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I’m a nerd. 

That’s your warning for all that’s about to follow! 

But, if you promise to hang with me for a couple of minutes, there is some sewing/design info at the bottom.

Here we go!

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144…

Recognize those numbers? 

They begin the Fibonacci sequence. 

(If you don’t remember it from math class, you might remember reading something about this in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci’s Code.)  Anyway, back to the  numbers. 

You can find the next number in the sequence by adding the two previous numbers together:

0 + 1 = 1, 1 + 1 = 2, 1 + 2 = 3, skip a few,

34 + 55 = 89, 55 + 89 = 144, 89 + 144 = 233, and so on.

 

So, I promised you proportions and you’re wondering where they are.  Here you go: 

The ratio between two consecutive numbers in the sequence is about 1.62.

That’s your ratio!

1.618…

Your Golden Ratio.

The Golden Section, the Golden Mean, Divine Proportion, Golden Number, Phi (φ)

In nature, we see this ratio often.

 

 

Amazing how nature follows a Plan.

We also see this ratio in architecture, art and design.

Think about The Parthenon. The Pyramids.

So you’ve kept up and now you’re wondering what does all this have to do with creativity?

Well, if you don’t see the genus and beauty of it, you might be beyond help, but here’s why it’s on my mind today:

Some design texts suggest that the most flattering clothing for a body divides a body into this same ratio, the perfect proportion if you will. 

For example, if it is 40 inches from my waist to the floor, then following this suggestion, my skirt should to fall to 24.7 below my waist. 

This dress obviously doesn’t fall to that length.

Shall we take a look at some others?

18 inches

 20 inches

 15 inches (Yikes!)

So what does 24.7 inches look like?

Uhm.  Not so sure I like that. 

So, what’s a girl to do?

Follow the rules—or not?