A STEM Project: Coding in TurtleStitch - Drawing Like Picasso - One Line Drawings

Picasso's "Rooster" embroidered using TurtleStitch

Picasso created many great drawings and his "One-Liners" are a whimsical side of his work that is fascinating to recreate in TurtleStitch. With one continuous flowing line, Picasso takes us on a journey across the page. Following the line from beginning to end, meandering across the page with a series of curlicues,  subjects such as animals, circus performers, jazz musicians and a variety of other performers are created. Picasso drew multiple versions of his subjects which indicates his pleasure of drawing these permutations. He most likely drew these designs for his own amusement.  The "One-Liners" show his pleasure of discovering the power of the line. 

In this blog posting, I will describe how I made an SVG of a Picasso's one-line drawing "Rooster", 1918 and traced it in TurtleStitch to be embroidered. Tracing an image in TurtleStitch is a simple operation.  An image is added to the stage area by the Import command as a background and then traced along the edge of the image.

I have included two methods of tracing the "one-liners".  They are both SNAP! Programs whereby keyboard commands are typed and the movement of the mouse creates the path that will be embroidered. The first is a simple program which allows the image to be traced without any modifications. The image needs to be exported once the tracing is completed.  The second version of the Picasso “one-liner” tracing program is more complicated. This vector tracing program stores the x and y coordinates of the cursor and a boolean indicator of whether the pen is in the up or down position (jump stitches).  This vector tracing program was developed by Jagda Huegle. I added additional capabilities to the code.  The additional code allows for the image to be scaled, flipped and mirrored. After the program records all of the data, the table is saved.  This allows the data to be retrieved when the TurtleStitch program is opened again.

These TurtleStitch programs are meant to be organic programs where the exact tracing of Picasso's "One-Liners" is not intended. Please follow in Picasso's footsteps, but make them your own. 

I copied Picasso's "Rooster", 1918 from the book, Picasso's One-Liners by Susan Grace Galassi.  Using the Silhouette software, I centered and resized it on an 8 1/2 in. x 11 in. media page. 

Picasso's "Rooster", resized for the TurtleStitch stage area

I determined that the maximum image size for the TurtleStitch stage area is approximately 3 1/2 inches in height x 4 1/2 inches in width. I resized the image in the Silhouette software to accommodate this TurtleStitch constraint. The image cannot be resized once it has been added to the stage area in TurtleStitch.   I then saved the image as an SVG using the Silhouette software.  (Please note that Designer Edition or higher is required to export SVG's in Silhouette.)   The image could be exported as a PNG or a JPEG file. However, the image was too small and blurry in TurtleStitch with the default parameters from the Silhouette program.

Here is Picasso's "Rooster", as an SVG image. Download this file to your computer.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zw5k3leTwLXK9anzzkkgzxmv1skRBONe/view?usp=sharing

Simple Tracing Program 

Open the simple tracing program called "Drawing A Picasso One-Liner" in TurtleStitch https://www.turtlestitch.org/users/Elaine/projects/Draw%20a%20Picasso%20One-Liner%20

Import the Picasso "Rooster" file that was just downloaded to your computer. 

The file is then imported as a background to the stage area whereby the design can then be traced.

I recommend tracing the image in an enlarged stage area. To enlarge the stage area, in the ribbon area above the stage, there is a box with two arrows pointing outwards.  Toggle this button to enlarge the stage area or to return to the original size with the palette and scripting pane.

1). Move the cursor to where you want to start. 

2). Press the number "0" to clear the screen.

3). Press the space bar to start the drawing.  By moving the cursor, stitches are created. Continue moving the cursor to the complete the one line drawing. 

4). When completed, press the letter "s" to stop recording the position of the cursor. 

5). Export the design using the file type needed for your embroidery machine.

Vector Tracing Program

Open the vector tracing program called "Draw a Picasso One-Liner That Can Be Saved, Resized, Flipped or Mirrored" https://www.turtlestitch.org/users/Elaine/projects/Draw%20a%20Picasso%20One-Liner%20That%20Can%20Be%20Saved%2C%20Resized%2C%20Flipped%20or%20Mirrored

Import the Picasso "Rooster" file that was just downloaded to your computer. 

The file is then imported as a background to the stage area whereby the design can then be traced. I again recommend enlarging the stage area to trace.

1). Move your cursor to the stage area and press the number "0" to initialize the turtle to the center of the screen

2). Press the letter "u" to move the cursor, without drawing, to the place that you want to start tracing. Press “u” again to make a jumpstitch to this location.

3). Start tracing by moving the cursor and then pressing the space bar.  The last stitch can be deleted with the letter "r" key if needed.

4).  Press the letter "e" to end the tracing. 

5). Export the design using the file type needed for your embroidery machine.

The drawing can be resized smaller when the letter "s" is pressed. Currently it is set to "1" so that the traced image can be retrieved when the program is opened again.  

Change the "size" variable, for example, to 1.5 to get a drawing that is 150% larger. Notice the change in the size of the image but the number of stitches remain the same.

Two versions of Picasso's "Horse and Trainer",1920 is shown above.  The upper design is the original has stitches that are closer together.  The lower design has been enlarged by 150% and the stitch length is acceptable. 

I have also included two other features in this program a flip and a mirror.

The drawing can be flipped when the letter "f" is pressed. The image is flipped by taking the negative value of the x-axis.  The y-axis remains the same.

The drawing can be mirrored when the letter "m" is pressed.

A STEM Project: Making a Simple Machine - An Arcade Pinball Machine

A Simple Machine - An Arcade Pinball Machine

Disclaimer: Adult supervision is required when making/playing this arcade game as the 3/8 inch balls could be a choking hazard.

The board is inclined at a 6 degree angle.

Here is a video of the pinball machine in action. 

An Arcade Pinball Machine is a fun example of a simple machine at work. A simple machine changes the direction or the strength of an object. In my "Shooting Stars" Arcade game, three simple machines are combined to make this mechanical device.  The three simple machines are a spring, an inclined plane and a wheel and axle.

To "work"(work is the transfer of energy) this "Shooting Stars" Arcade game, a spring is retracted whereby stored energy from the spring is released. A ball is then propelled by the force of the spring to the top of an inclined plane.  The ball follows the curvature of the top of the pinball machine where it ricochets against one or more of the wheel and axles to realign the trajectory of the ball. The ball rolls downward with gravity into different slots.  The slots values are based on the probability that it will land into a particular slot. The higher the slot value, the lower the probability the ball will land in that slot.  In turn, the lower the slot value, the higher the probability that the ball will land in that slot.

I have designed this pinball machine so that the playing field can be removed.The basic box and spring mechanism can then be reused. This will allow the user to make a new playing field to explore their own designs and mechanisms.

The spring is made by winding a 24 inch length of 26 gauge wire around a tube.  I used a 3/8 inch diameter pen to wind my wire around.

I used 65 lb card stock, Silhouette chipboard to reinforce the box where the plunger resides and five 3/8 inch balls.  (Plastic beads can be used but the weight of the bead was not heavy enough to consistently move the wheel on the axle all the time.) 

I Foil Quilled the background of the playing field.  Foil Quill is a heat embossing tool which adheres foil to the paper. While Foil Quilling the background is nice, it is not necessary to complete this project.

Here is the PDF. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Nl48-oRNWxZTW6IKYcRsoMpRytaoLNjm/view?usp=sharing

Here is the .Studio file

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_KIzz-mR9giIEHG1VeL7Pu3orKbYy2Ar/view?usp=sharing

Here is the SVG.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1USWiy9TH2H1RiCiHHOEe3_5WZPBSbFs5/view?usp=sharing

Make the Box - This box is a double walled box which allows for a sturdy playing field.

Crease all of the sides of the box as shown above.  Make sure all of the pieces are aligned in the same direction. Glue the four chipboard pieces to the center of the front piece. This is needed to reinforce the plunger area so that it does not bend. Make sure that the "U" is glued and aligned properly as this is the area that will be used to slide the spring mechanism.

Apply glue to the tab with the notch.

Adhere the glue so that a box is formed with a tab sticking out at the bottom.

Apply glue and adhere the left tabs. Please be meticulous when gluing these tabs as this will be the corner that wraps around the side of the box.

Apply glue and adhere the right tabs. Please be meticulous when gluing these tabs as this will be the corner that gets inserted into the wrapped around tab. These edges need to be at right angles to one another to make a nice rectangular box.

The front edge side the box is completed in the above photo.  Glue the long tabs on each of the remaining pieces. The top piece shows the location of where to adhere the glue on the long tab.  The other two sides have been folded flat to adhere the glue.

Glue and adhere the left and right side tabs as before.

Apply glue to the three surfaces on the wrap around tab.

Adhere a long side to this area and glue the wrap around tab to the outside of the box.

I used a square object to make sure that the corners were aligned properly and at right angles to one another.

Repeat for the remaining corners. Again, make sure to align everything correctly by placing straight edges on the outside of the box. Allow the glue to dry before continuing.

Apply glue to the top edge of the box. Insert the back of the box.  Apply glue to the edge of the tabs.

Adhere all of the tabs. (View of the bottom of the box)

View of the top of the box.

Apply glue to the small side rail pieces and adhere to the bottom sides of the box. Insert the long strip so that each edge touches the sides.  I applied a drop of glue at these contact points so that a natural curve can be attained for this large strip of paper.

Pinball should be played at a 6 - 6.5 degree angle incline. Make two legs to raise up the playing board. Fold and glue the legs as shown above. 

The legs are designed with a diagonal piece in the middle which creates a structurally sound leg. 

The legs are glued on the bottom of the pinball machine in the top left and right corners.

Completed Box

Make the Playing Board

Foil Quill the background onto the playing board. This is for esthetics only.  Skip this step if you are not Foil Quilling the paper. I have included the playing board that does not need to be Foil Quilled. (The number values will need to be added to the slots.)

Make the axles by creasing the sides and glue the tab.  The axle can be folded in half to adhere the tab.  Once the tab is adhered, form into a tube.

Glue the tabs to the bottom of the playing board.

Fold and glue all of the dividers as shown above

Make the rotating star by folding the strip as shown above.

Apply glue to all of the peaks and form into a star.

Complete dividers and stars.

Apply glue to the dividers

Slide the dividers into place.

Bend the divider with the arm.

Apply glue and slide into place.

Slide the stars onto the axles. 

Make the plunger by gluing the tabs on just one side.  Do not do the other side until it has been inserted into the slot on the side of the box.

Insert the playing board into the box.  Insert the plunger into the box. 

Glue the tabs together on the other side of the plunger.  The fit of the plunger might be a little tight.  Move the plunger back and forth until it slides smoothly.

Make the cover of the box by gluing the four sides together.

Make the spring by wrapping a 24 inch length of 26 gauge wire around the barrel of a pen. (Try other lengths to see the effect of the spring.)

The completed spring length is 2 inches. 

Lay the spring into the plunger.  Add five 3/8 inch balls. Lay a sheet of acetate on top of the box and cover the box with the lid to complete the pinball machine.

To play the pinball game,  on a flat surface, with your board placed near the edge of a table, place your finger on the plunger and compress the spring. Release the plunger to propel the ball.

Repeat for the rest of the balls.  Add up the values in the location of your balls to get your score.