An Exaltation of Blocks

Book excerpt: An Exaltation of Blocks is a two-volume book and toolkit for exploring symmetric block design intended for weavers and designers who use grids in their creative process. The first chapter of Volume One describes the block as the basic unit of design. Subsequent chapters describe the process of using the binary number system to develop the definitive number of 2-, 3-, and 4-block motifs, which, in turn, become the elements for developing larger designs and patterns. Three chapters written specifically for weavers show how to covert complex patterns into three different weave structures suitable for 8-shaft looms: Summer and Winter, Huck Lace, and Warp-Faced Rep. Chapter Ten shows how to create asymmetry from the symmetric motifs. Volume Two is the Toolkit of twelve envelopes which contain the 45 printed design pages and 49 transparent overlays. Section One creates the equivalent of over 2 million 6-block designs while Section Two continues to develop 5-, 6-, 7-, and 8-block designs. The potential for the higher ordered designs is 68 billion patterns. The first edition is limited to 500 copies, each signed and numbered by the author.