craftmap_adventure

This project an Open Source Embroidered Quilt using OSM data for anyone to jump in and contribute to. Slides from the workshop: https://slides.com/ninakin/maptime-embroidery#/

Proposal

This repo is to plan and discuss a quilt making project using data from OpenStreetMap. By making a quilt of "fabric tiles", anyone can add to the quilted map. This repo will also be a source for any city to replicate the project and make their own map quilt. We will outline steps for workshops and list instructions for putting the quilt together.

Breakdown of what this is

• Basically we use OpenStreetMap data to create an embroidered quilt map of "fabric tiles."
• The area is entirely up to the group or individuals who are leading the effort.
• The area to be quilted is broken down into a grid that can be printed for people to craft using embroidery or cross-stitching.
• Anyone can help with the effort, workshops should be held to teach how to go about crafting.
• Crafters would take a tile, complete it and add more information onto the tile based on their knowledge and research of the area being crafted.
• Crafters would hand their completed tiles to the project leaders for addition to the quilt.
• The quilt could be hung in public view so that others can find out and participate in the project.
• In the end, if there is an end (it could be this giant quilt that spans a mile), people would get together to learn about crafting and maps all the learning about their city and bringing a sense of togetherness.
• The specifications for this project will be developed iteratively through trial and error.

Steps for a workshop

1. Plan an intro workshop:

• Choose a basic pattern, for example: state outline + major cities, local city outlines, local rail/transit networks, local geography, lettering.

2. Set up a meeting!

• Create a title like "Let's make a quilt!!" or "Needles and crafts and maps oh my!"
• When setting up a meeting, let people know about the materials cost.

3. Meeting breakdown:

• Introductions
• Teach embroidery stitches.
• Start a simple embroidery project.
• Introduce the quilt project.

Steps for the quilt project

1. Create quilt project specifications:

• Choose features to include.
• Decide on standard thread colors and stitch types.
• Decide on Open Street Map tile zoom level.

2. Create a webpage to select the Open Street Map tiles for printing.
3. Set up a meeting.
4. Meeting breakdown:

• Introductions
• Introduce quilt project.
• Separate participants into 2 groups: those we need stitch instruction and those who don't.
• Have the beginners do the intro workshop project.
• Have the others pick a tile and start on the quilt project.

More Ideas

• Find a community partner willing to display the finished (or growing) quilt.
  • Opodz in Little Tokyo?
  • The Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM) in Mid-Wilshire?
• Other embroidered map project ideas:
• Transit systems - LA Metro rail, freeway networks, cross-country rail lines, etc.
• Natural features - mountains, rivers, forests, etc.
• Various world map projections - Mercator, Gall-Peters, Robinson, Winkel-Tripel, Dymaxion/Fuller, Goode Homolosine, etc.
• Fictional maps - Narnia, Westeros, Middle Earth, etc.