Home - mathgrrl

Now

Fall 2022

Current teaching
MATH 103 – The Nature of Mathematics
MATH 231 – Calculus with Functions I

Current collaborations
EMBARC proposal, forbidden graphs

Year two!
Haynes Scholars Residential Learning Community

Stuff I’m making
Catalan snaps, volume nets, knitting machine punch cards, secret project involving rectangles

Recent

Recent publications and events

2021 AMS Calendar

Perko Morph is Mr. March!

Catalogs for Mathematical 3D-Prints

Downloadable files, print-on-demand, and interactive 3D visualizations

Catalog of 3D-Printable Catalan Solids

Catalog of 3D-Printable Spatial Graphs

Catalog of 3D-Printable Knots (coming soon)

Academic

Recent Publications

Recent peer-reviewed published articles

Modeling Dynamical Systems for 3D Printing

Stephen Lucas, Evelyn Sander, and Laura Taalman
Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Vol. 67, No.11, p. 1692-1705, 2020

Wallpaper Patterns for Lattice Designs

Laura Taalman and Carolyn Yackel
Proceedings of Bridges Aalto, p. 223-230, 2020

Optimizing Morton’s Tritangentless Knots for Rolling

Abigail Eget, Stephen Lucas, and Laura Taalman
Proceedings of Bridges Aalto, p. 367-370, 2020

Opportunity costs in the game of best choice

Madeline Crews, Brant Jones, Kaitlyn Myers, Laura Taalman, Michael Urbanski, and Breeann Wilson
Electronic Journal of Combinatorics, Vol. 26, Issue #1, 2019

→ See all papers

Selected Courses

Classes taught at James Madison University

Calculus with Functions I

MATH 231
*now online!*
STEM Calculus I with Precalculus

Fabrication and Analysis of 3D Puzzles

UNST 300E
General Education pilot course

Discrete Mathematics and Introduction to Proof

MATH 245
Bridge course for the major

→ See all classes

Active Labs

Learning spaces at James Madison University

JMU Experimental Mathematics Lab

Early exploratory undergraduate research in computational and experimental mathematics

JMU 3SPACE

General Education 3D Printing Classroom

→ Learn More

Selected Presentations

Talks at conferences and events

Software for Mathematical 3D Printing

Geometry Labs United Seminar

Making Math Real: Knot Theory

MAA Distinguished Carriage House Lecture

Knot Theory, Experimental Math, & 3D Printing

Math Encounters Public Lecture at MoMath

Printing Perfect Pentagons

5-minute talk at Gathering for Gardner G4G13

→ See all talks

mathgrrl

mathgrrl Designs

3D models and other geeky stuff

Perko Morph

Designed with KnotPlot, MeshLab, TopMod, and Meshmixer; 3D printed in full color powder with binder.

Giant Spiky Perko Knot

Designed with KnotPlot, TopMod, and Cura; 3D printed with FDM in Polylactic Acid with custom supports.

→ See all designs

HACKTASTIC

A blog about design, math, and failure

November 19, 2022

KH-260 Field Notes 2: Ribber Tube

KH-260 Field Notes 2: Ribber Tube https://mathgrrl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/tube_knit_purple.jpg 2016 1512 mathgrrl mathgrrl https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/de00911e0a27aa527aae53a60fc5b663?s=96&d=retro&r=g November 19, 2022 November 30, 2022

This is part 2 of our notes as we work through the basics on a Brother KH-260 knitting machine. In part 1 we dusted off the machine and made a quick fair isle Trash Swatch. This time we’ll review how to get the ribber bed adjusted and lubricated, and then create a piece of circular knitting that is open on both ends.

September 24, 2022

KH-260 Field Notes 1: Trash Swatch

KH-260 Field Notes 1: Trash Swatch https://mathgrrl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/field_notes_1_cover.jpg 2016 1512 mathgrrl mathgrrl https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/de00911e0a27aa527aae53a60fc5b663?s=96&d=retro&r=g September 24, 2022 November 30, 2022

This is the first of a series of blog posts that will catalog our adventures with a Brother KH-260 knitting machine. We’ve set up the machine and know the basics of using it in various ways, but what now? In this “Field Notes” series we’ll share quick notes about what we learn as we go forward. Nothing fancy, just a day-to-day journal of what works and what doesn’t. Like everything we post here at Hacktastic, we’ll talk a lot about our failures and problems, since that is where learn the most!

August 26, 2022

Crochet Rainbow Blanket

Crochet Rainbow Blanket https://mathgrrl.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/rainbow_blanket_1-scaled.jpg 2560 1920 mathgrrl mathgrrl https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/de00911e0a27aa527aae53a60fc5b663?s=96&d=retro&r=g August 26, 2022 August 27, 2022

This very simple blanket pattern is great for using up yarn scraps (or to give you an excuse to purchase more yarn, let’s be honest). The pattern is very forgiving about yarn thickness, and gives you a chance to play with color transitions. The finished piece is comfy and casual. The holes are fun to push your fingers through, and make the blanket airy and cool. Based on the Vintage Vertical Stripe Crocheted Blanket Pattern from Bella Dia, except with two rows of each color and some attention to detail at the edges.

June 30, 2021

Space-Filling Terrazzo – Getting Started

Space-Filling Terrazzo – Getting Started https://mathgrrl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_5906-1.jpeg 640 480 mathgrrl mathgrrl https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/de00911e0a27aa527aae53a60fc5b663?s=96&d=retro&r=g June 30, 2021 August 27, 2022

This is the first in a series of posts about a space-filling riff on Tinna’s Terrazzo Afghan. Our design is going to start off looking like one of Tinna’s Terazzo squares, but it’s going to continue as a larger and larger square, with lots of different but “space-filling” patterns along the way. It won’t be ONE space-filling curve (sorry, math geeks), but it will fill space efficiently as we build the pattern out from the center.

October 29, 2020

Electoral State Stackers

Electoral State Stackers https://mathgrrl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/pencil_stands_lead.jpg 2016 1512 mathgrrl mathgrrl https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/de00911e0a27aa527aae53a60fc5b663?s=96&d=retro&r=g October 29, 2020 October 31, 2020

I haven’t been stress-printing before the election, YOU have. Well, maybe you will after this post, at least. Fire up your 3D printer(s) because there are dozens of things you need to print before Tuesday, including each of the 50 states (and DC, which has 3 electoral votes), sized to each have approximately the same area, with heights determined by number of electoral votes.

→ See all posts