The Art of Manipulating Fabric

Great seller, fast service, book is great condition. The book as I have thumbed through and read some parts of it, am ready to sit down for a very in-depth read. I recommend anyone who really wants to understand fabric manipulation, this looks like the right book to have. It will be a great reference book for me to return to over and over. It covers many variations of methods to manipulate fabric; is broken up onto topics, then sub-topic sections. Organized well. The author has done the real research and work. A great toolbelt book.

Encyclopedic. This book is nothing more nor less than a categorized set of instructions for three-dimensional fabric manipulations. It's pretty exhaustive as a relates to endless variations of gathering, pleating, etc. These are not the only ways to manipulate fabric into shapes, of course. There are plenty of pattern, cut, and sew techniques that produce dimensional effects also. And, in fact, a few of the techniques in this book can be combined in that way, too. As many, many others have pointed out, the photos are black-and-white, the fabric used for demonstration is muslin, and the instructions are high-level. I.e., you better have some background sewing experience and a solid grounding at least at the intermediate level to really take advantage of this book. If you do have that, you are really going to enjoy this book! It truly is one of the better sewing technique books I have encountered in many years. On the flipside, if you do not have the background, if you need detailed step-by-step instructions along with a matching pictures, or don't have a good grasp of sewing terminology, this is absolutely not the book for you! Both my wife and I read this book cover to cover, which is pretty amazing for a technique book of any kind. And it will be used for projects immediately. (Please note this is not a project book!) As with any technique book with such scope, there is more breadth than depth in some areas. Entire books can and have been written on many of the individual techniques or categories of techniques described here. So if you are really advanced quilter, you will find the quilting section thin. If you are a smocker, the smocking section will appear thin. And so on. Much of the value is in opening your eyes to possibilities – and with enough information to execute on them. This one is a lot of fun for its target audience. Those who are not in that category will find it something of a frustrating head scratcher.

Firstly, it should be said that Wolff tackles fabric with an artist's approach, with a strong sculptural bent, with the intention of transforming a usually flat medium into something expressive, three-dimensional, voluminous, and with physical presence. Also let me express shock and awe at the sheer density of information in this book. Excluding the title and content pages, and the index located at the back of the book, I can vouch that LITERALLY every page of this magnificent publication is completely full of hand-drawn illustrations and black & white photographs, accompanied by detailed descriptions of the technique/method. I mean it--every single page has at least one if not five or six fantastically detailed images. This is not one of those trendy books with cutesy inset "pro tips," chapter headings with punny names, blank pages and full-page photos in between everything, and tons of semi-relevant and not-very-useful anecdata. This book immediately gets down to business, in the most pleasurable way. It's so solidly jam-packed with ideas and techniques that it blows my mind. This book is such a rare gem especially because it can function as a sourcebook for me as well as a how-to manual--the images are of textured abstract samples, not of chintzy finished-product curtains or pants, which allows me to imagine dozens of ways I could use that particular manipulation in my artwork. The samples are all in creamy blank white muslin, further giving that impression of malleability and elegance. That's the overall beauty and draw of this book, really--it's not a project guide book. It doesn't have weekly goals like "make a funky tote bag" or "sew some ruffled curtains!". The knowledge it bestows upon you is knowledge you can use broadly, anywhere, and causes you to think creatively. I LOVE this book!! Best thing I've bought in months, possibly years.

This book is an exquisite resource. The author organizes everything by methodological similarities rather than the product traditionally associated with each technique. In doing so, she ends up with a book that provides a lot of fodder for the full scope of possibilities for any given technique. It's very refreshing, very expansive. It also breaks down a lot of the divisions within the sewing world. This book is useful whether you are sewing quilts, clothing, or even upholstery. This book shuts no one out. Wolff doesn't assume the tools or techniques that people are coming to the table with, and she gives wonderful advice on how to handle even simple familiar methods like gathering when the folds get untidy. For every method, she gives instructions for multiple methods of handsewing, machine stitching, with or without elastics. Anyone who sews for any reason or with any set of tools will find this book accessible its contents incredibly well-structured. Techniques are illustrated beautifully, and the photography in this book is visually stunning but also serves the clear purpose of showing how the fabric behaves under different conditions. I could not recommend this book more highly. I have had my eye on it for ages, and I already regret that I did not buy it several years ago.

Descrição de várias técnicas de texturas que podem ser aplicadas de várias maneiras.

I’ve bought this book as a gift. I have a copy of my own which is great for trying out a wide variety of fabric manipulations including smocking, controlled pleats, godets , with full instructions on how to do them. All photographs are in black and white which is fine because the fabrics used in all techniques are also white which makes the textures of the fabric very visible.

Such a great book if you love working with fabric in creative ways! It’s packed with techniques like pleating, gathering, smocking, and more. The explanations are clear, and there are tons of samples and diagrams. Perfect for fashion students, designers, or anyone who loves fabric play!

Excelente libro!!!

Great gift for sewer