Norah Gaughan - Knitting Nature: 39 Designs Inspired by Patterns in Nature

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Table of Contents

Guide

KNITTING

NATURE

39 DESIGNS INSPIRED BY PATTERNS IN NATURE

NORAH GAUGHAN

photographs by

Thayer Allyson Gowdy

photostyling by

Karen Schaupeter

STC CRAFT

|

A MELANIE FALICK BOOK

STEWART, TABORI & CHANG

NEW YORK

For my parents, Phoebe Adams Gaughan and Jack Gaughan,

who lovingly raised me to appreciate both art and science.

Originally published in 2006 by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, an imprint of ABRAMS.

This edition published in 2012.

Text copyright 2006 Norah Gaughan

Photographs except on copyright 2006 Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Photograph on courtesy of Getty Images.

The following companies generously provided props, wardrobe, and accessories for the Knitting Nature photos:

Still Life

The Gardener, 1836 Fourth Street, Berkeley, Ca. 94710, www.thegardener.com

The Bone Room, 1569 Solano Ave., Berkeley, Ca. 94707, www.boneroom.com

Wardrobe and Accessories

Macys West, 170 OFarrell Street, San Francisco, Ca. 94102, www.macys.com

Zilda by Flavia, 340 Bryant Street, Studio 102, San Francisco, Ca. 94107, www.zildabyflavia.com

House of Hengst Inc., 924 Valencia Street, San Francisco, Ca. 94110, www.houseofhengst.com

Painted Bird, 1201 A Guerrero Street, San Francisco, Ca. 94110, www.paintedbird.org

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any

form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission

from the publisher.

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition of this book as follows:

Gaughan, Norah.

Knitting Nature : 39 designs inspired by patterns in nature / Norah Gaughan ; photographs by

Thayer Allyson Gowdy.1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-58479-484-4

1. KnittingPatterns.

2. Knitwear.

I. Title

TT825.G28 2006

746.43'2041dc22

2005026722

Paperback ISBN 978-1-58479-968-9

Edited by Melanie Falick

Book Design: Anna Christian

Production Manager: Jane Searle

The text of this book was composed in Minion and Gotham.

ABRAMS The Art of Books

195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007

abramsbooks.com

eISBN 978-1-64700-606-8

CONTENTS

and subtle mathematical theory of certain aspects of

knitting. Cable patterns are related to mathematical objects

known as braid groups. Likewise, the problem of optimally

picking up stitches is connected to solving systems of so-

called Diophantine equations. The eighteenth-century

philosopher Immanuel Kant famously declared that the

criterion for the development of a true science lies in its

relation to mathematics. Evidently, one lesson to be learned

from Knitting Nature is that a similar criterion may apply

to some forms of art. In his classic work, The Structure of

Scientific Revolutions , Thomas Kuhn introduced the concept

of the paradigm shiftan intellectual revolution in which

one world view is replaced by another. It may not be an

exaggeration to suggest that Knitting Nature accomplishes

such a transformation.

It has been somewhat facetiously said that it is

difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.

Nevertheless, I expect that the impact of Norahs ideas will be

widely felt within the knitting community. Perhaps one of

the readers of this book will be inspired to further explore the

connections between knitting and the natural world and

thereby extend Norahs pioneering vision.

Prof. John C. Schotland

University of Pennsylvania

FOREWORD

I

am extremely pleased and honored to introduce Norah

Gaughans first book. Norah and I have been friends for

nearly two decadeslonger than either of us like to think

about. Our respective views of the world overlap to a

remarkable degree. How, in the early part of the twenty-

first century, can an artist and a scientist find so much

intellectual common ground? Some clues to the answer to

this question can be found in Knitting Nature , which explores

the use of naturally occurring geometrical motifs in knitting.

Over the years, Norah and I have had numerous

discussions regarding the duality between patterns in nature

and patterns in knitting. Our talks have ranged over many

topics, particularly the powerful unifying role of symmetry

principles, which govern the behavior of physical systems on

all scales. Several of Norahs highly original designs are illus-

trative of this principle and incorporate aspects of hexagonal

and pentagonal symmetries, the latter making contact with

nonperiodic tilings of the plane and other modern develop-

ments.Another topic we have discussed is the emergence of

complex behaviors from seemingly simple rules in systems

such as the Koch curve. Norah has made use of this concept

in her design of the Coastline Camisole and Skirt as well as in

my favorite,the elegant Ogee Tunic.In each of these examples,

Norahs clear and beautifully written descriptions reflect her

deep understanding of the underlying scientific principles.

On a more abstract note, Norah and I have often

wondered about the possible applications of mathematics to

knitting. It is known that there is a surprisingly sophisticated

d

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

I

d be overdramatizing if I were to say that Ive led a double

life since childhood. But there is a kernel of truth to itI

have always been torn between simultaneous desires to

study art and science. I grew up in a household of artists.

Both of my parents were commercial illustrators; Dad

specialized in science fiction and Mom in technical

illustrations of domestic endeavors such as gardening and

sewing. In our family we made art all the time.A favorite

after-dinner game was separately drawing the body parts of

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