Geometric Threads: Patterns and Tessellations

Tessellations-perfectly fitting patterns of shapes-appear in honeycombs, fish scales, pine cones, and a myriad other natural forms. They are also a popular element in many human-made designs, such as those found in Islamic art and architecture. The complex artistry of Moroccan tile mosaics, quilts, and Hawai'ian kapa cloth (created from the pounded and fermented bark of the paper mulberry tree) reflect a variety of intricate geometric designs.

Watch master quilters, an expert tiler, and Hawai'ian kapa cloth artist Wendeanne Ke-aka Stitt skillfully arrange simple shapes to create exquisite patterns-then get a taste for tessellating by fitting fabric shapes together into your own mesmerizing designs.