2 comments about The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design.

1. As a college student I was first introduced to the book The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design by Rebecca Cunningham. The book is simple and consise while providing a wealth of valuable information for the novice or professional. I enjoyed this book so much that I have choosen to use it as the text book for my costume design class. This will be my first teaching experience; however, I feel confident that this book will enable me to help my class understand the art of costume design.



2. Having taught costume design for a number of years, the one thing I can say with certainty is that no book can do everything. I've used the text for a number of years and find it helpful...especially her approach to analyzing the text (I still use her checklists myself). However, a lot of my students are intimidated by some of the illustrations/examples of work. They don't know how to approach sketching for themselves and there are a couple of other texts that are more helpful in aiding in that particular process. Possibly there could be more graphic illustrations of getting from A to D (show us B & C) instead of just the beginning and the end result. The historical research sources and the historical costume outline are good - again some of my students think that she provides a finite list of resources and as with any historical survey the attention is to avoid variations and or anything beyond high fashion. Generally, a strong introductory text but needs supplementary materials (as does any book). No one has complained about the text; that's a good sign.

3 comments about Super Simple Quilts #1 with Alex Anderson and Liz Aneloski: 9 Pieced Projects from Strips, Squares, and Rectangles (Super Simple Quilts).

1. This is a good book for wanting to do fast and easy quilts. I will be trying a few myself.



2. I am an advanced quilter and found this booklet to be really good. First, I love the fact that the projects are quick and easy without looking it. Second, I like the two alternate color options at the end of each pattern. Although there are only three patterns in the book there are endless possibilities. This is the book for those of us that want a quick but original quilt. These patterns let today's great fabrics showcase themselves. I have already made one and have plans for three more.



3. I was looking for another easy to teach quilt pattern to beginner quilters and this was a breeze. The class I taught had 5 students and in 4 classes completed their quilt. This will be a favorite pattern when teaching.

5 comments about Ruth B. McDowell's Design Workshop: Turn Your Inspiration into an Artfully Pieced Quilt.

1. This book is a steal considering how much it costs to take the class from Ruth herself! It features well thought out instructions and inspiration for piecing a landscape quilt. This is not a book for beginning quilters.



2. I have been experimenting with my own designs and representating them in a more artistic point of view. My desire is to create work that pops with my perspective. This book is already showing signs of distress as I continue to go back and examine the methods and the examples. This book is for a quilt artist who wants to set goals and methodically achieve them. Written with a solid perspective that yes you too can accomplish master work. I believe quilters or fabric artists can add this book to their library and know it won't gather dust.



3. Good book, well worth the time to read for any innovative quilters. Ruth does a really workmanlike job on her books.



4. This book by Ruth B. McDowell is amazing. It contains many suggestions, with demonstrations, that can encourage individualism with designing your own quilts. I love this book and it is worth every penny that I paid. This information is not offered in the general, informational, quilt books. Thanks again, Ruth!



5. This book is inspiring and precise. Each step of the process of creating challenging curved pieces is clear. Just love her encouragement and helpful hints. I have learned so much following her clear directions.

1 comments about Felt, Fabric, and Fiber Jewelry: 20 Beautiful Projects to Bead, Stitch, Knot, and Braid.

1. I returned this book. I knew I would never use it. I was not happy with the projects. There is a whole chapter devoted to crochet (I don't crochet). There are tatted items and macrame items (I don't do either). I expected more sewing projects. There are a few felt projects. I did not think the jewelry projects were pretty with the exception of the front cover. I did like that project but one project does not make me keep the book. I could not see myself making any of the jewelry projects and actually wearing them.

5 comments about Draping for Apparel Design.

1. A detailed, step by step guide for designing using the drape method. Easy to understand and also inspiriing. I wanted a way to create the designs I had in my head. This makes it so much clearer. A great resource to have.



2. I wanted to wean myself off dependency on commercial patterns and having invested in a dress form, I came across this book. It's a bit pricey but it turns out that it's a fashion school text book, hence the price tag. The text is very well-written and illustrated. The author has the reader analyze a fashion drawing, and identify the structural components of a particular garment as most embellishments can be broken down to basic components (i.e. dart excesses).
   
   My only peeve was that some definitions for terms I wasn't familiar with (e.g. Princess Line) couldn't be found in the back of the book. Also, not all the formats seen in fashion are portrayed in this book. Most, if not all, garment examples have a waist or empire seam, and designed for woven fabrics (no knits); and as far as I can tell, the author doesn't direct the reader/student on how to accomodate for that. However, I am happy that there is a section on bias-cut gowns (the info. is very hard to come by on the Net) As a self-taught sewer and wanna-be designer, this book will definitely help me to go to further.



3. Excellent book about drapping and worth to buy especially for the beginner who learn how to modify your basic pattern, it would be better if in the next edition shown how to modify the pattern more specifically, with measurement sample.



4. it's required txet book for our college.
   it's readable and understandable easily.
   if you are a serious learner in this field, it's the one for you.



5. I received the book in a timely manner. It was shrink wrapped and the corners were in perfect condition.
   
   Thank You!

4 comments about Textiles: A Handbook for Designers.

1. This is an excellent resource for anyone interested in textiles or design. After reading several books on the subject this one still offered fresh information, and in a style easier to understand, especially when describing techniques. One other thing that endeared it to me was that it is truly a handbook, by which I mean you can carry it around. All the other books on this subject were really coffee table size.



2. You learn so much dense information in textile design school, that you can never retain in your head. Finding this book has brought back all of the rules, repeat sizes, guidance and practical/specific information that is so usefull and needed in the professional environment - especially as a freelance designer when your fending for yourself. Great book - highly reccommended!



3. If any of you happen to be (or are planning on being) a Textile/Surface Design student at F.I.T., you NEED to own this book. It gives nearly an exact rundown of the curriculum taught at the school...
   The best thing about it for me, though, is that I have the book to fall back on when I don't understand an assignment. Priceless! I do wish she'd revise the book again to include more about Computer Aided Design, however!



4. I am a College instructor of Interior Design. I have used this text for years in my Textiles course. It is beautifully illustrated (a plus for visually-orientated Design students!). It also deals with the tactile, practical and asthetic applications of textiles. Other texts emphasize the carbon content and chemical composition of textiles and are dry both verbally and visually. This text is not; yet it clearly defines natural vs. man-made fibers and their individual and compound functions. Textiles by Marypaul Yastes is the best!

1 comments about Thread Painting Made Easy.

1. Couldn't wait to receive it and it lived up to all my expectations. It is a wonderful new hobby which I am hoping, with the help of this book, to eventually conquer. Very informative and inspiring.

4 comments about Rolling Along: Easy Quilts from 2 1/2" Strips : Jelly Roll Friendly.

1. I got this book as a surprise...and then I was surprised when I read through it. I've been aware of Jelly rolls offered in the quilt shops, but wasn't all that interested, until now. What I like greatly about this designer is that you cut the WOF strips in two so that you are just working with a 22 inch strip as opposed to the 44-45 inch width...therefore it will make for better managabiltiy of the strip sets. I have not tried any of the patterns, but I am totally interested in the concept. It is best to read the instructions when previewing a book, not just looking at the designs of the quilts...but that's difficult to do on amazon....



2. Have you seen those "Jelly Rolls" in your favorite fabric store? Ever wondered what on earth you could do with them? Ms. Martin gives you a whole book on just that subject---10 quilts and 3 other projects --- a tote bag, a pillow and a Table Runner. With the 13 projects, you will be busy for a long time.
   
   OK, so you don't have Jelly Rolls and you don't want to spend the money on getting one. Grab some of your favorite fabric and make your own 2 ½ inch strips. The first 17 pages provide you with basic techniques on how to make your own strips, the tools you will need and how to appliqué and quilt. There is even a suggestion for a quick and easy "light box".
   
   Each project shows a photo of the finished item and a paragraph about the item. It gives the finished size and finished block size. A materials and cutting list is provided as well as how to put the blocks together. There are LOTS of graphics so you can be sure you are following the written directions correctly.
   
   The final pages provide the templates needed for one of the projects as well as several paragraphs about the author. All in all, this is a wonderful book that will have you sewing far into the night.



3. This book has a number of good designs, but I think it's misleading to call it Jelly Roll friendly. Very few of the designs would make efficient use of the number of strips contained in a Jelly Roll -- you'd either need more strips, or additional fabric (FQs or something) or you'll end up with strips left over. A much better book, with designs which use the Jelly Rolls more efficiently, is Jelly Roll Quilts by the Lintotts, mother and daughter. I can't remember the mother's first name, but the daughter's is Nicky. It's available here on Amazon.



4. What is a quick, easy and fun way to make a quilt? Use Jelly Rolls!! This book provides patterns that can be used by quilters of any ability from beginner to beyond. They can be used as shown or adapted in any way that you can think of so this book can be used as a jumping off point for your own designs. It has lovely photos and user friendly instructions. The quilts are beautiful and you can make your own 'jelly rolls' so that the content of each pattern becomes unique. This book provides patterns that are easily adapted to each quilter's level of ability and their preferred colour palette.

5 comments about Color in Spinning.

1. if you are a spinner or a knitter you need this book for dyeing your own yarns (handspuns) I enjoyed this book . it is a refence book plus a great book for inspiring your dying projects. I d reccomend this book to any one into dyeing and spinning ~



2. I first saw this book as a novice handspinner who was interested in hand-carding small quantities of fiber blends for my fiber arts experiments. I checked it out from the library, spent the entire time that I had it absorbing information, but did not feel the need to own it. Much of the material seems directed more at production spinners or fiber artists who are blending large quantities. It's an interesting read, but if you're working with small quantities, you're likely to be just as happy with simpler (less fussy or precise) methods.
   
   Now that I'm more experienced and have acquired a drum carder, the book is a must-have. When I paint, I find that the colors I mix on my palette are richer and deeper than colors straight from the tube. With fiber, I find that the same is true. Blended colors have a vibrancy that is lacking from commercially dyed fiber that is usually dyed in large uniform batches.
   
   Most importantly, the book gives the fiber artist the skills needed to blend colors consistently from one batch to another. When I was hand-carding small batches for experimentation, I was much less concerned with how easy my results were to replicate than I am now that I'm going to be carding larger batches across multiple batts. If I'm carding a pound of fiber in 2 ounce batts, I want the 8th batt to be almost indistinguishable from the 1st so that I don't get strange color shifts in my yarn or my finished project. This is the skill set that Menz is trying to offer her readers and it is one which will be invaluable in my continuing development as a fiber artist.



3. Coming from a formal art background, I really appreciate this book. Not only does it cover the basics of dyeing and carding/combing well, but it also provides lessons in color (beyond the basic color wheel) where you directly see the results of mixing and using different color combinations. There are samples of finished knitted pieces using similarly-colored yarn yet with slightly different properties. Readers are encouraged to use the exercises for future self-directed study. Great cataloguing ideas are offered.
   
   I highly recommend this book!



4. Gave me so many ideas for dyeing and spinning my fiber. it has lots of info on colour theory. I do think it was missing more simple dying, and a lot of the colourways it shows have 10+ colours in them, but it is a GREAT resource.



5. As a beginning spinner I immediately began blending yarn to achieve the colors in this book and she's right! Everything I tried using the instructions in this book came out exactly the way I planned. There are lots of beautiful ideas here - I wish I had time to try them all!

5 comments about The Art of Felt: Inspirational Designs, Textures, and Surfaces.

1. I too, have the other 2 books by this author, and love her work. Not for the traditionalist, this book I would recommend for those who have a more artistic bent to their work. Inspirational photos and close-ups of the felt work, it almost reads as an artistic photo album, rather than something with patterns and diagrams.



2. This is an incredible book. Not for everyone though. It examines the art of felting in great depth (emphasis on art) but is not a pattern book. There are many pages of photographs of clouds and other examples of nature to inspire the artist.



3. If you like endless pictures of sky and clouds, this book is for you. If you would like some techniques, look elsewhere. This book is just repetitive photos of clouds and sky, and some felted/embellished samples imitating those photos. There is no technique explanation or instruction that I could find...but then, I almost got lulled to sleep reading through it. If you want instruction on these techniques of felting and embellishing, don't waste your money on this book.



4. The Art of Embroidery: Inspirational Stitches, Textures, and Surfaces
   
   Having loved "The Art of Embroidery", I saw this book in a store and instantly knew I had to have it. I am exploring many fiber arts including dyeing and felting and like to follow my own ideas and designs, so this book is ideal for me. The book gives a small amount of info on how the look was achieved but this is not a step by step "How To" book. It is a starting point to jump from, so you can develop work from an idea and ask "what if"?. It starts the creative process by inspiration and encourages you to develop your own pieces using the techinques shown. Photos are amazing and the colours are awesome. An essential for my library.
   
   The Art of Felt: Inspirational Designs, Textures, and Surfaces



5. by Francoise Tellier-Loumagne
   
   This book "Art of Felt "appears to be for those who want to take a different path in the art of felting. I do not own this book but thought it was different and more artistic than some of the other books I have reviewed here. The following is taken off the site "BookFinder.com". Maybe it is a book that may interest you artistic felters. This is all inspiring, all-color survey of designs and patterns for this popular craft.
   Felt is often thought of as a practical material but can be surprisingly versatile and even poetic.. With handmade felted fabrics, subtle variations in color, texture, and volume can be achieved: threads and fibers merge almost magically to form new motifs that can then be enlivened by embroidered or crocheted details.Available at Amazon.com.
   
   http://felting.craftgossip.com/2008/07/30/art-of-felt-inspirational-designs-textures-and-surfaces/