hyperbolic footballs

Jul 10, 2010 7 Replies
J

I was looking in the mathematics department of our local academic bookshop (Blackwell's) yesterday and came across a book on crocheting hyperbolic surfaces. I can't trace the book right now, but this site gives an idea of what they look like:



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One part of the book is about doing hyperbolic patchwork. There is one very simple way. You just adapt the design of a standard football - these have twelve pentagonal patches, each surrounded by five hexagonal ones. The hyperbolic football has heptagonal patches, each surrounded by seven hexagonal ones. It can get as big as you like, since unlike footballs, hyperbolic planes are infinite.



This is not a great deal of use for anything except demonstrating geometry. It also has the teensy-weensy problemette that you can't buy hyperbolic fabric to back it, so each patch has to have its own backing (Suffolk puffs would work). And the example in the book is rather crude and ugly - the crochet work is much more attractive.



I'm kinda tempted to try it.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------- e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland mobile: 07800 739 557 Twitter: JackCampin


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D

My DW's regular crocheting looks like that. Maybe that's why she gave it up for quilting...

North Americans Note: He means a SOCCER ball.

I don't recall if it was this group or another quilting group, but some months ago (last year) there was some discussion & links to an exhibition of three-dimensional quilted sculpture. There would surely be some application there, even if one weren't quilting soccer balls...

Doc

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S

A book came through my door about a year ago, unannounced. It was delightful.

"Geometrical Quilts" by Pat Storey (pub Tarquin)

Not 3-D, but based on the Fibonacci number, mandelbrots and the like. Gotta try some.

Nel (GQ)

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P

I do hope you do try some, Nel - they are only small >g, Sartorresartus writes

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S

OMG! DUH! I never made the connection. Sorry. Oh dear! (Sneaks off embarrassed...)

The book is really inspiring (trying not to gush!) I have it by my bedside for when I feel low. It's one of the reasons I'm sorting my stash... to have a go at one. Might not be exactly, but... based on...kinda different except... you know the kind of thing. INSPIRED by, that's the word.

I love symmetry and 'pattern'. I bought my Berny partly because of one of their quilts that was based on an ever-decreasing triangle thingy.

Bows deeply... I am not worthy...

Nel (GQ)

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P

Oh! A surprise for you - how wonderful. I'm thrilled. I'm even more delighted that looking at the patterns has made you look forward. . In message , Sartorresartus writes

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P

That is so dear. Just imagine Nel discovering that Pat was 'our' Pat Storey. Yes indeed it is a treasure of a book. Polly

"Pat S" Oh! A surprise for you - how wonderful. I'm thrilled. I'm even more

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