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 Thein <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 [email protected] containing the line: > unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to > [email protected]. Photo site: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/ > - To unsubscribe send email to [email protected] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [email protected]. For help, write to [email protected]. Photo site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lacemaker/sets/
