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Designing tessellations: The Secrets of Interlocking Patterns by Jinny Beyer

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This is a very good book for anyone interested in designing tessellations and interlocking patterns. The author, Jinny Beyer, is a well-known quilter and designer, and she provides a wealth of information on the subject. She has been teaching and designing for over 30 years, and her expertise shines through in this book.

Unlike many other books on the subject, this one is not just a collection of patterns. Instead, it focuses on the principles of design and how to create your own unique tessellations. The author provides clear explanations and step-by-step instructions for creating wallpaper-patterns.

Even though she is not a mathematician, she has a good understanding of the mathematical principles underlying tessellations and patterns. She explains these concepts in a way that is accessible to readers without a strong math background.

I enjoyed this book a lot.

Table of Contents

Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Introduction Acknowledgements

CHAPTER 1 - What Are Tessellations?

From Simple Tessellations to Escher-Type Designs
Symmetry and Tessellations

CHAPTER 2 - An Introduction to Symmetry

Pattern
Types of Symmetry
Ways to Generate Symmetrical Patterns

CHAPTER 3 - Desining with Two-Dimensional Symmetries: The FirstEleven ...

Working with Symmetries
Multiple Patterns from a Single Cell

CHAPTER 4 - Designing with Two-Dimensional Symmetries: The Last Six Symmetry Groups

12. Traditional Block (p4m) Symmetry
13. Three Rotation (p3) Symmetry
14. Six Rotation (p6) Symmetry
15. Mirror and Three-Rotation (p3m1) Symmetry
16. Three Rotations and a Mirror (p31m) Symmetry
17. Kaleidoscope (p6m) Symmetry
Summary of Two-Dimensional Symmetry Groups

CHAPTER 5 - Designing with Linear Symmetry Groups

The Seven Linear Symmetry Groups
The Linear Symmetry Groups

CHAPTER 6 - Experimenting with Symmetry

Applying Other Symmetries to the Primary Cell
Designing Your Own Primary Cell
Symmetry Breaking

CHAPTER 7 - The Keys to Creating Interlocking Tessellations

Creating Interlocking Shapes
Combining Operations
Tessellating Borders
Endless Design Possibilities

CHAPTER 8 - Refining Tessellations: Shape and Color

Preparing Tessellations for Construction in Surface Design
Preparing Tessellations for Color and Value
Design Options for All Media

CHAPTER 9 - Creating Geometric Tessellations

Tessellations for All Surface Designers
The Miraculous Effects of Value and Contrast

CHAPTER 10 - Creating Representational Tessellations

Escher’s Vision
Escher’s Techniques
Making Representational Tessellations
Multimotif Designs
Experimenting with Multimotif Designs

CHAPTER 11 - Metamorphosis

Moving from One Geometric Shape to Another
Moving from Geometric Shapes to Representational Images
Escher’s Legacy

Appendix

Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C

Credits

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