Welcome to Advent of Tessellations!
We'll be getting this party started on December 1st, and going strong through Christmas Day.
Each day, a new tessellation tutorial and PDF will appear at the bottom of this page at midnight Eastern time (GMT-5).
Watch the video below for more details and for background info that won't be in the tutorials - aka how to cut a hexagon easily and precisely and how to fold a 16-fold grid on it.
And join the community on Discord - we'd love to see how you're doing and give a helping hand.
If you're new to Discord, you'll need to create an account first and maybe click the link again to arrive in the Gathering Folds server. Once you're there, follow the directions in the #welcome-and-rules channel to see the #advent-of-tess channel!
One last thing - when you post these mini tesses to social media, please use #AdventOfTess so everyone can know where you learned it!
While I don't have the exact paper pack options listed in the video anymore, I do have other options covering a wide range of functionality:
The Full Paper Pack has 75 sheets of 19x12.5 inch Skytone in various colors with the large and small hexagon templates, a bone folder, a bag of clips, and a red-and-blue colored pencil.
The medium and small hexagon templates are available separately.
Cutting tools are also available, including a 14x14 inch rotating cutting mat, a rotary cutter, and a clear quilting ruler.
Last but not least, 50 sheets of 19x12.5 inch Skytone paper are available on their own with a variety of colors included in each pack.
Also, there's now an ebook available with full crease patterns for each of the challenges and 25 alternate endings!
Note: these links go to the other side of my website, which has a separate login system. You can add as many of each pack to the cart as you want and then check out once to minimize shipping charges.
Day 1: Cluster 6 Front
Today's tessellation focuses on the most basic twist available on triangle grids: closed triangle twists.
We'll use these twists in clusters of six, where each twist has two close neighbors and one far neighbor.
Download PDFDay 2: Cluster 4 Front
Closed triangle twists aren't limited to clusters of six - today we'll use clusters of four instead!
Download PDFDay 3: Cluster 6 Alternating
Today we're remixing day 1 and putting twists on the opposite side of their neighbors - and learning triangle wraps!
Download PDFDay 4: Cluster 4 Alternating
Yesterday we remixed day 1, so today we'll give day 2 the same treatment!
Download PDFDay 5: HT6 Closed Alternating
Hexagonal paper is made for hexagon twists - today we'll use the closed hexagon twist with closed triangles on the other side.
Download PDFDay 6: Triangle Double-Bar Wells
Open hexagons and closed triangles may be the most versatile combination of twists ever. Today we'll alternate between these two twists on opposite sides of the paper.
Download PDFDay 7: Shrinking Violet
Just because you started with a closed hexagon doesn't mean you have to keep using closed hexagons!
Download PDFDay 8: Studded Wheels
Today we introduce open triangle twists, and continue yesterday's theme of using multiple types of hexagons in the same pattern.
Download PDFDay 9: Radiant
Today we introduce closed rhombus twists. These twists will be present in either closed or open form in every day's tessellation from here on out.
Download PDFDay 10: Dancing Ribbons
And now we start the same - but put the rhombi on the other side!
Download PDFDay 11: Fairy Rings
Today we have a mashup of days 6 and 9, with an open hexagon in the middle surrounded by closed triangles and closed rhombi.
Download PDFDay 12: Convergence
One of the great things about this arrangement of twists is the flexibility of twist choices - today we swap in open triangles instead of the closed ones from yesterday!
Download PDFDay 13: Lens Stars
Lens Stars has been independently discovered many times, which makes sense since it's so appealing!
Download PDFDay 14: Open Lens Stars
This arrangement of twists is less flexible than the arrangement in days 9-12, but we can still change the triangle twist if we shift the rhombi away from the hexagon.
Download PDFDay 15: Open Saws
Today we'll learn the final twist used in Advent of Tess - open rhombi!
Download PDFDay 16: Open Suns
Keep an eye on the techniques used in this tessellation - it's the closest we'll get to practice for day 25.
Download PDFDay 17: Open Triangle Wheels
The density is increasing as we return to the HTRT tiling!
Download PDFDay 18: CT Stars Gapped
Closed Triangle stars have multiple layering configurations, giving you more choice in the final appearance!
Download PDFDay 19: CT Linked Flowers
Just like from day 9 to day 10, we'll bring the rhombi from the back to the front!
Download PDFDay 20: OT Stars Gapped
If you can do it with closed triangles, why not with open triangles too?
Download PDFDay 21: OT Linked Flowers
And we can bring those rhombi to the front side too! If you're looking for more of a challenge, try putting closed hexagons on the back in place of the rhombi. ;)
Download PDFDay 22: Tight Flowers
Rhombi are two triangles put together, so why not use them here instead of triangles?
Download PDFDay 23: Sunflowers
The density and tiling of day 17, with the twists of day 22 gets you day 23!
Download PDFDay 24: Vortex
Here's a throwback to day 18, but with open rhombi and the opposite side considered "front" (at least by me ;) ).
Download PDFDay 25: Just Rhombi Star
Last but certainly not least, we have Just Rhombi Star, a fitting challenge for Christmas Day!
Download PDFSent here by a friend?
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