Symmetry within a design is referred to in the Oxford dictionary as 'beauty resulting from right proportion between parts of the body or any whole, balance, congruity, harmony.' The balance of design can come from duplication down the longitudinal axis of an image. Then both right and left sides are the same, but seen in mirror image. An additional balance is achieve by having symmetry between top and bottom portions along the latitudinal axis.

In creating ikat designs the use of symmetry can reduce the time of tying resist areas by tying all areas to be repeated at the same time. Some designs only have one repeat across the design field reducing the tying only by half. The Medallion design shown at the right is an example where over 150 groups must be tied separately. There are only 8 threads in each section (4 for each side). The type of symmetry used here is reflection combined with rotation(4).

Various types of symmetry are used in design to create pleasing patterns. Single motifs can be used across a field but made more interesting by placement and orientation.

Four basic symmetry operations

1. Reflection - uses the mirror image as in the above example, but has more repeats across the field.

This example reduces the time of tying by enabling all four leaf shapes to be tied at one time. However the alternate leaves must be reversed when placed on the loom.

2. Translation - repeats the image across the page.

More often there are several motifs alternated across the field. Then the tying time is still only reduced by half. The lotus flower is symmetric within the design.

This translation below is repeated six times across the field (as well as down the field) enables tying to be done very quickly. In addition the single motif is symmetric. So the tying is further reduced.

3. Glide Reflection repeats the design in a reflected position along a line

This type of symmetry often does not reduce the tying beyond half because the warp cannot usually be reversed in the loom due to technical constraints. However time can be saved in the weft preparation, by reversing the order of shuttle throwing. Then only one weft group of the motifs needs to be tie-dyed.

4. Rotation - repeats the design in a rotated position

This design element is rotated from a central point. Here the angle of rotation is 90 degrees, with 4 rotations.

Exercise -

Go to the Style page and look at the designs. Can you now identify the different types of symmetry used? Click on Style to return to that page and see various styles of Rumals. Then look at 'Gallery' and the slide show.

Go to these links to learn more about symmetry.
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active at 16/08/08