The Art of Manipulating Fabric Reviews

• warning: fabric lovers, this will blow your minds

  
  By A2XOCQ0Q4169QG on 2000-06-09
  In the author's words, "this is a book of ideas about sewing cloth" but what it really is, is an awesome collection of information from a thousand different sources on the techniques sewers have used since fabric was invented, to change the surface of an initially flat textile. Wolff brings little techniques of fabric manipulation from the background to the spotlight by isolating each technique, cataloging its unique features, separating the technique from end product associations, and exploring the sculptural possibilities without regard to where application will be. For any home or professional sewers who currently (or hypothetically) maintain folders of "pleating ideas," "interesting darts," or "photos of ruffles" get this book, and fast. Save yourself the chore of assimilating all the diagrams and photos and captions because Wolff has done it so thoroughly you will find yourself engrossed just reading about the humble little fabric tuck. Granted, no technique by itself makes wearable art or couture clothing, but these are the manipulations that make up the experimental stuff on the runways and in the exclusive boutiques. Learn what they do to a plain textile and you're primed to exploit fabric, for whatever purposes your little heart desires. Wolff's chapters cover: controlled crushing (gathering, shirring), supplementary fullness (making ruffles, making flounces, making godets), systematic folding (pleating, smocking, tucking), filled reliefs (cording, quilting, stuffing), structured surfaces (darts), and mixed manipulations (combinations). If you're a collector of books on dyeing or embroidery or exquisite cut, you really owe it to yourself to add this viewpoint to your library. Until the magical moment when I picked up this volume at a fabric trade show, I had no idea someone had catalogued so fanatically the world of playing with fabric. Thank goodness she has, or I might have attempted it. And as if a jam-packed reference guide isn't cause enough for celebration among fabric junkies, she's included a modest glossary, for clarity, a very helpful bibliography of books and articles, and a really thorough index that makes textbooks look carelessly written. This isn't just for garment-makers either; I can easily see applications in quilting, weaving, home decorating, wearable art, and costuming. Sewing machine recommended for most of these techniques but they could all be done by hand-sewers. I think it would most benefit the home sewer looking to spice up their wardrobe with more sophistication and interest in the fabric handling, but could also be very useful to the professional, especially in the design fields. After each time I pick up this book I find ideas bubbling to the surface on how to make my next fabric creation really pop. It's inspired several experiments and I see no end in sight.
  
  

• A must-have for the serious sewing room!

  
  By A2VRBQJGK87ONY on 1998-09-10
  This book puts in one place all the different ways you know how to work fabric: pleats, gathers, darts, etc. All the little things you learned over the years and never got to categorize, plus a few new ones you didn't think of yet. This lady deserves a standing ovation for putting together what so many of us know, but never put to paper. The fact that all the work is done on white material adds to the ability to see exactly what she is doing; no prints or stripes to detract from the simplistic beauty of worked fabric. This book is good for any one, be you beginner or experienced sewing hand. It has, in a short 2 weeks, become one of my favorite books and earned the top shelf honors!
  
  

• Think Laura Ashley doing muslin.

  
  By A3K1GXQVSTD96D on 2002-08-15
  I read the positive reviews and had hoped to check this out from the library to give it a preview. Unfortunately, they didn't have a copy, but I was so certain that I would enjoy this book and be able to apply it to my designs that I ordered it anyway. While it is very through and well-documented, it is really meant for those with an old-fashioned "crafty" bent to their sewing. I'm talking frills and puffs and applique and quilting and Celtic knots, and lots of it. Plenty of grid-like patterns to be had for the quilting fanatics. If you interpret "manipulate" to mean painting on, slicing, tearing, knotting, or otherwise changing the look of the fabric itself (as opposed to making it puff out or pleated), then this is not the book you are looking for. Another disappointment were the black and white photos. Even though it was just plain muslin being photographed, I felt gypped having paid so much for what resembles a bunch of 1960s textbook photos.
  
  

• Amazing. Wow. Just "wow."

  
  By A2NE5G3FDZ31J9 on 2006-02-25
  Okay, I know next to nothing about sewing. I am a sewing Gumby. But my niece is an incredibly gifted fashion designer, and I have to constantly badger her to let me know if there is ANYTHING I can get for her, or ANY WAY I can help her. This book is one of the few things she has briefly mentioned in passing as something she might like. (I took that to mean something indispensable to the pursuit of her career as she is so shy to ask for assistance.) I had the book sent to my place rather than directly to her, just so I could see it, and my first reaction as a non-sewing type of person was "OH My Goodness, I had no IDEA they could do that with fabric!" I meant to send it to her as soon as I received it, but it was so fascinating, even as a non-seamstress, that I shamefully retarded the delivery to its rightful owner by at least a week. I took it to my friend's house so she could see it. I even showed it to my boyfriend (for whom absolutely NO craft manual could ever hold an interest), and he even exclaimed "My goodness, babe! I had no idea fabric could this! I have to say this is amazing..."
  
  Okay, in all fairness, maybe he was humoring me. In any case, I sent it to my niece. I happened to be on the phone with my sister when it was delivered. She opened the book and started exclaiming, "Wow! How do they this?" To which I simply replied, "Well, they tell you how in the book."
  
  
  If you like to sew and are beyond the point of making napkins and tablecloths (to which I aspire) this book is for you. It teaches you how to MANIPULATE fabrics. How to make them do what you want them to do.
  
  And isn't that really what it's all about?
  
  

• inspired new work not only in fabric but in other media

  
  By on 1998-01-12
  Clearly-writtena and well-illustrated, this book not only inspired a number of designs to be executed in fibre, but also in metals. A wood-working friend of mine borrowed it and is adapting some of the techniqiues to carving and inlay techniques. This is an excellent "how-to guide" that actively encourages the reader to apply and adapt these techniques to expand their range of capabilities.
  
  
• inspiring
  By A2WIGAVX4TFKMX on 2003-06-26
  As one reviewer notes, this book focuses on "old fashioned" methods like shirring, trapunto, pleating, etc. but the originality and creativity of the examples are an inspiring display of how traditional methods can be used to create a really dramatic, unique look.

  Wolff demonstrates many ways to manipulate the large scale texture of the fabric, and the result is NOT something for the timid dressmaker. In fact, many of the examples seem to be from quilts and home-decoration.
  (It must have taken her a couple years just to make the hundreds of beautiful muslin samples, which are clearly photographed in black and white! ) I also think these techniques would be great for handbags, high-drama evening wear, and clothing for people who love texture (like me).

  Many of her amazing techniques are labor intensive, often hand-sewn, but worth it, I think!
  
  

• Good for reference & inspiration, but......
  By A2YGFJEH4S9M94 on 2005-09-27
  I had researched this book at a local bookstore for a few days before purchasing it used on Amazon.com. The illustrations in this book had me inspired immediatly. However, applying the various applications can be difficult.Finding the how-to's (a bit vague at best) that accompany the pictures are very difficult.Good for reference/inspiration, poor for actual how-to.
  
  
• How many ways can you sculpt a piece of fabric?
  By A13YAM656X7EJ2 on 2003-05-30
  Amazing! Colette Wolff has presented innumerable techniques in which simple fabric may be gathered, shirred, ruffled, flounced, given godets, pleats, smocked, tucked, corded, quilted, and stuffed, and how one may use these provocative and remarkable methods of sculpting fabric using combinations of the above.

  In using simple white cotton muslin, Colette presents to the student a visualization of precisely what one may expect of the diverse manipulations of fabric. A seamstress may take a plain piece of fabric and transform it into a work of art. This book is for the student who desires to go beyond simple seams. Each section is explained comprehensively and given a distinct black and white photo so that one may ascertain the accuracy of one's project.

  A must-have for the serious seamstress interested in artistic needlework. Happy sewing!
  
  

• The Art of Manipulating Fabric
  By A1FXM2RCI4FIM3 on 2006-08-30
  I have been using and working with fabric for nearly 20 years and have still been able to learn some thing from this book it is easy to read and full of easy instructions that make using this so easy and to have such arange of effects all in the one book. Really fantastic
  
  
• Technical & inspirational, for the art of manipulating fabrics
  By A1CGER8JLCD14N on 2007-03-02
  This book holds a vast array of images & instruction on the art of fabric manipulation for all those simple, & yet other seemingly more complicated, details; from frills & pintucks, to flounces & wrinkled pleating. Especially helpful to those who are less than technically experienced in this field, but also VERY inspirational to those who have years of experience but who still have a creative mind.
  The book is easy to read & follow, with lots of images clearly showing the design & process, thus allowing the reader to easily find what they are looking for. If you want to have inspiration &/or technical know-how at your fingertips, then this book will help.
  We have used it in our Studio as a reference tool when help was needed for a technical procedure; incl a pinstripe skirt, a silk Posh Frock, & a cotton beach top, but we also found, from perusing the pages, that we got great inspiration for new designs when simply looking for help in solving others...have fun!
  
  
  
• Maybe for quilters, and people making drapes, NOT for seamtresses
  By A1YY0B9BBYSGI7 on 2007-02-02
  I found the instructions obtuse at best. I'm a costumer and I bought this book to develop some original fabric techniques to add to the otherworld flavor of my costumes. But even with years of sewing experiance I had difficulty with this book.
  
  I already know how to do about 1/3 of the techniques and even for those I found the explanations odd. I actully thought that the way she described would make some things harder to do. For instance she goes on about how to avoid having the bobbin threads break when making a large heavy gather. To deal with this I find it simpler to use fishing line or invisable thread in the bobbin. She recommend several other more difficult means, but never mentions this simple one.
  
  Also she seems to go into too much detail on some things an almost none on others. Prehaps English is not the authors first language. THen again she seems to think that a mathmatical formula is worth 1000 words.
  
  There are some interesting ideas that some one working on a flat surface like a quilt might find useful, but I don't quilt so I don't really know. I just got this book today and I'm going to list to sell on Amazon this afternoon, I wasted my $20, don't you waste yours!
  
  
• I'll reach for this book again and again
  By A1EZJJ2CVFUKG9 on 2007-04-06
  I borrowed this book from my library to see what it was all about. After giving it a once over I ordered it that same day. There are so many techniques described with clear instructions, photographs and drawings that I wanted my own copy.
  
  
• Amazing Art!
  By AU999USBM0RWV on 2005-08-03
  For anyone who sews, quilts, or loves the manipulation of fabric--a must in your library. It has step by step of how to do the most difficult processes.
  
  
• A "must have" addition for fabric designers
  By AKYVVIV7Y0679 on 2007-01-11
  This book is so full of ideas on manipulating fabric it will take you 10 years to absorb all the material. It took the author 10 years to write and compile samples for photography and it was worth it. I pick this book up over and over again. Just get it!
  
  
• great reference book
  By A18602RY47J0NC on 2007-03-10
  Wolff has created a very rich resource for textile designers and anybody wanting to experiment more. As a student, I find this book inspirational when I need some fresh ideas.
  
  
• Must-have for your craft library
  By A15A852R0PAANU on 2007-05-12
  I've not seen any other book like it. I often refer to it for inspiration when I want to add texture to my sewing/crafting. I wish there was an updated, perhaps color-photo version of it. Otherwise, I love it!
  
  
• many ways to change your plain fabric
  By A3KHT27LDMVR6A on 2007-07-04
  Colette Wolff said her working objective was to catalog fabric manipulation; what they are, and what to do with a piece of cloth, and how to do it.
  I make wearable art and bought the book for the many, many ideas both in photos and drawings. I want ideas to make my work distinctive.
  Most of the manipulation is done with hand sewing. The diagrams are good and can be followed fairly easily. There is a section on machine quilting.
  I could see combinations of designs being used in a wall hanging.
  
  
• Best sewing book ever!
  By A29AYPH1UBTA16 on 2007-08-21
  I LOVE this book. I dispaired of finding anything new or interesting, but this is it! Don't just take fabric and make it into a garment (or a slipcover, or placemats, or...)--take fabric and make it into different fabric. Twist it, turn it, tuck it, pleat it, double it, gather it, this way, that way, round, square, triangular, smocking, shark's teeth, cartridge pleats: enough for anyone. This is an idea book, and now my head is so full of them they're pouring out the ends of my fingers! Fun, fun, fun. Thank you Colette Wolff.
  
  
  
• Excellent overview of what can be done with fabric
  By A2XKJHP9RGBA9X on 2007-09-10
  This book is exciting for anyone who thinks fabric is a creative medium, whether for visual art or unique clothing. The diagrams and pictures make it a truly valuable resource. The only drawback is that it's all in black and white (plain muslin on plain muslin) and sometimes the pictures would be clearer if there were some color. So realistically it's only 4.5 stars; but since nobody out there has made a book quite like this, I'll cut it some slack.
  
  
• This is a book to have for everyone interested in sewing!
  By A1VJW4HW4UXZPR on 2007-09-19
  If you are a "fabric-junky" and always look out for new techniques and methods to make your next sewing project even more special, this is a book you'll love! The book contains a lot of great pictures of many different types of fabric-manipulation to inspire you and good and detailed descriptions of "how to do it yourself". The different types of manipulation include gathering, ruffles, flounces, smocking, tucking, pleating, cording and many more.
  
  
• packed full of information
  By A36C0A2YZZ1IJF on 2008-01-24
  This is quite an old-fashioned style of book. No glossy photos or eye candy, lots of detailed line drawings and a wide range of techniques. As such, it takes a bit more time to get into than most of the quilt books I own. However, its strong point is that you can see from the diagrams what you need to do for a range of pleats, gathers, folds and other textured surfaces. You do also need to read the accompanying text, and the layout makes that a challenge at times, searching back through dense paragraphs for the correct link to the drawing.
  
  I will use it as a reference book. It is pretty comprehensive. What would make it more user-friendly would be firstly, some nice gallery pictures of quilts or garments using those techniques, and secondly, a simpler page layout and typeface.
  
  
• The Art of Manipulating Fabric
  By AQBRZT0CWH6PR on 2007-08-14
  This book is all I thought it would be. The illustrations are very clear and being in creams and whites makes the designs stand out. This book will be of great use to me.
  
  
• A very informative book
  By AKPB986OASL2G on 2008-01-16
  I ordered this book based on the customer reviews, and i'm not disappointed.
  
  Although the book seems slightly more geared towards quilting / decorative arts etc, there is still a wealth of information and techniques that are relevant to me (i'm a costumier).
  
  I can see this book being a valuable reference for many different projects. I'm very happy with this purchase.
  
  
• Must have
  By A2S3ZLA5CZU4Q7 on 2008-03-05
  I'm new to sewing and looking for the best books to build on. I've never seen anything like this. It gives pictures of each technique and has so many techniques you would be numb not to be creatively inspired. Who would think that manipulating a flat object into a projecting one could be done in so many variations with so many different possible effects? This book is a must have.
  
  
• This book will blow your mind
  By AWXI4J5OA9A0W on 2008-04-14
  I am a novice sewer but have a very nice sewing machine. This book and the images just blow me away. If I cannot "get" these techniques I am going to try my best to get close for my art pieces. No, I do not make clothing, but these techniques are art in themselves. Love this book.
  
  
• Just plain amazing !!
  By A3LWLU8DZMBYPY on 2008-07-20
  First let me say that I am a simple quiltmaker. But I am a fantastic dreamer! This author has taken all of my dreams and made them come true. I cannot believe the things she does with the most common of fabrics. She sews designs and stuffs them with batting, then creates a wonderful picture with them. She pleats and ruches, too. Welting, cording, smocking, and tucking, are only a few of the lessons in her repertoire. The best way I know to describe her work is to say it's extremely varied in all areas of manipulation and is unlimited in its use. Clothing and quilts become things of great beauty when created using her methods. I recommend this book for all those who are the least bit interested in working with fabric. There are no brightly colored pictures, however. They are just not necessary here.
  
  
• One of a kind!!
  By A246U7GRPRE2V9 on 2007-09-10
  I love this book.
  I go back to it all the time as a reference.
  It gives you many ideas!
  
  
• A Treasured Must-Have
  By A271YB7332EIEY on 2008-06-13
  Texture, movement, sway, swag... and more. No prints or color to distract from form, just the fabric manipulated to stand strong, or pout, stipple or ripple in the stream, sharply pleat, or undulate with pleasure. Particularly canted toward those with imagination, this is a profound source book for textural ideas to which I return again and again; a magnificent work.
  
  
• Unique and beautiful artistic designs for quilting.
  By A1Z03UDRINS1UE on 2008-06-18
  Very unique and creatively artistic quilt art. Will take time to learn, but is beautiful and gets your attention right now.
  
  
• Wonderful Book
  By A3JB0KM9P6EONC on 2008-06-21
  The Art of Manipulating Fabric is a wonderful book. There are excellent pictures or diagrams on every page. The instruction for creating the details covered in the book are excellent as well. Easy to follow. I would recommend this book to any seamstress who wants to improve their sewing by adding these special deatails that make a garment truely special.
  
  

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