Ada Dietz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ada K. Dietz
Born(1882-06-16)June 16, 1882
DiedMay 13, 1950(1950-05-13) (aged 67)
NationalityAmerican
Known forMathematics and fiber arts

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.

Algebraic weaving[]

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[]

References[]

  • Dietz, Ada K. (1949). Algebraic Expressions in Handwoven Textiles (PDF). Louisville, Kentucky: The Little Loomhouse. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
  • Griswold, Ralph (2001). "Design Inspirations from Multivariate Polynomials, Part 1" (PDF). Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • 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. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Retrieved from ""