Quilt Pattern Engineering Using Tinkercad

A quilt is comprised of two or more pieces of fabric that are stitched together and separated by padding. Many quilts, especially patchwork ones, are made up of geometric shapes or blocks. Blocks are also used in software, in which users can drag and drop jigsaw-like pieces (of code) together to build things. Block-based software such as Tinkercad Codeblocks allow users to build things using basic 3D shapes.

This lesson is inspired by quilt patterns – designs of interlocking geometric shapes – as inspiration for a civic and environmental engineering project. Students will learn how to make quilt blocks that use simple geometric shapes such as the shape-based quilts from the 2003 exhibition, “The Quilts of Gee’s Bend." Watch this video to learn more about these quilts:

https://vimeo.com/50454661

This project builds on previous 10x10 Conversion Quilt and Tangram Quilt activities that use math to make quilt blocks. Students should look at different examples of quilts and identify one pattern or seed shape. Seed shapes can be modified, scaled, repeated, rotated, and moved to create 3D models.

Download and read the attached QBE Project Guide.

Students can use found objects or Tinkercad to create seed shapes that will be used to solve a design problem: to build 3D energy efficient, temporary disaster shelters based on specific criteria and constraints. For more information about this work read THIS.

For ALL students doing this project: Do Steps 1 - 3

For students without access to computers: Do Step 4 using found objects to make seed shapes and 3D models

For students with access to computers: Make a seed shape using Tinkercad Codeblocks (see Step 2), or use existing file to create a 3D model in Tinkercad 3D Design (see Step 5).

Tinkercad models can be exported for 3D printing but this step is optional (only if you have access to a 3D printer).

5 x 5 quilt block template (attached)

Tinkercad Codeblocks

Tinkercad 3D Design

Found objects or whatever is at hand (paper, foam, cardboard, balsa wood)

Wood glue, or hot glue guns and glue sticks

Corrugated cardboard cutters and/or scissors

Paper, colored pencils or markers

3D Printer (optional)

Quilt Blocks are fabric (or other material) units, or components that are put together to make a quilt. They can be pieced, appliqued or just squares or rectangles of fabric. Many Quilt Blocks can be used in their own or be a part of other quilt block patterns

Students should choose their favorite quilts (online or in books), then, using these designs as references make their own quilt blocks. They can use materials such as foam/felt shapes (with glue or adhesive backing) or cut out fabric shapes. Additionally, students can use this project to explore math concepts such as geometric transformations, fractions and decimals.

Next, each student will choose one part of their quilt block to use as a seed shape.

For this part of the project, students will make seed shapes that will become the basic building blocks for their 3D models (disaster shelters). They can use found objects or whatever is on hand or online Tinkercad software.

This task is inspired by shape grammars that, at the most basic level, are systems that generate geometric shapes. This system consists of rules and a generation engine that selects and processes the rules. The visual example in this step comes from Design in Kuba and Zillij Art with Shape Grammars.

Seed shape activity using found objects:

Look at examples of structures such as Eliphante that used rocks from the surrounding landscape and weathered wood, The Scrap House that used reused and creative materials in lieu of the standard drywall and linoleum, or The Big Dig House that salvaged materials from a Boston construction site.

Then, imagine a shelter based on their seed shapes, using whatever is on hand -->see the balsa wood example (Step 4). Look at the breakdown from quilt block to seed shape (see above images). Have students do the same thing using chosen sections from their quilt blocks (Step 2), then find/use objects to make the seed shapes.

Seed shape activity using Tinkercad Codeblocks**:

Look at the examples mentioned above (ex. Eliphante, The Scrap House, The Big Dig House).

Then, have students use Tinkercad Codeblocks to create, modify, and move or transform basic 3D objects that will be used to make seed shapes. Start by following these steps:

• Launch Codeblocks; see for reference the Official Guide to Tinkercad Codeblocks
• Read instructions in the attached Seed Shape Codeblocks Tutorial (PDF)
• Create a seed shape (based on their quilt blocks from Step 2).

**Students who do not want to or can't use Codeblocks can skip to Step 5 and use the attached Seed Shape.stl file.

The quilt-based seed shape will be the primary building block or material to design a structure, which is a part of engineering (civil, environmental) that encompasses structural, geotechnical, construction, and transportation.  Engineering focuses on areas including climate change that affects global temperature and precipitation patterns. These effects, in turn, influence the intensity and, in some cases, the frequency of extreme environmental events, such as forest fires, hurricanes, heat waves, floods, droughts, and storms.

The next part of this activity/project is to design an energy efficient disaster shelter and this model/structure must be:

• lightweight and eco-friendly
• thermally insulated
• temporary, or easily taken apart and stored

Students will use the attached Quilt Based Engineering Design Worksheet to generate possible solutions to this design problem using either found materials, or Tinkercad (or both). They will compare each solution based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the design problem.

Step 4 is for classrooms with no computers. Students can use found (physical) objects to make 3D versions of their seed shapes and design their shelters.

Steps 5-6 are for students with access and permission to use computers with Tinkercad. Students can use the attached "seed shape" file, or use Codeblocks to create a seed shape based on their quilt block (Step 5). Then, then can import their seed shape files into Tinkercad to design their shelters (Step 6).

Skip to Step 5 if you plan to use computers and Tinkercad.

Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative process that teams use to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions. In this step, students will explore design thinking to create models or prototypes for disaster shelters using found objects or things on-hand.

A framework for culturally relevant design thinking is provided HERE.

Individually or in groups, students go over the design constraints (Step 3), look at examples of disaster shelters, or similar structures (Step 3), then sketch or map their ideas on paper, get feedback from their peers and respond to that with prototypes (models) that are made quickly and cheaply, so that they can make appropriate refinements or possible changes in direction.

Students will use their found object seed shapes to build a 3D model for a disaster shelter (see above images).

Found objects and materials can include things like aluminum foil, foam tape, scrap balsa wood, wooden skewers and household items like paper or cardboard boxes and rolls.

Design thinking is a non-linear, iterative process that teams use to understand users, challenge assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions. In this step, students will explore design thinking to create models or prototypes for disaster shelters using found objects or things on-hand.

A framework for culturally relevant design thinking is provided HERE.

Individually or in groups, students go over the design constraints (Step 3), look at examples of disaster shelters, or similar structures (Step 3), then sketch or map their ideas on paper**, get feedback from their peers and respond to that with prototypes (3D models) that are built using Tinkercad 3D Design.

1. Launch Tinkercad 3D Design (+Create Design button); see for reference the Tinkercad Quickstart Guide
2. Import .STL seed shape file from Codeblocks (the one attached or their own)
3. Repeat, modify, move the seed shape to create a 3D disaster shelter model (see the example images above)

An optional step is 3D printing the model and a tutorial can be found HERE.

**Students can "sketch" multiple models in Tinkercad 3D Design instead of on paper.

This project is an artifact of Culturally Relevant Math Expressions created with Lesley STEAM Learning Lab at Lesley University and made possible by the generous support of Takeda US CSR & Philanthropy.