Textile arts and artworks Books

Book SynopsisJapanese Dress in DetailFeaturing both garments and accessories, this book is an extraordinary exploration of the beauty and complexity of Japanese fashion. Specially commissioned close-up photography and authoritative texts accompany each garment, and front-and-back line drawings make this publication an invaluable resource for students, collectors, designers, fashion lovers, and Japanophiles.Table of ContentsIntroduction • Necklines and Shoulders • Headwear • Sleeves • Waists • Waist Accessories • Hems • Lining and Undergarments • Footwear • Further Reading • Glossary • Picture Credits • Acknowledgments • Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAddressing textiles as a distinctive area of cultural practice and field of scholarly research, The Textile Reader introduces students to the key issues essential to the exploration of the textile from both a critical and a creative perspective. The second edition brings together lectures, catalogue essays, academic articles, fiction and poetry, as well as several articles available in English translation for the first time, to capture the diversity of voices informing textile studies today.Content is organized around the themes of touch, memory, structure, politics, and production plus a new section exploring the role of community. With 22 new contributors, this revised edition includes selected work from Maria Fusco, Ursula le Guin, Elaine Igoe, Faith Ringgold, and T''ai Smith. Extended introductions and annotated suggestions for further reading by the editor Jessica Hemmings make the second edition an invaluable resource to students of textiles, craft and material culture.Trade ReviewThis Reader is not merely a collection, but more of an interrogation that speaks from the past to the future. With this in mind, The Textile Reader is not a ‘page turner’, but a constant companion, a new friend that has been there and done that, and thus offers the reader a platform from which to consider and develop the future of the discipline. -- Textile History (of the 1st edition)[T]he pieces are well chosen: they read as though they were selected because someone likes them and finds them interesting, and this gives the selection personality and integrity ... Its greatest value is, however, in its general sense of opening out the genres and the way in which it creates a space for different types of writing on textiles to be considered on an equal footing. -- The Journal of Modern Craft (of the 1st edition)Will undoubtedly become a key resource for all those interested in considering the location of textile practice, but also for those who seek to understand and challenge textile practice's perceived inferiority as a mode of practice. -- Embroidery Magazine (of the 1st edition)An ideal foundational text to give an overview of the broad field of Textile Research. It allows students access to a range of themes and key authors in the field which can then be researched in more depth. -- Dr Fiona Curran, Royal College of Art, UK (of the 1st edition)Evocative, expansive, and enchanting. Hemmings weaves together essays, poems, and literary gems that reveal the nuanced, complex, curious, intimate and political touchpoints of textiles in our lives for a more inclusive, affective reading of our world. I recommend this brilliant anthology to creative scholars, enquiring readers, and knitters, weavers, makers, designers and textile artists worldwide. - Dr Erica de Greef, Co-Director, African Fashion Research Institute, South AfricaThe Textile Reader is an essential companion to anyone studying, researching or critically thinking about textiles. Compelling new essays, wider geographies and a greater diversity of voices bring added depth and richness to this distinctive anthology. The excerpts from novels, short stories and poetry within each thematic section, hold the attention and are reminders of the potential power of textiles to speak both cross-culturally and transnationally. - Dr Christine Checinska, Senior Curator, V&A MuseumTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Touch 1. Victoria Mitchell (1997) ‘Textiles, Text and Techne’ 2. T’ai Smith (2014) ‘The Haptics of Optics: Weaving and Photography’ (excerpt) 3. Elaine Igoe (2010) ‘The Tacit-Turn: Textile design in design research’ 4. Pennina Barnett (1999) ‘Folds, Fragments, Surfaces: Towards a poetics of cloth’ 5. Catherine Harper (2005) “Meditation on Translation and Seduction” 6. Isak Dinesen (1957) ‘The Blank Page’ 7. Birgitta Nordstro¨m (2020) ‘How do you Footnote a Smile? One Dialog about Two Extremes of Textile Research’ 2. Memory 8. Jenni Sorkin (2000) ‘Stain: On Cloth, Stigma, and Shame’ 9. Isabel Cristina González Arango (2013/2021) ‘Claiming the Right to Memory, Stitch by Stitch: The experience of the Costurero Tejedoras por la Memoria de Sonsón’ (the Sonsón Memory Sewing Group) 10. Marit Paasche (2019) ‘We Are Living on a Star’ (excerpt) 11. Roger Hutchinson (2011) The Silent Weaver (excerpt) 12. Faith Ringgold (2019) ‘Interview: Faith Ringgold and Hans Ulrich Obrist’ (excerpt) 13. Sue Prichard (2005) ‘Collecting the Contemporary: Love Will Decide What Is Kept and Science Will Decide How It Is Kept’ 14. Sarah Scaturro (2020) ‘(Im)mortal Fashion: Iris van Herpen’s “Skeleton” Dress’ 15. Takahashi Mizuki (2019) ‘Hong Kong’s Textile Industrial Heritage: Transformations to a place of weaving creative experiences for all’ 3. Structure 16. Gottfried Semper (1851/1989) ‘The Four Elements of Architecture’ (excerpt) 17. Philip Beesley (1999) ‘Reflexive Textile’ 18. Otti Berger and Judith Raum (1930/2019) ‘Fabrics in Space’ & ‘Weaving and Interior Design’: Voice-over for the video Discussion of Material (excerpt) 19. Catherine de Zegher (1997) ‘Ouvrage: Knot a Not, Notes as Knots’ 20. Gilles Deleuze & Felix Guattari (1987) ‘1440 The Smooth & the Striated’ (excerpt) 21. Sabrina Gschwandtner (2008) ‘Knitting Is…’ 22. Kate Goldsworthy, Rebecca Earley and Kay Politowicz (2019) ‘Circular Speeds: A Review of Fast & Slow Sustainable Design Approaches for Fashion & Textile Applications’ 4. Politics 23. James Fenimore Cooper (1843) Autobiography of a Pocket Handkerchief (excerpt) 24. Arthur C. Danto (2006) ‘Weaving as Metaphor and Model for Political Thought’ 25. Sarat Maharaj (1991) ‘Arachne’s Genre: Towards Intercultural Studies in Textiles’ 26. Susan S. Bean (1989) ‘Gandhi and Khadi, the Fabric of Indian Independence’ 27. Pamela Johnson (2011) ‘100% Cotton’ 28. Galina Kareva (2011/2021) ‘Ivanovo’s Agitprop Textiles: Design and Inscriptions’ 29. Elisa Auther (2008) ‘Fiber Art and the Hierarchy of Art and Craft, 1960–80’ 30. Julia Bryan-Wilson (2017) ‘Queer Handmaking’ (excerpt) 31. Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1892) ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ (excerpt) 5. Production 32. Roger MacDougall (1951) The Man in the White Suit (excerpt) 33. Maria Fusco (2018) ‘machine oil smells sweet (piecework)’ 34. Melanie Miller (2007) ‘The Romance of Modern Manufacture: A Brief History of Embroidered Embellishment’ 35. Sadie Plant (1997) Zeroes + Ones: Digital women + the new technoculture (excerpt) 36. Ele Carpenter (2010) ‘Open Source Embroidery: Curatorial Facilitation Of Material Networks’ 37. Boatema Boateng (2011) ‘Why Should the Copyright Thing Work Here?’ (excerpt) 38. Sarah Rhodes (2015) ‘Contemporary textile imagery in Southern Africa: a question of ownership’ 39. Yosi Anaya (2016/2021) ‘Heneque´n, A Green Fiber with a Complex History in Yucatan’ 6. Community 40. Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) The Scarlet Letter (excerpt) 41. Joseph McBrinn (2021) ‘Needlework and the creation of masculinities: “The prick” of patriarchy’ (excerpt) 42. Jools Gilson (2012) ‘Navigation, Nuance and half/angel's Knitting Map: A series of navigational directions…’ 43. Rose Sinclair (2020) ‘Tracing Back to Trace Forwards: What does it mean/take to be a Black textile designer’ 44. Alice Walker (1973) ‘Everyday Use’ 45. Ursula K. Le Guin (1984) ‘The Trouble with the Cotton People’ (excerpt)

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book offers a whistle-stop guide to the history of leathercraft and tanning. The story begins in prehistory when people discovered, perhaps by chance, that skins exposed to smoke or accidentally soaked in autumnal puddles lasted longer. Skins were a valuable resource, used for everything from clothing to shelter, blankets and vessels. The book looks at evidence that shows us how tanning and leather continued to be of prime importance across the globe throughout history, in economic as well as functional terms. The second part of the book brings us up to date, via interviews with modern day leather crafting artisans. These leather crafters generously allowed the author access to their studios and discussed the way they use and adapt traditional methods, techniques and tools for the twenty first century. Photos of their craft, and their working environment offers a unique window into the world of leathercraft. Finally, if you are inspired to try your hand at this fascinating and most ancient of crafts, the book also has a resources section. It includes a valuable list of suppliers of leather, dyes, tools and tanning materials, as well as information about training courses, useful websites and more-everything you need to get started.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCrewelwork embroidery traditionally features bold striking designs, rich vivid colours and thick textured woollen thread, and these designs are certainly no different. Crewel Inspirations highlights the very best crewelwork has to offer in both design and technique. Featuring talented embroidery designers Hazel Blomkamp, Di Kirchner, Phillipa Turnbull, Margaret Light and Susan Casson, this special collection, including cushions, a footstool, a mandala, a framed picture and a jewellery roll, have been curated into one publication. With 8 stunning crewelwork projects to make, there are clear step-by-step instructions, pullout patterns, a stitch guide and all the information you need to create them. Discover the origins, stitches, techniques and designs that are uniquely crewelwork, and learn how to make your own beautiful works of art.Trade ReviewIf you're a fan of crewelwork, look no further. This is a collection of 8 beautiful projects curated from the pages of Inspirations magazine. Featuring designs from some of the world's most talented embroiderers, it gives you the patterns, instructions, images and insight to stitch for yourself. * Stitch *Table of Contents2 Introduction 4 Contents 6 Crewelwork History 8 The Crewelwork Projects 10 Fantasia 22 In Good Time 28 Modern Crewel 38 Mandala Musings 50 Abundant Riches 62 Autumn Gold 70 Masterpiece 84 Garden of Earthly Delights 102 Stitch Guide

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover a wealth of innovative and inspiring ideas for using colour in crewelwork, from one of the world's leading embroiderers, Tatiana Popova.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe book provides ideas and practical information easily accessible to textile students and designers, but also for people new this area. ; Advice on generating ideas and expressing them visually; A cultural and historical background to surface pattern design; Pattern structures and other design components; Tips on assessing a potential market; Experimental ways of working from paper onto fabric; Practical information on fabrics, recipes, equipment and techniques fro dyeing and printing; Ideas for future developments in textiles

Read more less

Book SynopsisRecycling is one of the hottest new trends in embroidery, and this is the first book to cover it. Embroiderers recycle for many different reasons: to conserve old pieces of ephemera for the future, to give their work a personal touch, to convey meaning, or simply for economy. Covering both hand and machine embroidery, this book is packed with ideas for using many different types of salvaged material, such as fabric, paper, nature's materials including dried flowers and tree bark, plus plastic, wood and metal waste, and precious personal objects such as broken jewellery or special souvenirs. Illustrated in colour throughout with work from the world's leading contemporary embroiderers, the book covers : Introduction: Why recycle? • How to collect salvaged objects • Finding your own meaning • Fibre waste • Fabric waste • Recycling old embroidery • Paper and natural waste • Plastic waste • Wood, metal and mineral waste • Recycling packaging and booksTable of ContentsIntroduction: Why recycle? • How to collect salvaged objects • Finding your own meaning • Fibre waste • Fabric waste • Recycling old embroidery • Paper and natural waste • Plastic waste • Wood, metal and mineral waste • Recycling packaging and books

Read more less

Book Synopsis"Hallum's painting is charged with delight in colour, line, surface and composition, in powerfully unconventional ways." - Hettie JudahThis is the first monograph on the London-born, Devon-based artist Jacqui Hallum. The publication documents Hallum's solo exhibition at The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (10 October 2019 - 1 March 2020), along with a series of solo, two-person and group exhibitions held between 2014 and 2020.Hallum is best-known for her mixed-media paintings on textiles - techniques she has developed and refined over the course of twenty years since completing her studies. Incorporating imagery and visual languages ranging from medieval woodcuts and stained-glass windows to Art Nouveau children's illustrations, tarot cards and Berber rugs, Hallum employs ink staining, painting, drawing and printing to create layers of pattern, abstraction and passages of figurative imagery. As part of her working process, Hallum often leaves the fabrics in the open air, exposed to the elements, in order to introduce weathering into the works. History, religion, mysticism and the beliefs and creativity of past civilisations are among the themes that overlap - often in a literal sense of pieces of fabrics layered, pinned, draped and hung together - to form painterly palimpsests that carry a sense of the past with them into the present.Along with a foreword by Professor Caroline Wilkinson, Director of the School of Art and Design at Liverpool John Moores University, and an introductory essay by artist, curator and director of Kingsgate Workshops and Project Space in London, Dan Howard-Birt, the publication features newly commissioned essays by arts journalist and critic Hettie Judah and by Andrew Hunt, Professor of Fine Art and Curating at the University of Manchester. Also featured is the edited transcript of a conversation between Hallum and Howard-Birt held at The Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.Jacqui Hallum (b.1977, London) graduated with a BA in Fine Art from Coventry School of Art& Design, Coventry University, in 1999, and an MFA in Painting from the Slade School of Fine Art, University of London, in 2002. Hallum’s solo exhibition at The Walker Art Gallery followed a three-month fellowship at Liverpool John Moores University, which resulted from winning the prestigious John Moores Painting Prize in 2018.The monograph, designed by work-form and edited by Susan Taylor, has been produced by Kingsgate Project Space and co-published with Anomie Publishing.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfrica in Fashion explores the kaleidoscope of craft cultures that have shaped African fashion for centuries and captures the intriguing stories of contemporary and avant-garde African brands.Part One looks at Africa''s rich cultural heritage and place in the network of global fashion. The first chapter retells the history of African fashion, exploring Africa''s textile traditions, artisanship and role as a global resource. The second chapter presents a New Africa and examines the promise and potential of Africa''s markets, while challenging stereotypes and the concept of European hegemony particularly in the realm of luxury fashion. It also spotlights Africa''s unique position as the global industry shifts towards a more sustainable future.Part Two ushers the reader into the spectacular world of African fashion today. It showcases a carefully curated set of the continent''s most dynamic brands and, through interviews with prominent and inspiring designers, offers rare insight into their ethos and design practice. Covering unisex fashion, menswear, womenswear, accessories and jewelry the brands are each purposefully selected to contribute uniquely to the mosaic of Africa evolving creative landscape.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIntended for fashion students and fashion designers, this fabric book is indispensable for sourcing and selecting textiles for fashion. It will guide you to the perfect fabric for every design, helping you find the ideal material to achieve the desired effect and recommending different ways to use it. With a revised and updated selection of photographs from fashion shows that exemplify current fashion trends in which the collections of such renowned designers as Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Vuitton, Vivian Westwood, van Herpen, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein appeared, the book shows you how some of the most emblematic names in fashion today use fabrics to achieve the highest expression of their creativity. This updated and enlarged edition also includes a detailed technical and historical introduction on the types of fabrics and their classification, the relationship between fabric and the fashion industry and the aesthetic, emotional, commercial and social aspects involved. This fabric bible is sure to become essential reading for all aspiring and experienced dressmakers and fashion designers.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisKaffe Fassett uses the colourful Venetian island of Burano to form the backdrop of another stunning collection of new quilt designs from the Kaffe Fassett Studio. In this 22nd installment of Kaffe Fassett's ever-popular series of patchwork and quilting books, the quilts have been photographed on location in Burano, a tiny island in Italy's Venetian archipelago, famous for its lace making but also for its brilliantly painted houses in a myriad jewel colours. The colourful house walls, sometimes distressed and occasionally decorated with murals, form the backdrop, along with the canals, bridges, and boats of this special Venetian island, to another wonderful selection of Kaffe's new quilt designs. The collection of 19 quilts features both new fabric designs from the Kaffe Collective and some of his Classics. Bali Brocade makes a fantastic background to Kaffe's sumptuous Shimmer Star quilt with its ripples of pattern in contrasting prints. His two versions of a very simple quilt,comes in two very different colorways. Hot Steps is a riot of colour, whereas by contrast its sister quilt, Cool Steps, in dusty blues, greens, and greys has an dreamy quality. Liza Prior Lucy's rich and dark Turkish Coffee quilt, with its hint of Eastern promise, fussy cuts Kaffe's new Turkish Delight fabric to brilliant effect. Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Burano provides all the instructional text, diagrams, and templates to make the quilts, plus a section on basic patchwork techniques for less experienced quilters. AUTHOR: San Francisco-born artist Kaffe Fassett is a name every quilter knows. His work has been commissioned by the British monarchy, American fashion designers, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has written numerous best-sellers including Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Italy, Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in Morocco, and Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Cotswold's. SELLING POINTS: . The stunning photos are just the start: Each pattern features a sumptuous photo of the project, a materials list, and carefully written instructions with useful tips, plus colour diagrams and templates for piecing the quilt . Kaffe Fassett is a world-renowned textile artist whose work has been commissioned by British Royalty, American fashion designers as well as the Royal Shakespeare Company. His works have been exhibited in museums around the world and have drawn record-breaking crowds . Best-Seeling author Kaffe Fassett delivers another stunning set of Quilt Designs highlighting his new fabric line

Read more less

In this 21st installment of Kaffe Fassett's ever-popular series of patchwork and quilting books, Kaffe has chosen to show off his latest range of fabrics by revisiting many of his favorite medallion quilt blocks. Photographed on location at the world-famous Hidcote Manor Garden in the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, these delectable quilts find their perfect setting among the brilliant flower borders, avenues of trees, and stunning architectural features that make Hidcote one of the most visited gardens in the U.K. Medallion quilts have universal appeal and the simple framework of the medallion design makes a great vehicle for Kaffe's eye-catching color combinations in his brilliant range of fabric designs. Assisted by his team of designers and makers, Kaffe has created an exquisite and varied range of 19 medallion designs, among them: the rich Berry Ice Cream quilt, photographed in Hidcote's world famous Red Border the dramatic Dark Gameboard, photographed against the geometric precision of Hidcote's famous topiary hedges the soft Flowery Jar, its pink and blue themed design echoing the colors of the flowers in Hidcote's early summer border Kaffe Fassett's Quilts in the Cotswolds provides all the basic instructional text, diagrams, and templates to make the quilts, plus a section on basic patchwork techniques for less experienced quilters.

Read more less

Book SynopsisExtensively illustrated, this is the first accessible publication on the history of tapestry in over two decades. Woven with dazzling images from history, mythology and the natural world, and breath-taking in their craftsmanship, tapestries were among the most valuable and high-status works of art available in Europe from the medieval period to the end of the eighteenth century. Over 600 historic examples hang in National Trust properties in England and Wales – the largest collection in the UK. This beautifully illustrated study by tapestry expert Helen Wyld, in association with the National Trust, offers new insights into these works, from the complex themes embedded in their imagery, to long-forgotten practices of sacred significance and ritual use. The range of historical, mythological and pastoral themes that recur across the centuries is explored, while the importance of the ‘revival’ of tapestry from the late nineteenth century is considered in detail for the first time. Although focussed on the National Trust’s collection, this book offers a fresh perspective on the history of tapestry across Europe. Both the tapestry specialist and the keen art-history enthusiast can find a wealth of information here about woven wall hangings and furnishings, including methods of production, purchase and distribution, evolving techniques and technologies, the changing trends of subject matter across time, and how tapestries have been collected, used and displayed in British country houses across the centuries.Trade ReviewExamines the subject in technical and art historical terms and is profusely illustrated with images that convey the diversity and appeal of these remarkable - and sometimes undervalued - works of art. * Country Life *The book will be enlightening for any country-house buff and decorator who wants to know more about the historic tapestries they encounter in English country houses. It will also be an essential reference for historians of English visual culture, providing a fascinating account of the rise and fall and rise again of tapestry as an art form in its own right and as a medium of traditional splendour. -- Tom Campbell, Director of the Fine Art Museum of San FranciscoThis beautifully illustrated book looks at how tapestries were made, how they were used as political tools and how they came into and out of fashion. [...] it’s a fascinating look at an art form that doesn’t get the same attention as paintings. -- Tabish Khan * FAD Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Tapestry Technique I: Art and Industry II: Ritual and Presence III: The Woven Image IV: Tapestry and History Appendix: Makers' Marks Notes Bibliography Picture Credits Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first publication devoted to the textile designs of one of the twentieth century’s greatest artists, showcasing a rarely discussed aspect of the Pop Art superstar’s careerTrade Review“A new exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, together with a book by the curators, . . . showcase for the first time Warhol’s lost and virtually undocumented designs for dress fabric, which the artist produced in New York during the booming postwar years.”—Helen Barrett, Financial Times“To see [Warhol’s] pre-Pop creations helps to contextualise him in a new, illuminating way.”—Kathryn Reilly, World of Interiors“Beautifully printed, this is a book of real quality that allows the work room to sing.”—World of Interiors

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe history of men's needlework has long been considered a taboo subject. This is the first book ever published to document and critically interrogate a range of needlework made by men. It reveals that since medieval times men have threaded their own needles, stitched and knitted, woven lace, handmade clothes, as well as other kinds of textiles, and generally delighted in the pleasures and possibilities offered by all sorts of needlework. Only since the dawn of the modern age, in the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries, did needlework become closely aligned with new ideologies of the feminine. Since then men's needlework has been read not just as feminising but as queer. In this groundbreaking study Joseph McBrinn argues that needlework by male artists as well as anonymous tailors, sailors, soldiers, convalescents, paupers, prisoners, hobbyists and a multitude of other men and boys deserves to be looked at again. Drawing on a wealth of examples of men's needlework, as well asTrade ReviewThis book pricks your creative imagination. It will enable you to unpick and weave the history of men’s needlework and it will encourage you to pay a little more attention to those queer and subversive stitches. * Textile: Cloth and Culture *A comprehensive study of men who turned to needlework ... [McBrinn's] present-day analyses are the liveliest, unpicking long-held notions of femininity and masculinity within the field of cultural production. * Elephant Magazine *An insightful, humorous, yet poignant and empathetic exploration of the history of men in the field of embroidery. * Book Threads *McBrinn’s book marks an urgent intervention in the field of craft studies and it will be an essential text for those interested in the history of needlework and masculinity ... it will also become an important starting point for scholars looking to explore much wider, more diverse and inclusive approaches to investigations of queerness and craft in the future. * Art History *I devoured this in one sitting ... McBrinn has drawn together such a readable history of this hitherto overlooked subject, which not only demands to be recognised alongside Rozsika Parker’s, but prompts fresh discourse on men’s history in needlework. * Embroidery *[A] thoughtfully fluid theorization of masculinity, homosexuality and subcultures, as well as class and race, into a nuanced analysis grounded in fascinating textual and visual primary sources. * Journal of Design History *Joseph McBrinn adds immeasurably to [needlework] literature through an unprecedented focus on men who sew. His richly researched and engagingly written narrative shows how various formations of modern masculinity have found expression through this medium. Queering the Subversive Stitch is at once a major scholarly contribution and a moving story about men’s lives. * Glenn Adamson, Yale Center for British Art, USA *But for the fact I couldn’t put this book down, I would have taken up a needle and thread and started sewing. McBrinn takes us on an astonishing journey through the needlepoint and embroidery of nineteenth century sailors, Hollywood film idols, trade unionists and those in mourning at the height of the AIDS pandemic. Over 80 images show us men at work with their needles on deck, at home, in groups and in public; they illustrate the gamut of that work – from the floral and religious to the activist and tenderly homoerotic. This is very far from a niche history – it stiches together countercultures and elites, histories of masculinity and sexuality, and queer and gender theory. And McBrinn does this deftly – developing sophisticated, incisive arguments about the history, status and meaning of men sewing with wit and an enviable light touch. * Matt Cook, Birkbeck, University of London, UK *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgements 1. “Only sissies and women sew”: an introduction 2. Needlework and the creation of masculinities: “the prick” of patriarchy 3. “Killing the angel in the house”: Victorian manliness, domestic handicrafts and homosexual panic 4. “The mesh canvas”: amateur needlecrafts, masculinity and modernism 5. Masculinity and “the politics of cloth”: from the “bad boys” of postmodern art to the “the boys that sew club” of the new millennium 6. Conclusion: “Men who Embroider” Notes Select Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA groundbreaking, informative, and thought-provoking exploration of fur’s fashionable and controversial historyTrade Review“Comprehensively and sensitively researched...An invaluable resource for those interested in materials of all kinds and fascinated by fashion’s ever-shifting transformations.”—Sarah E. Braddock Clarke, Selvedge“Fur: A Sensitive History is an exceptionally successful book in that it takes on an incredibly complicated material and provides readers with a solid understanding of the complex history of fur when no other book exists on the topic.”—Carson Poplin, Journal of Dress History“The volume lives up to the sensory nature of the subject and is attractively designed and illustrated with extensive colour and black and white photographs...This makes the book a pleasure to look at and read, while the juxtaposition of images from different time periods and disciplines inspires reflection and comparisons.”—Danielle Sprecher, Journal of Design History

Read more less

Book SynopsisA leading embroiderer with a lifelong love and understanding of African culture and landscape translates the many striking images of Africa into textile art, using embroidery, dyeing and quilting. From the dusky colours of the savannah to the traditional beadwork and pottery of African tribes, the author has used a variety of sources and techniques to produce stunning textiles. The book covers the original source material, the design process and the various techniques necessary to produce stunning final pieces, including dyeing with flour paste resist, seminole patchwork, piecing, patching, stitching, applique, roulleaux, drawn thread surface embellishment and mixed media. Beautifully illustrated with over 90 colour images, the book covers: • The design process • Colour, from natural earth colours to the bright colours of African jewellery and body paint • Pattern, from stripes and zigzags to circles and triangles • Texture and surface, including ridges, raised surface, edges and surface additions • An exercise project to get you startedTable of ContentsInspirational pieces demonstrate how to translate African motifs into stunning textiles Guides you through every aspect of the design process from page to product Expert advice on all arts and skills makes even advanced techniques easy Illustrations and case studies by leading artists both instruct and inspire

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn examination of the origins and history of kilim textiles. The core of the book is devoted to the specific characteristics of region, tribe and kilim type. It also includes an account of techniques, embracing materials, dyes and dyeing, tools, kilim structures and weaving.Trade Review'An essential guide' - Antique Collector'Anyone embarking on even the simplest purchase would do well to buy this book first' - Financial TimesTable of Contents1. Introduction • 2. Making Kilims • 3. Motifs and Symbolism • 4. North Africa 5. Anatolia • 6. Persia and the Caucasus • 7. Afghanistan and Central Asia • 8. A Kilim Miscellany • 9. New Kilims • 10. Collecting Kilims • 11. Caring for Kilims • Glossary; Bibliography; Dealers, Sources and Services; International Auction Houses; Sources

Read more less

Book SynopsisArtistic traditions of indigenous North America are explored in a study that draws on the testimonies of oral tradition, Native American history, and North American archaeology, focusing on the artists themselves and their cultural identities. Original.Trade Review'A wonderful and consistently fascinating study … especially revealing about the interplay between the indigenous artist and the colonial audience' - Scotland on Sunday

Read more less

Book SynopsisCombine the art of macramé with the practice of mindfulness in this stunning gift book. Each of the 17 projects contains breathing exercises, questions to reflect on and guided journal prompts so that you can center yourself while crafting something beautiful.Written by acclaimed macramé artist Isabella Strambio, this book offers a unique combination of practical and personal, inviting you to embrace a mindful and meditative experience through knotting. Each knot tied is a chance to slow down and experience the satisfaction of making something beautiful with your hands while nourishing your soul in the process.Choose from quick 30-minute creations (jewelry, belts, keyrings), those that take less than an hour (coasters, placemats, plant hangers) to more intricate designs that invite a few hours of you-time (wall hangings, baskets).Each one is customizable in color and size, offering opportunities to decorate your home with meaningful pieces or make thoughtful gifts.Included : 17 simple-but-stunning beginner-friendly projects including wall hangings, jewelry, plant hangers, placemats, coasters and keyrings, ordered by the time needed Breathing exercises and guided journal pages with space to note down your thoughts and reflections for every project Easy-to-follow step-by-step photography for all the knots, patterns and projects Whether you?re dipping your toes into the waters of mindfulness and crafting for the first time or seeking fresh inspiration and support, this beautifully illustrated gift book welcomes you with open arms.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Great Tapestry of Scotland is an outstanding celebration of thousands of years of Scottish history and achievement, from the end of the last Ice Age to Dolly the Sheep and Andy Murry’s Wimbledon victory of 2013. More than 1000 stitchers spent a total of 55,000 sewing hours on the 160 panels that make up this extraordinary work of art. This book shows in full colour all the finished panels of the tapestry – one of the biggest community arts projects ever to take place in Scotland – together with descriptive and explanatory material on each panel and lists of all the stitchers involved.Trade Review'A real people’s history that has humour and pathos, erudition and wit, and where in every panel you feel the presence and the engagement of the makers' * BBC Radio 4, ‘Museums That Make Us’ *'This remarkable teamwork has made Andrew Crummy's artistic vision a reality, and The Great Tapestry of Scotland is now a gift to the nation' * Edinburgh Life *'[T]he most ambitious attempt to capture the past in needle and thread since the Bayeux Tapestry ... The result is not just visually stunning but intensely moving and occasionally very funny' * The Times *'The beauty of this book lies in the ample space devoted to illustrating each panel of the tapestry, allowing the reader to study the detail in the crafting of each story at their leisure' * Scottish Field *'This sumptuous book details every single panel in rich detail, giving a real sense of the scale of the project [. . .] perfect as an introduction to this wonderful work of art, or as a reminder for anyone who has seen the exhibition' * National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies *'If you are unable to see the Tapestry in all its glory, this wonderful book will take you through the country’s history from the Ice Age to the present day as told in the stitches of 160 panels' * New Stitches *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Hannah Ryggen Triennale in Trondheim, Norway, honours renowned textile artist Hannah Ryggen (18941970). This year's edition, Mater, focuses on motherhood and features contemporary artists exploring materiality and cultural identity. Text in English and Norwegian.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFinally, there's a headwear solution for fashionable felines and a practical use for accumulated shed hair. Cats in Hats contains step-by-step instructions for constructing stylish hats out of excess fur, so your cat will soon be the belle of the furball as they transform into a magical unicorn, ferocious lion or even a birthday cake!Welcome to Cats In Hats and admire the overwhelming cuteness of popular Instagrammers Rojiman and Umatan's cats in their tiny cat-hair hats.Is your cat a diva? Maybe it's time to make her a crown! Or perhaps he's a bit of a prankster put on a joker hat! There's one for every occasion, from birthdays to graduation. Don''t miss the Animal hats, from Elephant to Koala. Celebrate every annual festival with a Halloween Witch hat, Easter Bunny hat, and more. And amaze your cat with a character hat. From Princess Leia to Sherlock Holmes, whatever your cat''s personality, we have a hat for them.With 300 hand-drawn step-by-step instructions for constructing 25 adTrade Review Praise for Cats in Hats ‘With detailed instructions and tips to make everything from witch’s hats to bunny ears, flower wreaths to crowns, there is truly a cat hat for every occasion in this niche but laugh-out-loud book.’ – The Daily Mail

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfrican textiles are patterned with stories that range far beyond the time of the creation or the lifetime of their creator. Accompanied by 200 stunning illustrations revealing the rich variety of textile traditions throughout Africa, this new work showcases some of the world's finest examples of textile arts.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe autobiography of influential tapestry weaver Archie Brennan!Table of ContentsContents Preface Introduction: Continuing Traditions 1. The Drawing Series 2. At a Window Series 3. Discovering Tapestry 4. The Origin of the Copper Pipe Loom 5. “My Victorian Aunt: What She Really Knew” 6. The Space Between the Warps 7. Dear Penelope or In Praise of the Unknown Weaver 8. Australia and Papua New Guinea 9. Horror Vacui 10. A Few Thoughts on Technique and Design 11. Did You Remember to Feed the Cat? or Seeing a Purpose for Tapestry Today 12. Historical Reconstruction Series 13. Hawaii 14. The Earth Awaits, Dersu Uzala, 2nd Series 15. “Once Upon a Time” Princess Ka’iulani, Hawaii 1993 16. American Gotham 17. “Teaching Tapestry in North America” 18. AND BEYOND: Archie Brennan through the Eyes of Contemporary Tapestry Weavers Who Worked and Studied with Him Gallery of Tapestries by Archie Brennan

Read more less

Book SynopsisCelebrating the fashion behind the ever-evolving, dreamy counter-cultural motif. From hippy to hipster, this spirited style bible is an intoxicating survey of tie-dye, featuring high-fashion photographs as well as archival photographs of style icons throughout its trippy history to its contemporary revival. Seen in fashion and interiors, dressed up or dressed down, associated with high or counter cultures, tie-dye has had multiple fashion and cultural incarnations, and now, tie-dye is everywhere—in fashion, music, design, interiors, and art.  Tie Dye presents a lush and vibrant kaleidoscope of contemporary photography, as well as highlights of cultural and style icons in tie-dye looks from the ’60s to now, celebrating its cultural evolutions, from Woodstock to the catwalk. With fashion-forwardness, cool-factor, and rich cultural references, Tie Dye is

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter initial ambivalence about distinctive garb for its ministers, early Christianity developed both liturgical garments and visible markers of clerical status outside church. From the ninth century, moreover, new converts to the faith beyond the Alps developed a highly ornate style of liturgical attire; church vestments were made of precious silks and decorated with embroidered and woven ornament, often incorporating gold and jewels. Making use of surviving medieval textiles and garments; mosaics, frescoes, and manuscript illuminations; canon law; liturgical sources; literary works; hagiography; theological tracts; chronicles, letters, inventories of ecclesiastical treasuries, and wills, Maureen C. Miller in Clothing the Clergy traces the ways in which clerical garb changed over the Middle Ages. Miller's in-depth study of the material culture of church vestments not only goes into detail about craft, artistry, and textiles but also contributes in groundbreaking ways to our Trade Review[T]his remarkable book provides an original, stimulatng and valuable addition to the existing body of literature on Christian vestments. -- Lisa Monnas * The Burlington Magazine *Clothing the Clergy is a fascinating addition to the scholarship of both clothing and early medieval Christianity recommended for any academic library....Miller argues that the comparatively plain vestmentsof late antiquity gave way to a more ornate style as a reflection of new attitudes regarding episcopal power and clerical virtues.As bishops began to view themselves as co-rulers alongside kings and emperors, they embraced a style that mirrored their new status. Similarly, they hoped an ornate form of vestments would encourage virtues like chastity, wisdom, justice, and charity in their clergy, aspirations emphasized in new vesting prayers and the bestowal of vestments during ordination ceremonies. -- Hans C. Rasmussen * Catholic Library World *Some books are a joy to read. Other books are essential to read. This book is both.... Rarely do scholars integrate such different strands of study in creating their intellectual tapestry. Here there is the usual historicalwoof of text: tracts, chronicles, and laws. To these Miller adds the warp of liturgies, arts,and surviving garments. It is a delight to see these sources used with such skill to create a holistic pattern of the development of a distinctive clerical culture. -- Gary Macy * Speculum *This wonderfully reserached and amply illustrated work plots the emergence of a distinct clerical garb between the ninth and twelfth century. Weaving together historical descriptions, councils, and ritual admonition with the testimony of material culture, Miller succesfully explores clothing as an expressive language (p. 9). The ideology behind the clothes provides important insight into the clergy's aspirational identity. -- Dyan Elliott * The Catholic Historical Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Let Them Exhibit Holiness Chapter 2. A Clerical Spirituality Chapter 3. Resplendent in Gold Chapter 4. Women and Men Chapter 5. Reform Chapter 6. Good Lordship Conclusion

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMade by Americans of European, African, Native and Hispanic heritage, these quilts and bedcovers range from family heirlooms to acts of political protest, each with its own story to tellA New York Magazine 2021 holiday gift guide pickA mother stitches a few lines of prayer into a bedcover for her son serving in the Union army during the Civil War. A formerly enslaved African American woman creates a quilt populated by Biblical figures alongside celestial events. A quilted Lady Liberty, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln mark the resignation of Richard Nixon. These are just a few of the diverse and sometimes hidden stories of the American experience told by quilts and bedcovers from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.Spanning more than 400 years, the 58 works of textile art in this book express the personal narratives of their makers and owners and connect to broader stories of global trade, immigration, industry, marginalization, and territorial and cultural expansion.Artists include: Faith Ringgold, Sanford Biggers, Irene Williams, Bisa Butler, Harry Tyler, Harriet Powers, Marie D. Webster, Marguerite Zorach, Dorothy Phillips Haagensen, Rachel Cary George, Florence Peto, Creola Pettway, Susan Hoffman, Molly Upton, Nancy Crasco, Agusta Agustsson, Edward Larson, Michael James, Virginia Jacobs and Carla Hemlock.Trade ReviewOnce a luxury item, since the 17th century quilts have evolved into a democratic art form that celebrates collaboration. Fabric of a Nation, a new book, brings together quilts spanning more than 300 years from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. It’s a snapshot of America – Native American history, women’s suffrage, the construction of the railway, the civil rights movement. “Quilts are incredibly accessible objects,” says Jennifer M Swope, who curated the book and exhibition running in Boston. “They have been made and treasured by so many – rich and poor; women and men; urban and rural; white makers and artists of colour. In this way, quilts speak to many threads of the story of America.” -- Kathryn Bromwich * Guardian *Filled with photos of vibrant, historical and modern hand-stitched textile art. -- Rebecca Malinsky * Wall Street Journal *Named an Honor Book. * The 2022 Historic New England Book Prize *Table of ContentsDirector’s Foreword • Preface by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich • Introduction • Ships & Hands • Canals & Cotton Gins • Railroads & Power Looms • Street Cars & Sewing Machines • Automobiles & Advertising • Rockets & Gallery Walls • Further Reading • List of illustrations • Acknowledgements • Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn outstanding and comprehensive contribution to the history of Tartan. TelegraphFeaturing new insights and an additional chapter on masculinities, this updated edition of Tartan revitalizes discussions about the fabric's traditional, sentimental Highland origins and its deliberate subversion by contemporary designers. Tartan's history has made it uniquely capable of expressing both conformity and subversion, tradition and innovation. Through positioning tartan within broader philosophical, political and cultural contexts, from the tartan-clad Highland regiments and Queen Victoria's royal endorsement, to the fabric's influence on Westwood and McQueen and a generation of Japanese designers such as Watanabe and Takahashi, Jonathan Faiers traces tartan''s development from clanship to contemporary fashion and its enormous domestic and global impact.Beautifully illustrated and weaving together a story out of history, art, music, film and fashion, <Trade ReviewAn outstanding and comprehensive contribution to the history of Tartan. * Telegraph *Intriguing study ... mixes the serious with the saucy. * International Herald Tribune *A rare treat; a readable, enjoyable academic text. * Selvedge *Stunning! * Janice Forsyth, BBC Scotland *A great alternative to the numerous clan reference guides that abound in tourist traps up and down the country. * Scotsman Magazine *Comprehensive ... wonderfully eclectic. * New Humanist *This is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that is guaranteed to make the reader consider tartan from new perspectives. * Textile: The Journal of Cloth and Culture *Highly attractive ... fascinating ... A treasure trove of Tartan. * Military Illustrated *Faiers explores the cultural significance and surrounding connotations of tartan while conducting a comprehensive deconstruction of the fabric and its place and development throughout history from clanship to contemporary fashion. * Ali McCulloch, Precious McBane *Having read the book one becomes aware of tartan's extraordinary versatility, its possibilities as both a radical and traditional material, and the local and global contexts within which it operates. * Juliette MacDonald, Textile *This is a huge text book that would be great for anyone wanting to learn everything there is to know on the subject. * Cut Out and Keep blog *A great variety of illustrations of tartan fabrics as they appear in period portraits, fashion designers' collections, products, cartoons, stage, and film complement this thoroughly researched, annotated volume that should interest experts and general readers alike. Recommended. * CHOICE *A beautifully illustrated story ... history, art, music, film and fashion, Tartan contains everything you ever wanted to know about the most radical and traditional of fabrics. * Crafts *The book of choice for intelligent fashionistas this winter. * Selvedge *Tartan is not only for dedicated aficionados, but for everyone curious about its chequered past. Faiers unravels a wonderfully engaging and kaleidoscopic view of this high-impact Scottish cloth, and surprises us by unravelling how tartan continues to inspire and permeate contemporary visual cultures. * Alexandra Palmer, Royal Ontario Museum, Canada *This beautifully illustrated book is a fantastic resource for anyone wishing to understand Tartan's traditional and rebellious history, from its Scottish roots to its radical reinterpretation by designers including McQueen, Westwood, and Comme des Garçons. Tartan is a must-have book for any fashion or textile student. * Andrew Groves, University of Westminster, UK *Faiers offers the most in-depth exploration of tartan’s entanglements with fashion and popular culture to date, teasing out the contradictions in its multifarious iterations of clan, cause, and contention. Tartan unravels the myths but the romance remains intact. * Cynthia Cooper, McCord Museum, Canada *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Part I: Tartan and History 1. Technical Construction: Sett, Weave, Colour 2. Early Appearances 3. Fragments and Fabrication Part II: Tartan and Dress 4. Transforming Tartan 5. Regulation Tartan 6. Erogenous Zones 7. Tartan Toffs Part III: Tartan’s Embrace 8. Balmoralization 9. Tartan, the Grid and Modernity 10. Supernatural Tartan 11. Colonization 12. Tartan’s Translation 13. Tartan Undecided Tartan Timeline Notes Bibliography Acknowledgements Illustration Credits Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book offers a whistle-stop guide to the history of spinning and weaving. The story begins in prehistory when people first wove yarns to create clothing and blankets. The book explores the ways in which spinning and weaving has continued to be important throughout human history (or should that be herstory), in artistic, economic and functional terms. The second part of the book brings us up to date, via interviews with modern day spinning and weaving artisans. These textiles artists generously allowed the author a window into their studios and discussed the way they use and adapt traditional methods, techniques and tools for the twenty first century. Photos of their work, and their working environment offers a unique view into the world of this ancient craft. Finally, if you are inspired to try your hand at this fascinating and most ancient of crafts, the book also has a resources section. It includes a valuable list of suppliers of fibre, dyes, tools and yarn, as well as information about training courses, useful websites and more - everything you need to get started.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow Bearden?s landmark quilt exemplifies his complex art and rich legacyRomare Bearden?s (1911?88) Patchwork Quilt (1970) is a monumental collage that proves the artist?s mastery of his signature medium. Acquired by the Museum of Modern Art the year it was made, the work has become a landmark in Bearden?s career. But his path to creating it, to embracing collage, and to making work that addresses the specifics of Black life in America in ways that are both specific and broadly accessible, was a long one. Bearden?s early career is characterized by broad experimentation with materials and visual styles, as well as major life events that led away from a visual arts practice. In this latest volume of the MoMA One on One series, curator Esther Adler explores Bearden?s search for his artistic voice, illustrated by the breadth of different works in the museum?s collection. A close reading of Patchwork Quilt, its sources and materiality, further emphasize the artist?s unwavering commitment to both his art and community, a combination that has led to his centrality in mid-20th century art.

Read more less

Book Synopsis Digital Textile Design, Second Edition covers everything students and practitioners of textile design will need to learn about designing and printing digitally. The book examines how designers can access this technique, looking at the work of those currently exploring its possibilities, and provides an insight into the technology involved in digital textile printing.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book explains the fundamentals of printed textile design, from design brief through to the completed collection, and introduces the basics of color, drawing, composition, and repeat with a series of step-by-step exercises and examples.Printed Textile Design helps to demystify the design process and provides an invaluable guide to the study and practice of textile design.The book includes case studies of designers working in both the fashion and interiors sectors. It covers hand and traditional print techniques and the latest digital print technologies, with specially commissioned photographs of the processes. All aspects of textile design are covered, from sustainability to manufacturing and marketing the finished product.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPraise for the Build a Bag series: "These books are ideal for those new to bag making and will help readers grow their bag-making skills and confidence as they work through the projects. The plastic templates are a brilliant idea and a great bonus." - The Sewing Directory New to the highly acclaimed Build a Bag series, Debbie Shore brings you a selection of 15 brilliant backpacks! The 15 designs are created using the full-size rigid template contained within the book. It is easy-to-use, durable, reusable, wipe-clean and perfect for fussy cutting, plus it is simple to position and use – there is no need to pin it. The backpacks are made using different techniques, pockets, straps and fastenings to create 15 very different results. But why stop there? The template can also be used for your own design variations. As you mix and match the techniques covered within the book, Debbie gives advice on how to adapt and create your own unique designs. Each project in the book is explained using Debbie’s friendly style and easy-to-follow step-by-step photography, and there is also a comprehensive techniques section and a guide to using the template.Trade ReviewThere are now four pattern books in the Build a Bag series, each one containing a reusable plastic pattern and at least 15 projects. The best thing about sewing with Debbie Shore is that she makes things so easy. From beginner to advanced skill levels, every stitcher can enjoy these books and create something wonderful. The projects are beautifully photographed, and the instructions have a stunning visual and written step by step guide. Techniques, tips and what to do if things go wrong are included and the whole process from start to finish is jargon free. This makes it easy to understand and you know exactly what to do without the aid of other explanations. The Plastic Pattern is brilliant, and the instructions colour code the pattern piece you need. Each Backpack is beautifully designed and really are fit for purpose. Each one is different, and have a unique and stylish look. Highly recommended * Postcard Reviews *These two stunning brand-new titles from Debbie cover on-trend satchels and backpacks. Each book comes in an attractive hard-back folder which also encloses a wallet containing durable plastic templates, from which, by following Debbie’s impeccable instructions, it is possible to construct fifteen different bags from each book. There is a bag for every taste and occasion, each beautifully presented in full colour, showing Debbie’s inspiring fabric choices. All techniques including zipped pockets, magnetic closures and piping are covered in detail, making these projects suitable for every level of sewing expertise. Debbie also includes inspiring suggestions on adapting the templates to expand the design possibilities and create even more bags! Outstanding value for money, these books are a definite must-have for every bag-loving sewer. * East Kent Embroiderers' Guild *I have some of the other Debbie Shore books, and this is another excellent one. Clear instructions for the basics such as "making a zip panel", for the individual patterns, and even help with things that can go wrong (oops! section). I especially love the plastic templates. There is no need to copy and cut any patterns, because they are included in the book and can be used over and over again. * Customer review *I have considered this series of books for some time and I’m so delighted that I now have a copy especially of backpacks which I regularly use. The templates which are included ensure correct cutting and as well as the various projects, I find the other sections including materials, techniques, oops and Debbie‘s top tips extremely useful too. After trying some of the projects involved the next decision will be which of the other build a bag books to buy! * Customer review *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Understanding the template 8 Materials 10 Tools 12 Hardware 14 Techniques 14 Debbie’s top tips 20 Oops! 21 The Projects 22 Clip pocket rucksack 22 Drawstring button backpack 30 Laminated crossover bag 34 Piped rucksack 40 Nautical backpack 46 Bear pocket backpack 50 Simple drawstring bag 56 Quilted backpack 60 Bound rucksack 64 Bear drawstring bag 68 Tie pocket rucksack 72 Two-tone drawstring backpack 76 Cuddly bear backpack 80 Zipped backpack 84 Convertible tote bag 88 A little extra something 92 Glossary 94 Index 96

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlysn Midgelow-Marsden shows how to use both textile-based and mixed media techniques to create beautiful artworks using metal in the form of shim, foil and woven fabric alongside many other materials. She shares her expertise in an inspiring variety of techniques from free machine stitching to gilding, embossing, needle felting, beading, printing, appliqué, making stitched foil fabric and using dry decal transfer images. There are seven beautiful projects to inspire and instruct textile artists everywhere, including a lampshade, bauble pods, decorative panels and a tablet cover. Artists can take inspiration from the individual surfaces that make up the pieces, the completed projects, and from the developments from each project, which have full, instructive captions. This is an invaluable resource for textile artists looking for new and beautiful ideas. This book was previously published as part of the Textile Artist series.Trade ReviewDiscover how to use textile-based and mixed media techniques to create beautiful artworks, using metal and woven fabric alongside many other materials. There are seven projects to inspire and instruct textile artists everywhere, all with full instructive captions. It's an invaluable resource for textile artists looking for new ideas. * Machine Knitting Monthly *Issue March/April Metal is not an obvious companion for cloth but for those looking for a new challenge, Alysn Midgelow-Marsden reveals how to combine fibres and stitch with various forms of metal, using both textile and mixed media techniques, from free machine stitching to gilding, embossing, needle felting, beading, printing, appliqué, making stitched foil fabric and using dry decal transfer images in seven projects. * Embroidery *Feb 14 This book is worth the price for the beautiful colour photography alone! The author obviously loves metallic surfaces and produces some incredible pieces, using a wide variety of materials. The chapter on materials is very detailed and extensive; such can be new or re-cycled items ie sweet wrappers, coverings from champagne bottles ( of course, why did I throw away the last batch), drink cans and take-away food containers. Some metals are also woven which are very useful in designs. The “Key Points” section is a lesson in itself, with the warning of having a practise before starting a project. Once familiar with materials you just need to be inspired and sew! The first project is based on pomanders. There is a comprehensive equipment list then clear, step by step instructions with enhancing pictures. The original design is extended, showing how one basic idea can grow. The author finds inspiration from nature and historical embroideries held by our Guild. To all those who wish to extend their range and let loose their creative side this book is a must. * Merseyside Embroiderer's Guild (megonline.co.uk) *Feb/Mar 14 This is an exciting new book from Alysn which takes embroidery with metals to a higher level. The first chapter deals comprehensively with suggested materials and then seven separate and varied projects follow, each covering different methods and techniques. The book is fully illustrated in colour and each project has detailed step-by-step instructions, with suggestions from Alysn on expanding the theme further. An experienced textile artist would enjoy the challenge of developing their work using the ideas and inspiration presented. * East Kent Embroiderer's Guild *Mar 14 Alysn Midgelow-Marsden explores a variety of mixed media techniques with metal backgrounds and uses stitch to embellish and decorate. There are seven projects adopting a variety of techniques, from dry needle-felting to stencilling and stitching and all are united in some way by the use of metal in the pieces. It is a good way of showing how to use this material in stitched mixed media, particularly where thin metal shim, metal fabric or knitted mesh are able to be manipulated in a way that easily incorporates them into textile work. Many influences from the past are referred to, such as a Japanese nuihaku kimono, an Elizabethan panel held by the Embroiderers’ Guild, or 19th Century metalwork, which are all photographed and referenced. Using these as a springboard, it leads to projects with wonderful names such as Samurai Romance or Vain Devices. In addition to the projects, there are a large number of samples which demonstrate some of the techniques covered and these showcase some fabulous work. Some of the finished articles look a little too assembled, rather than all the elements coming together naturally to create a cohesive piece. I felt that the range of additional work reflected the techniques better and created more visually appealing work. Some of the techniques are not new and a seasoned textile enthusiast may have come across them in other books, but Alysn Midgelow-Marsden’s work in combining techniques reflects how work can be moved in a new direction. Projects are always a good way of tackling new approaches and the variety here gives a good starting point for expanding your repertoire. Samantha Packer * Workshop On The Web *May 14 In this book Alysn shows us how metal can be used in textiles and mixed media to create a variety of imaginative effects. She describes metal as being like a fabric, stiffer than calico but thinner and easier to work with than leather and demonstrates a variety of ways in which it can be used to create stunning textile art. The seven inspiring projects show techniques from free machine stitching to gilding, embossing, needle felting, beading and making stitched foil fabric and artists can take ideas and skills from these projects to create their own individual work. Each project has easy to follow instructions and there are lots of unusual and interesting materials used. A fantastic book for textile artists looking for innovative ideas and new directions for their work. * SEWING WORLD *June 14 This book is part of the Textile Artist series. Inside you’ll find out how to use mixed media textile techniques to create stunning work. There are seven projects which demonstrate the techniques in a how-to style with equipment lists and clear instructions. I like the fact that the author gives the reader a challenge for extending the original idea and to move off at a tangent. She talks about her approach to developing work. The materials used are metal, fabric, fibre and thread, paper and card as well as digital printing processes. Discover how to create unique surfaces. Lots of new ideas here and easy to use techniques. Excellent photography throughout with many close-up images. * Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts *Jun/Jul 14 No longer are heavy metals the preserve of hard rockers and welders. Many of today's embroiderers are as familiar with a soldering iron as they are with an embroidery hoop. A diversity of methods is covered in Alysn's guide, which add a mercurial quality to textiles. Alysn shares her experience of working with metals of every kind with the sort of practical detail that will save stitchers time, money and patience. For example, when describing the creation of needle-punched pieces, whether by hand or machine, Alysn gives advice on how particular fibres behave, and how to sidestep common pitfalls, such as your fabric disintegrating and felting needles breaking. Advice is given on everything, from what threads to use and which to avoid, to which needles to use on your sewing machine when stitching through metal – in short, everything you need to know but didn't even know you needed to ask. The projects demonstrate a wide range of the methods described, helpfully divided up into 'surfaces' for stitchers who are keen to use a method for a different application. Memory Lampshade, for example, features eight different surface methods, including monoprinted brass fabric, dry decal transfer images, and scrunched, painted and embossed heat-darkened brass. * Stitch *Table of ContentsIntroduction 6 Materials 10 PROJECTS 26 Bauble Pods 28 Samurai Romance 44 Silvered Bark 66 Vain Devices 80 Fernery 96 Floral Tablet Cover 112 Annie and Albert Memory Lampshade 128 Index 144

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn insider's view of the exquisite jewellery and accessories that have made Cartier one of the most prestigious brands in the world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book collects together the best articles from the long-running journal Fashion Projects, most issues of which are now unavailable. Through detailed interviews with designers, criticsand curators, the book chronicles the ascent offashion as a critical force across media, themuseum and the academy over the past 15 years. 20 colour illus.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book offers students and those wishing to enter a career in textile design a basic grounding in its three main disciplinesprinted, woven, and mixed media. Using a wealth of imagery and case studies from designers and studios at work today, the book looks at the basic principles of design and production, and gives practical advice on creating a collection. Education and employment are also discussed, giving an insight into the industry and helpful adviceon finding a job.

Read more less

Book SynopsisStuart Hillard is on a mission to help quilters all over the world realize their quilting dreams and prove “it ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it” – one simple shape at a time. In the follow-up title to the bestselling Use Scraps, Sew Blocks, Make 100 Quilts, Stuart shows you how the easiest of shapes can make extraordinary quilts. The book is divided into five main pattern chapters: One-Patch Quilts – 20 quilts using a single, repeated shape.Strips and Squares – 20 quilts that turn strips and squares into a tessellated triumph.Triangles – 20 quilts using half, square triangles, half rectangles and equilateral triangles.Curves – 20 quilts that show off your curves.Foundation Piecing – 20 quilts to create unique blocks from the easiest shapes using paper foundation piecing. Simple Shapes Stunning Quilts teaches you the basics of quilt design; this book is packed full of pattern blocks that use the simplest shapes in order to build up your quilt. Each of the 100 blocks can be used to make one of Stuart’s quilt designs. Alternatively, quilters can adapt any of the pattern blocks; they can personalize treatments, colours and arrangements, add extra borders, and more. Making your own design is as easy as 1, 2, 3; 1. Select a simple shape to work with.2. Sew the shapes together to make the pattern block.3. Repeat the block to build up the full, stunning quilt. Alongside the patterns, and quilt design, Stuart has drawn on years of teaching experience to include the ultimate quilting hacks, tips and tricks, as well as his ‘rules’ for successful quilting. The techniques chapter cover basic skills, design skills, cutting skills, paper piecing, easy appliqué techniques and advice on how to add border and binding with the help of step-by-step photographs. This book is perfect for beginners attempting their first quilt, and experienced quilters looking for new inspiration. Stuart’s designs and irresistible enthusiasm reveal the power of simple shapes and will inspire you to make spectacular quilts your way.Trade Review'Suitable both for beginners and more experienced makers looking for inspiration' * The Quilter *‘A must for all quilting fans' * Women Together *'Perfect for beginners and for experts' * Yorkshire Post *

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘There is a certain feeling – standing between rows of richly dyed blue cloth – that you are within an enclave of protection, that within this ocean you can feel calm; a separation from the outside world.’ One summer, a mother and daughter are reunited in the small village of Betws Gwerful Goch in North Wales following the death of a father and grandfather. Ellie returned from studying at university, while Jeanette had been studying the art of indigo dyeing in Japan. In this lyrical memoir, Ellie Evelyn Orrell transports readers to their hillside garden, reflecting on a summer spent learning to work with indigo, and witnessing the power of creativity in moments of mourning and recovery. In it, she weaves together stories of resettling in a once-familiar landscape; the healing powers of art; the historical, mythological and present day properties of indigo; and the presence of this indelible colour within the Welsh landscape. An Indigo Summer is an absorbing meditation on art, rural life and roots, grief, creativity and the artistic process.

Read more less