Ada Dietz

Ada K. Dietz (June 16, 1882 - May 13, 1950) was an American weaver best known for her 1949 monograph Algebraic Expressions in Handwoven Textiles, which defines a novel method for generating weaving patterns based on algebraic patterns. Her method employs the expansion of multivariate polynomials to devise a weaving scheme. Dietz' work is still well-regarded today, by both weavers and mathematicians. Along with the references listed below, Griswold (2001) cites several additional articles on her work.

History

Ada Dietz developed her algebraic method in 1946 while living in Long Beach, California. An avid weaver, Dietz drew upon her experience as a former math teacher to devise a threading pattern based on a cubic binomial expansion. She describes her idea as follows:

"Taking the cube of a binomial [ (x + y)³], I approached [the pattern] in the way applied algebraic problems are approached - by letting x equal one unknown and y equal the other unknown.

"In this case, x equaled the first and second harnesses, and y equaled the third and fourth harnesses. Then it was simply a matter of expanding the cube of the binomial and substituting the values of x and y to write the threading draft." (Dietz, 1949)

A piece based on the formula (a + b + c + d + e + f)², submitted to the Little Loomhouse Country Fair in Louisville, Kentucky received such a positive response, which prompted a collaboration between Dietz and Little Loomhouse's founder, Lou Tate. The fruits of the collaboration included the booklet Algebraic Expressions in Handwoven Textiles and a traveling exhibit which continued throughout the 1950s.

See also

• Mathematics and fiber arts

References

• Dietz, Ada K. (1949). Algebraic Expressions in Handwoven Textiles (PDF). Louisville, Kentucky: The Little Loomhouse. 

• Griswold, Ralph (2001). "Design Inspirations from Multivariate Polynomials, Part 1" (PDF). 

• Schneider, Lana (1998). "Algebraic Expressions: Designs for Weaving". Handwoven (Jan./Feb.): 48–51. 

• Schneider, Lana (1998). "Algebraic Expressions in Handwoven Textiles". Reproduced on the FiberArts web site. 

Weaving Weaves Basketweave Charvet Coverlet Dobby Double weave Even-weave Lampas Oxford Pile weave Piqué Plain weave Satin weave Shot Twill Gabardine Components Textiles Warp Weft Yarn Tools and techniques Barber-Colman knotter Beamer Chilkat weaving Fingerweaving Flying shuttle Heald (Heddle) Ikat Inkle weaving Jacquard weaving Kasuri Loom Navajo weaving Pibiones Reed Salish weaving Shed Shuttle Sizing Sizing machine Tablet weaving Tāniko Tapestry Temple Types of looms Air jet loom Dobby loom Jacquard loom Hattersley loom Horrocks loom Lancashire loom Northrop loom Power loom Rapier loom Roberts Loom Tapestry loom Warp weighted loom Water jet loom Weavers Acesas Anni Albers Ada Dietz Micheline Beauchemin Thomas Ferguson & Co Ltd Dorothy Liebes Ethel Mairet Pamphile John Rylands Brigitta Scherzenfeldt Clara Sherman Gunta Stölzl Judocus de Vos Employment practices More looms Kissing the shuttle Piece-rate list Mills Bancroft Mill Queen Street Mill

Textile designers 18th century Anna Maria Garthwaite William Kilburn 19th century John Henry Dearle William Morris Charles Voysey Early 20th century Bernard Adeney Ethel Mairet Silver Studio Mid 20th century Laura Ashley Helen Berman Lucienne Day Ada Dietz Elenhank Alexander Girard Joan Glass Viola Gråsten Maija Isola Bernat Klein Jack Lenor Larsen Dorothy Liebes Marimekko Mario Prassinos Ernest Race Ruth Reeves Astrid Sampe Franco Scalamandré May Smith Marianne Straub Thelma Johnson Streat Mary White Late 20th century Angela Adams Hiroshi Awatsuji Bronwyn Bancroft Celia Birtwell Valerie Campbell-Harding Georgina von Etzdorf Lily Goddard Hans Krondahl Meera Mehta Vuokko Nurmesniemi Graziela Preiser Siona Shimshi Sue Timney Up Tied Early 21st century Inside Outside Kvadrat Campion Platt