Lissajous Curve Table 

Susan Klimczak was an extraordinary educator, mentor, and a cherished member of the TurtleStitch community.

Susan believed deeply in the power of learning through making. Through TurtleStitch, she found not just a tool for teaching code and embroidery, but a joyful medium for expression that welcomed learners of all backgrounds and ages. It was through this contribution that I learned TurtleStitch in a workshop run by her and Cynthia Solomon of which I am eternally grateful.

Susan was generous with her time and encouragement. She mentored educators and young makers alike with deep care and insight. She uplifted others by celebrating their ideas. As we thread our next stitches, both digital and embroidered in TurtleStitch, we carry Susan’s spirit with us…her love of learning, and her belief in the brilliance of every learner. She leaves behind a legacy of joy, compassion, and curiosity that will continue to shape our TurtleStitch community.

While remembering Susan, I came across this bio from her time with FabLearn — a glimpse into her voice and values:

"I am the education organizer of Boston's Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn program, passionate about engaging our youth in the creative possibilities of engineering and technology. Every day I witness the genius of our teenage youth as teachers, makers, and catalyzers of cultural change in our communities. I also love my bicycle and baking pies. Boston’s Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn is a 16-year-old maker program where annually 36 teens of color learn, build, and then teach six different technology, coding, and engineering modules. Each year, our youth teachers engage 700+ children at 30+ community organizations with constructionism-based activities at free four-week summer STEAM camps."

Susan Klimczak and the Joy of Lissajous Curves in TurtleStitch

One of the patterns that Susan especially liked was the Lissajous curve, a graceful, looping figure born from simple mathematics. When two sine waves are plotted against each other, one moving side to side and the other up and down. The result might be a blooming flower, a complex knot, or most beautifully, a figure-eight...a form long recognized as a symbol of eternity.

In TurtleStitch, these curves come to life as stitched designs. In Susan’s hands, they became much more. They were invitations to learn, to play, and to make something beautiful. You didn’t need to know the math to appreciate the wonder. Just like Susan herself, the curve welcomed you in, looping gently, full of rhythm, full of grace.

In Remembrance

I created this Lissajous Curve Table in remembrance of Susan. The continuous motion of Lissajous reflects the enduring rhythm of Susan’s life and work. Her legacy is felt in every learner she inspired, every community she uplifted, and every creative space she helped build.