I was writing a quilt pattern of my design, “Do-Si-Do” when I discovered something interesting.

The design contained more than one pattern.

Variations abound depending on how you color the basic patch used throughout the quilt.

I decided to take a different design at random, and try the same experiment. I’ll use 1-1-1-2 as an example.

This is a 4-shape tessellation. Each of the shapes produce their own unique design.

Taking the shapes two-at-a-time

Next, I wanted to see what patterns took shape if I took two shapes at a time.

These two shapes combine to create a new shape when colored the same. If they are colored differently, you need to add a third color as background for the two.

These two shapes combine to create a background when colored the same. If they are colored differently, you need to add a third color as background for the two.

Taking the shapes three-at-a-time

This was already done when looking at the individual shapes.  Whatever shape you look at, the other three shapes form the background.

Eleven unique designs for the price of one

Not bad, eh??