Fibonacci Waistcoats - photographs can be found by scrolling down this page.

Fibonacci Patchwork - during the late 1980's and early 1990's I created a series of patchwork designs based on the Fibonacci sequence of numbers.  I created wallhangings and had several Fibonacci Waistcoat commissions - please scroll down this page to view photographs

An article I wrote,  published by Patchwork and Quilting magazine (summer 1990) has been reproduced below - If you would like me to email the article as it appeared - please ask -  it would be more than a pleasure to do so.

"It was a beautifully hot August afternoon. My professor friend and I were having a picnic on the Sussex Downs. Picnics with Charles were never ordinary. It's more than wicker baskets of food and tartan wool rugs - the other essential items are portable film studio, writing bureau, library of books and vital to me, my sewing tin and bag of assorted unplanned chintzes.

We were happily involved in our different projects when Charles starts talking to himself about the Fibonacci sequence of figures, I was not really listening to him - then he repeats himself a little louder - and I become vaguely aware that he is trying to tell me something interesting. "Did you know that the Fibonacci sequence of figures is found in many forms of nature - for example the veins on leaves and the spiral of a snail's shell?" And he continued to explain in depth.

I was mesmerised and decided that I must celebrate this new knowledge by creating a patchwork design using the Fibonacci sequence of figures. It just seemed the most essential thing to do!! The Fibonacci sequence is:- 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, etc. You will see that 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + 2 = 3, 2 + 3 = 5, 3 + 5 = 8, 5 + 8 = 13, 8 + 13 = 21, 13 + 21 = 34, 21 + 34 = 55, etc.

My great love in patchwork has always been traditional English Hexagon work. I love the intricate hand-sewing, the mosaic effect, and the notion that hexagons are therapeutic to work with. Everything about this six sided shape pleases me to the point of addiction - just had to find a way that hexagons and the Fibonacci sequence would play happily together!!

Fibonacci Elgin was my solution. (see picture below) - the templates were made using isometric paper. (diagram 1). You will see how I have proportioned the templates - sizes 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 from the isometric grid. The design needed a centre balance and a side balance of a size 4 (which is not a Fibonacci figure).

There are three vertical rows of size 4 in the Elgin design. The idea of Fibonacci is to keep the sequence of vertical columns of 1, 2, 3, 5, 8. - you will see from the centre of my design there is a magnificent natural flow of movement. It's gentle and interesting.

However I have been a little mischievous and to the extreme left and right of the Elgin design, I have mixed my sequence of Fibonacci figures; for example I put a column of 1 next to 5 and 2 next to 8. I thought this would add extra interest and confuse! You can adapt any design on the isometric grid to the Fibonacci hexagons.e.g. the numbers 13 and 21 in the sequence as in diagram 2. Cover your templates with fabric - the traditional English hexagon method way (and sew together, removing templates after pressing).

There is only one rule - FOR EACH VERTICAL COLUMN YOU MUST USE HEXAGONS OF THE SAME SIZE WIDTH.

.Make your paper templates from isometric paper - following the rules in diagrams 1 and 2. Once I had decided the method of Fibonacci hexagons - the next task was to design a wallhanging - for some reason I had a flash of inspiration whilst staying in a granite bed and breakfast farmhouse - off the beaten track in Elgin, Scotland. It was a real colourless grey day - I needed colour and confusion. Basically that is how Fibonacci Elgin was conceived.- pictured below -  I have used glazed cotton chintz - which although not suitable for washing - is great for wall-hangings - providing windows are kept closed and they are displayed away from direct sunshine. The glow and richness of the chintz helps my intricate designs by giving them great dimension. "

Fibonacci Elgin - 1989  - Inspiration for this patchwork came to me whilst having breakfast in a small farm B &B in Elgin, Scotland.  I loved the colours of the gorse and heathers and I wanted to design something that completely intertwined.   It is photographed here on some fishing nets on the quayside in Penzance!

Detail of Fibonacci Elgin  -  you can see the different sizes of the Fibonacci Hexagons -

Fibonacci Serpentine - is made using the same method.  The only difference being that the largest fibonacci hexagon is 34.  Creates a great effect.   This work was photographed against a standing stone near Sennen in Cornwall - about 1988

Ready Cut patchwork templates are available to purchase from www.patchworktemplates.com  for full details and item description

This Fibonacci piece is worked using strips of isometric paper - quite a different format but too great effect.  I love this piece -

I took this picture in the early 1990's near Doddiscombleigh in South Devon - looks great in this environment

The following two images need some attention - my computer skills are not brilliant!  - You can see the Brother and Sister Fibonacci Strip Patchwork wall-hangings together - lovely effect!  Below is a close up.

This Fibonacci piece hangs at the top of my stairs - creates a stunning hallway due to the high cielings.   Very proud of it!

This Fibonacci Wallhanging was commissioned when I had my studio at Cockington Court -  The colours worked so well -

A lovely lady called Flora - commissioned this peice - shows another aspect of how Fibonacci hexagons can work together.

I have to say that this experiment with Fibonacci did not work............whether its colours or what - I don't know - its sort of got a Japanese look about it - it remains unfinished in an ottoman in the spare room.   

Four very different fibonacci waistcoats - please scroll down - based on the fibonacci sequence of numbers - the first three were commissioned to customers requirements during the late 1980's early 1990's - the fourth bottom one - was the first I created and I wore it and wore it - until someone loved it so much, they bought it from me at the Exeter Festival!  - I was sad to see it go -