Tessellation – as old as time – has been around in nature since the big bang. Around the world, cultures quickly discerned the repeat patterns that interlock and form a grid of identical shapes. It wasn’t long before they reproduced these designs in ceramic and clay tiles and fabrics and other materials. The Middle East intricate designs on tile, Japan's Sashiko fabric designs and Ireland with its Celtic love knots -- all incorporate tessellation in their traditional designs.
There is something compelling about a design that interlocks, like a jigsaw puzzle where all of the shapes are exactly the same. M.C. Escher incorporated the concept (among others) into his dramatic and illusory art. At age 68, he said “Filling the plane has become a real mania to which I have become addicted….”
Many quilters share his mania. Several traditional patterns such as apple core, clam shell, and snail’s trail (also known as Virginia reel) ‘fill the plane’ beautifully.
Start the Tessellation Journey
After quilting made a comeback in the 1970s, Jinny Beyer made quilters aware of the repeating, interlocking design. She encouraged the production of new and innovative tessellation with her book: Designing Tessellations. One favorite with quilters today looks like a jigsaw puzzle piece interlocked in a variety of colors. On Beyer’s site she has an intriguing pattern featuring interlocking cats.
For one starting out on the tessellation journey, it seems appropriate to proceed slowly with an easy to sew project. And what could be more perfect than the snail’s trail? It uses basic, simple pieced squares and triangles, beginning with the four patch. Just think of three rounds of squares in squares. The interest comes from the use of color. Traditionally the quilts were constructed of a colored or printed fabric and a neutral such as white or cream. By incorporating other colors, mixing and matching, the quilt looks totally different.
Making the Snail's Trail Quilt Square
For a first square, cut two carefully measured 1-9/16-inch by 7-inch strips, one from each of the two contrasting colors, with your rotary cutter. Sew these strips together and cut across the conjoined strips again, 1and 9/16-inches wide. Sew the resulting rectangles together so that the contrasting colors abut, forming a four-patch square. Carefully match edges and center seams and sew. Press, and trim this first square so it is an accurate square. Always trim after each square to make sure it is an accurate square before starting the next round.
Next, add half-square triangles to the sides, again cutting them from the same two contrasting colors, two in the light color, two in the dark. Each triangle should be 2 3/8-inch half-square triangles. They can be easily made by cutting on the diagonal of a 3-inch square. Then repeat this procedure with a larger half square triangle cut from a 3 7/8-inch square.
In these three rounds of squares, the dark and light colors will always be alternated so that when finished one color will be on the top and bottom of the square and the other color on the sides. You will see the pattern begin to emerge. When adding the last round of half-triangles, note the color placement to complete the design.
You can either do the math or use one of the many free patterns online to construct the snail’s trail. For more information on figuring this mathematically, check out All Things Frugal. Or use McCall’s Quilting free pattern instructions for Virginia reel.
Once you get hooked on tessellating, you will see it everywhere and realize that traditional quilters back in your great-great Aunt Tessie’s day also fell under the spell of tessellation. Think pinwheels, hexagons forming Grandma’s Garden patterns, and pyramids using triangles and even the trusty old nine-patch. For more information about Sashiko tessellating designs, see Sashiko Japanese Needlework.
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