Fabric Selector: The Essential Guide to Working with Fabrics, Trimmings and Notions - Softcover

Dana Willard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844487423 ISBN 13: 9781844487424

Publisher: Search Press Ltd, 2011

Synopsis

The first section of this book provides a comprehensive overview of the many different natural and manmade fibers and weaves, including cottons, linens, silks, and wools. Each entry provides a description of the fabric's characteristics, possible combinations, and special considerations when using the fabric on machines. Also included are handy icons that provide a quick reference to the suitability of that fabric for certain projects (i.e. clothes, home furnishings, upholstery, etc.), and useful close-up shots of each fabric. The second section of the book provides valuable information on using the fabric, discussing tools to work with fabric and notions for fabric. A final resources section includes sizing and measurement charts as well as website resources. This book is indispensable for the sewing/craft room, and the format is small enough to throw into your bag when you are heading to the fabric store.

About this title

About the Author

Dana Willard, author of the popular creative blog MADE, has been sewing and reading patterns since she was 10 years old. As a full time sewer, she now designs her own patterns, using these as a way to test fabrics and their suitability for sewing projects. As a pattern designer, her fabric and sewing knowledge is instinctive and intrinsic, equipping her to make decisions that go beyond manufacturer recommendations and instead make decisions that are most practical for the home sewer. MADE is a medium for her to share these patterns and sewing tutorials with her readers as well as the fabric advice she picks up along the way. Her patterns and designs have been featured in many sewing publications. She lives in Texas with her husband and two children.

Review

This book is a brilliant reference guide for any sewist, covering hundreds of different types of fabric. It gives a general introduction to each fabric covering the origins and where you are likely to find it. It then describes the fabric properties, along with any special considerations you need to be aware of before using that fabric. Then you get advice on how to handle and use the fabric along with care tips (washing/drying/ironing). The fabrics are split into 5 sections: Woven, Knits, Speciality, Blended & Patterned. What's more there is also a guide to trimmings, fastenings, tools, sewing machine feet, using patterns & indentifying fabrics. This book is a very useful guide to keep beside your machine and consult when you are planning new projects.-sewingdirectory.co.uk With so much interest in sewing, some of us may appreciate a reminder about working with fabrics and trimmings. This comprehensive overview has over 200 swatches of natural and man-made fibres and weaves including cotton, linen, silk and wool. We're reminded how to use and combine them, as well as their suitability for projects. There are sizing and measurement charts plus website resources. The book is indispensable and the format small enough to pop in a bag before heading to the fabric store.-Machine Knitting Monthly The Fabric Selector' by Dana Willard is the second book kindly sent to me for review by Search Press, and what a book it is! This is a compact reference book which provides information about a vast range of different fabric types, and about different notions, tools and trimmings.This book is so useful, and so interesting, that I cannot part with it, so there is no giveaway this time. It's a keeper. It is essential for a sewing enthusiast who likes to work with a wide range of fabrics, or at least who is interested in a wide range of fabrics. It's a really comprehensive guide and is well suited to a sewing geek like me. I began to flick through the book and ended up almost reading it in full - I couldn't help but be drawn in by fascinating facts and within ten minutes I learnt so much! Here are a few (random) things I learnt in that ten minutes. Maybe you readers already know these particular things, but I'll bet there's still plenty you could learn from this book if you bought it because it is crammed full of information!If you would like to read more of this review, find the link to threadcarefully blog here: http://threadcarefully.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/the-fabric-selector-by-dana-willard-review - Threadcarefully.com

Edition details

• Publisher: Search Press Ltd
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1844487423
• ISBN 13: 9781844487424
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224