A STEM Project: A Pillow Top Using TurtleStitched African Sankofa Symbols

A Pillow Top Using TurtleStitched African Sankofa Symbols 

"Sankofa is an expression in the Twi language of Ghana whose literal meaning is “Go back and get it!” It is actually a fusion of the two words in the Akan second-person imperative sentence, “San kɔfa!” 
Its corresponding Akan proverb is, “Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri.” To wit, it is not taboo to go back and get something after you have forgotten it. More literally, it means if you forget and you go back to get it, there is nothing wrong with it."

Two Sankofa designs were used in this pillow.  I recreated these designs by tracing and embroidering them using TurtleStitch.  

Here are my coded designs in TurtleStitch. https://www.turtlestitch.org/run#cloud:Username=Elaine&ProjectName=Adinkra%20Sankofa%20Applique This program was used to trace the bird image.  The appliqué fabric was placed on top of the hoop with the backing fabric and stabilizer. A running stitch was embroidered to tack down the appliqué fabric.  The hoop is then removed from the machine and the appliqué fabric is carefully cut away at the outer edge of the running stitch.  The hoop is returned to the machine and the design is then cross stitched to complete the appliquéd design. (Do not remove the fabric from the hoop during this process.)

 https://www.turtlestitch.org/run#cloud:Username=Elaine&ProjectName=Adinkra%20Sankofa%20%2d%20%20Version%20%232 This program was used to trace the corner design. This design is unique because I traced only half of the design.  The program is coded so that the original traced image can be flipped and added to the design.

Materials Needed To Make a 16 inch x 16 inch pillow

1 - 8 x 8 inch TurtleStitch embroidered square

4 - 4 x 4 inch TurtleStitch embroidered squares
1/2 yard backing fabric

16 x16 inch Pillow Form

Cutting Layout - Cut out the strips using the cutting diagram below for the backing fabric

The result of the cuts will be: 

- Two strips of 16 x 11 inches

- Two strips of 16 x 4 inches of which the  two strips are cut further to create four strips of 8 x 4 inches 

Please note: The final measurement of the pillow is 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches.  This measurement allows for a plumper pillow.   

Sew the Squares Together 

Arrange the strips of fabric around the five TurtleStitched squares as shown above. 

Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance for the top row, sew the two 4 x 4 inch TurtleStitch embroidered squares to the 8 x 4 inch strip. Repeat for the bottom row.

Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew the two 8 x 4 inch strips to the 8 x 8 inch TurtleStitch embroidered square.

Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew the three the rows together.

My 1/4 inch seam allowance was not exact so I evened up the 15 inch square by cutting the excess fabric around the edges. Set this piece aside.

Sew the Back Panels of the Pillow

Cut the two 16 x 11 inch pieces of fabric to 15 x 11 inches.

Fold the 15 x 11 inch piece of fabric under a 1/4 inch on the 15 inch long side. Repeat to make another 1/4 inch fold and sew an 1/8 inch seam.

Repeat for the second piece of 15 inch by 11 inch fabric.

Place the two 15 x 11 inch pieces of fabric with the seams overlapping so that the backing fabric is a 15 x 15 inch square. The right side of the fabric is facing upward.

Place the embroidered 15 x 15 inch square on top of the back panels with right sides facing one another as shown above. Sew the four sides of the square using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Turn the fabric right side out and insert the pillow form to complete the pillow.

A STEM Project: A 16 x16 inch Pillow Using Four Squares of TurtleStitched African Fractals

 

A 16 x16 inch Pillow Using Four Squares of TurtleStitched African Fractals 

Fractals are a pattern that repeat themselves in varying degrees of scale. They are created in code by repeating a simple process over and over again in a loop.  Fractal design have been used in African culture for centuries. I used four of these fractals to create this 16 x 16 inch pillow. I recreated these designs by coding them and embroidering them using TurtleStitch.  Here are my coded fractal designs in TurtleStitch. https://www.turtlestitch.org/projects/search/african%20fractal

The four fractals are starting from the top left are an Egyptian Cross, a golden rectangle, a logarithmic spiral and a fractal tree. Here is a article about African fractals and a computer simulation for the different levels of recursion.  https://span.uncg.edu/fractals/homepage.html

When TurtleStitching the design for this pillow, I coded each design so that each would be no bigger than 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inches for my Brother PE800 embroidery machine.  All of the designs can be resized for your embroidery machine.  Once embroidered, each of the four designs were cut to create four,  6 x 6 inch squares.

Materials Needed To Make a 16 inch x 16 inch pillow

4 - 6 x 6 inch TurtleStitch embroidered squares
1/2 yard backing fabric

16 x16 inch Pillow Form

Cutting Layout - Cut out the strips using the cutting diagram below for the backing fabric

The result of the cuts will be: 

- Two strips of 16 x 11 inches

- Six strips of 16 x 2 inches of which three of the strips are cut further to create six strips of 6 x 2 inches 

Please note: The final measurement of the pillow is 15 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches.  This measurement allows for a plumper pillow.   

Sew the Squares Together 

Arrange the strips of fabric around the four TurtleStitched squares.

Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew the three 6 x 2 inch strips to the sides of the 6 x 6 inch TurtleStitch embroidered squares as shown above. Repeat for all rows.

Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew the three 16 inch x 2 inch strips to the rows of two squares.

My 1/4 inch seam allowance was not exact so I evened up the 16 inch square by cutting the excess fabric around the edges. Set this piece aside.

Sew the Back Panels of the Pillow

Fold the 16 x 11 inch piece of fabric under a 1/4 inch on the 16 inch long side. Repeat to make another 1/4 inch fold and sew an 1/8 inch seam.

Repeat for the second piece of 16 inch by 11 inch fabric.

Place the two 16 x 11 inch pieces of fabric with the seams overlapping so that the backing fabric is a 16 x 16 inch square. The right side of the fabric is facing upward.

Place the embroidered 16 x 16 inch square on top of the back panels with right sides facing one another. Sew the four sides of the square using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Turn the fabric right side out and insert the pillow form to complete the pillow.

A STEM Project: Making a 16 x 16 inch Pillow Using Nine Squares of TurtleStitched Adinkra Embroidery Panels

A 16 x16 inch Pillow Using Nine Squares of TurtleStitched Adinkra Embroidery Panels

Adinkra are African symbols which represent different concepts, proverbs or aphorisms. Nine of these Adinkra designs were used to create this 16 x 16 inch pillow. I recreated these designs by coding them and embroidering them using TurtleStitch.  Here are my coded Adinkra designs in TurtleStitch. https://www.turtlestitch.org/projects/search/adinkra

When TurtleStitching the design for this pillow, I coded each design so that each would be no bigger than 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches.  Once embroidered, each of the nine designs were cut to create nine,  4 x 4 inch squares.

Materials Needed To Make a 16 inch x 16 inch pillow

9 - 4 x 4 inch TurtleStitch embroidered squares
1/2 yard backing fabric

16 x16 inch Pillow Form

Cutting Layout - Cut out the strips using the cutting diagram below for the backing fabric

 

The result of the cuts will be: 

- Two strips of 16 x 11 inches

- Eight strips of 16 x 1 7/8 inches of which four of the strips are cut further to create sixteen strips of 4 x 1 7/8 inches  

Please note: The final measurement of the pillow is 15 1/2 x 15 1/2 inches.  This measurement allows for a plumper pillow.  

Sew the Squares Together 

Arrange the strips of fabric around the nine TurtleStitched squares.

Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew the 4 x 1 7/8 inch strips to the sides of the squares as shown above. Repeat for all rows.

Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance, sew the four 16 inch x 1 7/8 inch strips to the rows of three squares.

My 1/4 inch seam allowance was not exact so I evened up the 16 inch square by cutting the excess fabric around the edges. Set this piece aside.

Sew the Back Panels of the Pillow

Fold the 16 x 11 inch piece of fabric under a 1/4 inch on the 16 inch long side. Repeat to make another 1/4 inch fold and sew an 1/8 inch seam.

Repeat for the second piece of 16 inch by 11 inch fabric.

Place the two 16 x 11 inch pieces of fabric with the seams overlapping so that the backing fabric is a 16 x 16 inch square. The right side of the fabric is facing upward.

Place the embroidered 16 x 16 inch square on top of the back panels. Sew the four sides of the square using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Turn the fabric right side out and insert the pillow form to complete the pillow.

The meaning of the Adinkra designs starting at the top left of the pillow are: 

Abusua Pa - A symbol of family unity, kinship ties, and family support.

Akoma Ntoso -  understanding and agreement, harmony within communities.

Nsaa -  It is a symbol of excellence, genuineness, authenticity

Sankofa -   if you forget and you go back to get it, there is nothing wrong with it.

Ananse Ntentan -  means spider web. a symbol of wisdom, craftiness, creativity, and the complexities of life.

Denkyem -   means “crocodile.” It is a symbol of adaptability, cleverness

Name Due -  Symbol of God's presence and protection

Nea Onnim -  a symbol of knowledge, life-long education and the continued quest for knowledge.

Abab -  It is a symbol of strength, seat of power, authority, and magnificence.