucks and the Lester type Beds in which judgement is frequently made between two techniques, neither of which will give a perfect result. Fortunately there are so many different forms of lacemaking that we can all find plenty to satisfy our individual needs. Happy lacemaking whichever type you make and whether you can do maths or not. Alex - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Hi all As a non mathematical person I feel I must comment from those of us who are mathematically challenged. I like to think I am a reasonable lacemaker, I can draw out patterns on graph paper and use a lace design programme and I teach students how to draw out patterns to help understand the working of lace. But I cannot add up for toffee and some maths completely confuses me. I admit I am better with floral type laces, Bucks, Honiton etc but I don't like to make mistakes and teach accordingly. Please give consideration to non mathematical Lacemakers as well. There is a place for us all. Regards Maureen On 7 Jul 2013, at 17:53, alexstillw...@talktalk.net wrote: Hi Clay In my experience those with a maths bias tend to be more accurate and can understand how the threads work. In the many years I have been teaching I have come across many who show this ability and who should have been good at maths, but sadly for some reason or other it did not happen. Starting my career teaching maths/science I have always been interested to find out why not. Surprisingly sometimes it was as simple as returning to school after an illness to find the subject had moved on and they feeling they could not catch up assumed they could not do it. Just because a person thinks she cannot do maths does not mean that the ability to think logically and ‘see’ straight lines is not there. Being mathematical is not at the expense of being creative. You can be both, although there are some who require perfection and making lace that is geometrically accurate is essential. These lacemakers prefer the geometrical laces and find it very hard to make floral Bucks and the Lester type Beds in which judgement is frequently made between two techniques, neither of which will give a perfect result. Fortunately there are so many different forms of lacemaking that we can all find plenty to satisfy our individual needs. Happy lacemaking whichever type you make and whether you can do maths or not. Alex - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
Fw: Re: [lace] Lace and maths
Dear Maureen, et al, I can't add, subtract, multiply and divide worth anything. I can do it, but I don't like to. I thank God for calculators. In my opinion they spoil math by putting numbers in. But it does seem to me that there are a lot of math types making lace. Whether their lace is better or worse due to their skill in math is an open question, in my opinion, yet they are drawn to lace. It draws us for all sorts of reasons. There is room at the lace pillow for all types. There is, I think you will agree, a mathematical aspect to lace. Doesn't mean you have to be a math expert to do it. Your drawing on graph paper, and using a computer program for lace design can be considered mathematical. One learns a lot of things making lace, from the proper winding of bobbins to solving the puzzle of why there is an extra pair where it doesn't belong. I suspect that some of these skills require the same brain functions as math. Especially things like topology, logic. Being able to visualize the flow of threads in a Flanders or Torchon pattern. I think of these as included in math skills. I don't think a lot of people realize that. Einstein's theory of relativity doesn't involve numbers until it is applied. I think. Not sure about that, but I think so. In another discussion a couple years ago, someone mentioned the lack of Alzheimers in lacemakers. Personally I believe that is so for the same reason that there are very few people who work on crossword puzzles with Alzheimers. We exercise our brain solving the puzzles and problems related to lace. Maureen wrote: As a non mathematical person I feel I must comment from those of us who are mathematically challenged. I like to think I am a reasonable lacemaker, I can draw out patterns on graph paper and use a lace design programme and I teach students how to draw out patterns to help understand the working of lace. But I cannot add up for toffee and some maths completely confuses me. I admit I am better with floral type laces, Bucks, Honiton etc but I don't like to make mistakes and teach accordingly. Please give consideration to non mathematical Lacemakers as well. There is a place for us all. Regards Maureen My email sends out an automatic message. Arachne members, please ignore it. I read your emails. - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/