Textile Art & Dyeing Books

This book walks you through a garden season from design to planting to harvesting for the dyepot. The hundreds of colours presented are but a sampling of the striking hues you can achieve by following the author's foolproof methods and encouragement for experimentation.

Rita Buchanan has been studying dye plants for twenty years and growing them for ten. She uses the dyes to colour wool and other natural fibres which she spins into yarn for knitting and weaving.

The author presents a stimulating and inspirational guide in which she shows how an amazing range of rich and subtle blues can be created using indigo dye.

With a sense of humour and creative abandon, renowned mixed-media artist Beryl Taylor shows you how surprisingly easy it is to turn fabric, paper, stitch, and embellishment into artistic treasures to keep and share. Using her own art as examples, Beryl gives step-by-step instructions for making projects like greeting cards, wall hangings, and books, using the latest mixed-media products and techniques, all the while encouraging readers to follow their own instincts and experiment.

Learn to:

• apply basic design principles like layering, highlighting motifs, and creating grids to give your art depth and meaning;
• use six simple embroidery stitches to add interest and texture;
• turn favourite papers into fabrics that can then be stitched or quilted;
• "age" your art by etching, burning, and tearing;
• create richness with metallic threads, paint, and rub-ons;
• "embed" fibres and found objects. Use everyday items like brown grocery bags, wallpaper scraps, and bleach to create texture;
• stitch through metal.

This comprehensive book contains everything the textile artist needs in the use and application of the Shiva Artist's Paintstik for wearable art. The book explains the unique features of these quick and easy-to-use paint sticks that make them perfect for use on most fabrics - natural, synthetic, leather and suede - to transform them into unique works of art using five techniques for adding colour to fabric including rubbing, stencilling, and masking applications.

Includes easy-to-follow instructions with step-by-step photographs for preparation, application, heat-setting and clean up with dozens of full colour photographs for inspiration.

This is a book for embroiderers, quilters, paper artists, book and card makers, those who stitch jewellery and all those who have an interest in textile art.

With the number and variety of surfaces used for embroidery and textile art expanding, this book concentrates on two of the key new materials now incorporated into textiles: paper and metal.

Topics included are: Making and Shaping Paper; Texturing and Colouring Paper; Metallic Effects on Paper; Stitch into Paper (with and without fabric); Varieties of metals to use; Colouring Metal; Wire Techniques; Stitch into Metal (with and without fabric); Combining Metal, Paper and Stitch. There are several step-by-step photographs of key techniques plus images of finished pieces.

Many forms of embroidery are covered such as panels and hangings, beadwork, books and jewellery. The book also includes three-dimensional items such as bowls and vessels.

Shibori—or Japanese tie-dye—is a patterned three-dimensional form created by a unique process of folding, crumpling, stitching, plaiting, plucking, and twisting material. The result is gorgeous, soft-edged patterns that will delight sewers and fabric lovers alike. This appealing, modern take on a traditional art takes the intimidation out of a versatile craft and allows anyone to create beautiful items. Each chapter focuses on a specific method, from arashi (pole-wrapping) to bound resist, from stitching and gathering to using bleach to remove colour.

Eighteen exquisite projects include purses, napkins, silk scarves, and more. Includes detailed photos and easy-to-follow instructions throughout.

See Also: Our Japanese Embroidery Books section for more on Japanese textile artistry and embellishments.

This book is for the embroiderer who is interested in developing new and exciting surfaces for stitch. Materials such as polythene, pliable plastics, fibrous films, adhesive webbing, foams and puff paints are combined with fabric and thread to produce innovative and inspirational pieces.

Covers many techniques including fusing and bonding, Tyvek film and fabric, laminating and layering, manipulating and moulding, polythene and pliable plastic, stencil film and plastic fabric. Includes a stitch reference, and project section. Packed with stunning photographs.

Both traditional and hand embroiderers will find plenty to interest them sufficiently to want to experiment using rich threads and other accessories to create two and three-dimensional pieces that are completely original.

If you love colour and the richness of silk, then this book is for you.

This classic text shows you how to work each fibre technique in metal wire or strip: weaving, knitting (which includes machine knitting), crochet, braiding, lacemaking, basketry, and knotting. If you have an interest in jewellery-making, sculpture, fibre arts, or innovations in craftsmanship, the lush photography and generous examples of international artists' work will command your attention.

"Abundantly illustrated and thorough...this treasure of a book will be a continual source of insight, inspiration, and information."

—Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot.