So, what I am doing in Santa Barbara anyway???
Well, my husband is Physicist, specifically a writer of physics and has the post of writer in residence at the Kavli Institute on the campus of UC Santa Barbara for three months and I came because ... why wouldn't I come?
Anyway, over the years of being married to a physicist I have met many other physicists, primarily high energy and nuclear physics and primarily men. BUT, here in Santa Barbara there are a group of physicists who study soft matter, specializing in soft matter that forms itself into sheets. And there are several women in this group ... AND they are interested in sewing and knitting and how physics is related to sewing and knitting.
Well, my husband is Physicist, specifically a writer of physics and has the post of writer in residence at the Kavli Institute on the campus of UC Santa Barbara for three months and I came because ... why wouldn't I come?
Anyway, over the years of being married to a physicist I have met many other physicists, primarily high energy and nuclear physics and primarily men. BUT, here in Santa Barbara there are a group of physicists who study soft matter, specializing in soft matter that forms itself into sheets. And there are several women in this group ... AND they are interested in sewing and knitting and how physics is related to sewing and knitting.
This image and the one above are from an article about 3D simulation and pattern making, An interesting read, talks about the downside of pattern making on computers ... here's the link. Many people, I would guess most professional pattern makers draft on a computer now a days.
I don't know how. I learned working in theatrical costume shops and they do stuff the old fashioned way, for the most part.
Now, the reason I'm writing on this topic today is to share a sweet, interesting and funny paper written by a British Mathematician, Professor Sir Christopher Zeeman, in 1993.
He brought back a beautiful piece of silk fabric for his wife when visiting Thailand, but when he couldn't find a dressmaker who would sew it up (they all thought there wasn't enough fabric), HE decided to learn to sew and would draft the pattern himself.
I don't know how. I learned working in theatrical costume shops and they do stuff the old fashioned way, for the most part.
Now, the reason I'm writing on this topic today is to share a sweet, interesting and funny paper written by a British Mathematician, Professor Sir Christopher Zeeman, in 1993.
He brought back a beautiful piece of silk fabric for his wife when visiting Thailand, but when he couldn't find a dressmaker who would sew it up (they all thought there wasn't enough fabric), HE decided to learn to sew and would draft the pattern himself.
He writes about the problems of fitting the curves of the human body from an analytical and mathematical perspective, also from the perspective of a man and loving husband.
He discovers darts here! But this raises more questions and problems.
He discovers darts here! But this raises more questions and problems.
One in particular, how to fit the curvy FRONT part of a woman.
He wisely makes a trial or two using old bed sheets, and does make a successful finished dress in the end, that he even sews a lining into. This is my favorite part of his discussion ... why it is impossible to turn the garment right side out after machine sewing around the neck AND both armholes.
Here is the link to the whole paper, illustrations and all. Read it, it's very good.
Here is the link to the whole paper, illustrations and all. Read it, it's very good.
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