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FRACTAL CROCHET?? What’s Cauliflower Got To Do With It?

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What does cauliflower have to do with crochet?  Not much.  This is just an example of an everyday fractal.  Fractals are amazing mathematical shapes first described by Gaston Julia and Benoit Mandelbrot.  You can google those guys and read til the end of the internet – and if I did that, I still wouldn’t understand the math.  But, I do know what I like when I see it.  This stuff is truly amazing.  So, go do some research.  I’ll wait……

Above is a 3-D fractal ‘cube’.  Does it remind you of anything?

This image of a Herrschner’s Tumbling Blocks afghan could certainly be adapted to more closely resemble the Fractal image above.

The Sierpinski Sieve is the simplest (not to crochet but to visualize) crocheted fractal.  Here’s a schematic:

Not too hard to figure out how we can use this fractal in crochet.  My friend Ronnie crocheted a lovely (if tedious to complete) Sierpinski Sieve Shawl using two strands of a thread about size 10.  It is a dazzling work of art.  Not that you’ll see me making one anytime soon!

I am no mathematician.  Math was always my worst subject in school.  But, I have an instinctive appreciation of the pristine nature of numbers.  The numbers that I can comprehend, and the theories regarding them, are black and white.  The answer to a problem is either right or wrong.  There is something elegant about that.

So, starting with the humble image of a slice of cauliflower, we see how the smallest component of a thing is the same shape as the thing overall.  Look at the veins of a leaf on a tree and you’ll see the shape of the entire tree.  How cool is that??  Same works for coastlines around the world, for snowflakes, for bacteria, for lots of stuff.  That’s fractals.  Show me how we can apply this to crochet.  Please!

Comments

  1. I caught the PBS program on NOVA about fractals. Very interesting…as far as how it applies…give me some time…

  2. I left an astronomy planning meeting for the Intl Year of Astronomy 2009 yesterday. An astrophysicist was sitting outside crocheting and talking about the connection between it and fractals. If you want me to connect you to her, send me an email. She often crochets at sci fi meetings and explains the concept.

  3. Boy, I’d love to meet this crocheter! I’d love to hear her explanation of the concepts. There is more on this sort of thing online. Google
    math + crochet and you’ll find more.
    jd

Have you read?

Crochet Christmas Dove Ornaments With a Printable Gift Poem

There is something especially lovely about a handmade gift that comes with a few thoughtful words. These crochet Christmas birds pair a folded yarn ornament with a decorative poem card, turning a little crochet project into a keepsake.

The design has a rounded head, a tiny embroidered eye and beak, and a forked tail. A broad overlapping section forms the wing, giving the bird that folded, origami-inspired appearance. It is a simple-looking shape with plenty of handmade charm.

A Crochet Bird That Doubles as a Gift Topper

What appeals to me most is the idea of using the bird twice. Tie it onto a wrapped present as a gift topper, then let the recipient hang it on their Christmas tree afterwards. The wrapping gets recycled, the ribbon goes into somebody’s “far too useful to throw away” drawer, and the bird becomes part of next year’s decorations.

Cream would be a lovely choice for a Christmas dove, while cranberry red, sage green and dusty blue offer a different seasonal look. Keeping the wing plain lets the crochet texture and folded layers stand out.

For a personalised crochet gift tag, an embroidered initial is a sweet addition. One small letter gives the ornament a purpose without needing to squeeze an entire name onto the wing.

The Printable Christmas Dove Card

The accompanying printable brings the gift together. Watercolour-style holly, evergreen branches, berries and gold accents frame the card, with space above the poem for attaching the crocheted bird.

The original Christmas poem shares wishes for peace, joy and love, then invites the recipient to hang the dove on their tree. There is also a “With love from” line, so the finished card feels like a complete little present.

I would print it on firm cardstock and attach the bird with a removable thread or ribbon loop. That way, the recipient can lift it off the card easily when it is time to decorate the tree.

It is a thoughtful Christmas gift concept, especially for crafters who enjoy making small decorations with a personal touch. The bird and poem card belong together: a little handmade ornament, a Christmas wish, and something to bring out again next December.