- Scratch code at 

https://www.kaggle.com/code/superjunk/notebookfdb0c5e39b uses matplotlib to draw a parametrically-designed sewing pattern for a spheroid. The larger curve is offset to cut. The curve inside it is to fold adjacent parts and sew. It looks as if  you could actually do it with only one panel if desired, unsure.

- ellipse width = circumference / panel count

- ellipse height = height # i think this is a mistake and instead should be the vertical arclength