The award-winning textile artist presents her modern approach to 150 fabric manipulation techniques in this fully illustrated sewing guide. In Fabric Manipulation, Ruth Singer presents the most in-depth and comprehensive guide to sculptural and embellishing effects since Collette Wolff’s The Art of Manipulating Fabric. Divided into three sections—Pleat and Fold, Stitch and Gather, Apply and Layer—Fabric Manipulation teaches sewists of all skill levels 150 creative sewing techniques with clear instruction, photos, and hundreds of full color diagrams. Ruth explains her innovative variations on traditional fabric manipulation techniques such as pleating, folding, gathering, smocking, quilting, trapunto and applique. She also offers inspirational project ideas for accessories and home décor that demonstrate practical uses of fabric manipulation.

The possibilities for three-dimensional manipulation of fabric - gathering, pleating, tucking, shirring, and quilting woven materials - are seemingly endless. To describe them all would be to describe the entire history of sewing. In The Art of manipulating Fabric, Colette Wolff has set herself just this task, and she succeeds brilliantly. Working from the simplest possible form - a flat piece of cloth and a threaded needle - she categorizes all major dimensional techniques, show how they are related, and give examples of variations both traditional and modern. The result is an encyclopedia of techniques that resurface, reshape, restructure and reconstruct fabric. • More than 350 diagrams support the extensive how-tos, organized into broad general categories, then specific sub-techniques • Handsome photos galleries showcase the breathtaking possibilities in each technique and aid visual understanding by emphasizing the sculptured fabric surface with light and shadow • Textile artists and quilters, as well as garment and home decor sewers, will expand their design horizons with the almost limitless effects that can be achieved.

Textile Surface Manipulation is about developing a diverse variety of textile surface design techniques from personal visual inspiration sources, and applying them to your projects. The techniques covered are an assortment of traditional and unconventional methods, from smocking to soldering, and the end products might range from fashion to interiors to textile art.The book encourages the full exploration of visual sources to discover their potential for imagery, texture, structure and manipulation, supporting readers in the development and creation of their own unique pieces. The purpose of the book is to inspire artists to explore alternative possibilities, to manipulate existing textile surfaces or to create new ones. Textile Surface Manipulation will inspire students as well as engaging more experienced artists and makers looking for new inspiration and techniques.

Ann Smalls imaginative use of cutting and manipulating techniques, and her layering and colouring tricks, makes this your go-to guide for bringing form and texture to your fabric artwork. This book is a rich resource and reference for textile artists seeking new ideas and who want to experiment with reverse appliqué and related techniques such as layering, trapunto, stacks, puffs and fabric manipulation. • Packed with techniques suitable for quilting and other textile art • Three wearable step-by-step projects • Clear, close-up images make layering enjoyable and accessible.

Start with a simple block. Slice, turn, and sew slices back together. Then watch the magic happen! It's hard to believe such complex-looking quilts can come from such easy-to-sew blocks, but turnabout techniques transform even the most basic blocks into showstopping quilts. In some cases slicing isn't even necessary--just turn units as directed for unique designs! Each chapter focuses on a single block; just follow along to sew, slice, turn, and sew again. Find several design options for each block, along with a total of 23 quilt patterns, so you can make lap quilts, runners, and more with the turnabout blocks you create.

Creating Couture Embellishment offers a step-by-step guide to manipulating fabric and making and applying a rich variety of embellishments. Chapters cover fabric-manipulation techniques of pleating, quilting, tucking, ruffling, shirring and smocking, as well as the fabrication and application of feathers, beading, embroidery, flowers, decorative ribbons and bows, bias bindings and piping, fringe, braids and passementerie. The heirloom quality created by the insertion or application of lace is also explored. A comprehensive sourcebook of ideas for the student, professional and home sewer alike.

Pattern Magic is the cult pattern-cutting book from Japan. Taking inspiration from nature, from geometric shapes and from the street, this book harnesses the sheer joy of making and sculpting clothes. Pattern Magic takes a creative approach to pattern cutting, with step-by-step projects for fashion designers and dressmakers to enjoy. All the basic information you need to start pattern cutting is included, from the basic block to measurements and scaling. Each project is beautifully illustrated with clear diagrams and photographs showing the stages of construction, the toiles and the finished garments. These easy-to-follow illustrations and detailed instructions make it easy to create stunning, sculptural clothes with a couture look. Step-by-step projects for fashion designers and dressmakers - with clear diagrams and photographs. Gives all the basic information needed to start pattern cutting: from the basic block to measurements and scaling. Easy-to-follow, detailed instructions make it easy to create stunning, sculptural clothes with a couture look Reviews for Pattern Magic: 'The feeling of figuring the puzzle out makes this book series a joy to explore' House of Pinheiro 'If you've mastered the basics of pattern cutting, have caught the bug and are eager to experiment with complex 3d designs, you should definitely take a look at Pattern Magic' Tilly And The Buttons Blog 'I've had an explosion of inspiration, and I'm not even an expert in sewing!...I'm sure that many of you, fashion designers or not, can learn a lot from these tutorials' ImaginativeBloom.com CONTENTS: Part 1: Creating form through inspiration: Accents, Gathered hole, Crater, The drop hole, Lumps and bumps Part 2: Making patterns for haute couture garments: Draped design, The twist, Hide and seek, Interwoven design, Bamboo shoot, The knot, Two distinct expressions, An intriguing curve, Bunka-style sloper (block) for an adult woman, Bunka-style sloper (block) for an adult woman (Size M) (half-scale)