Fun with Patterns


This week, I explored the education gallery. Within a few minutes of being there, I had assembled a Sunshine and Shadow pattern by arranging the colored blocks from lightest to darkest. Next, I designed a Bowtie pattern; it was like working with a puzzle. The group beside me learned how to design a Roman Stripe pattern by arranging the blocks in squares divided diagonally into two triangles, one half in a solid color, the other striped. It was fun to experiment with quilt geometry. By learning just a few simple concepts, I was able to understand how Amish quilt-makers created their patterns. I left thinking that I could create a quilt pattern of my own.


Cheryl having fun with patternsAfter spending time in the education gallery, I walked through Amish Abstractions with a new understanding of how each quilt was designed and how the arrangement of individual squares formed the overall pattern. The quilts are visual distillations of the Amish culture and a truly unique contribution to American textile history.

The admission for Amish Abstractions is included in the permanent collection ticket at the de Young.