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.