Quilt Poems

Quilt Poems is open-source software written in Lua that generates visual poems shaped like traditional quilt patterns. Originating as a project for National Novel Generating Month (NaNoGenMo), the tool encodes a library of quilting patterns as data and uses categorized word corpora to create generative poetry. The result is geometric, visual poems that reflect the structure of quilt designs, with the software selecting both the quilt style and text to produce unique outputs.

The software enables users to develop and print books of quilt poetry, supporting the creation of printable book-format PDF files. Over time, additional quilt patterns have been incorporated, and the project has expanded to include a daily quilt poem website that features a new generative quilt poem each day. Physical chapbooks have been produced in small editions, demonstrating the tool's application in both digital and print media.

Quilt Poems has also inspired further computational media projects, including generative 3D quilts and animations. The project code is available on GitHub, making it accessible for those interested in exploring or extending its capabilities. The tool is positioned within the realm of generative poetry and computational art, appealing to creative coders, artists, and anyone interested in experimental literary forms and visual design.

As open-source software, Quilt Poems can be freely accessed and modified, supporting continued experimentation and new iterations within the community.