The Art of Manipulating Fabric Paperback – October 1, 1996

I love that this book shows each example done on white fabric. I find it more inspiring to be able to use my imagination to project the types of colors that I love onto the techniques in the book. The other books I have about fabric manipulation have that ‘rainbow mud’ color scheme that is so common in textile art - and it just screams at me from every page in a way that I find distracting and obnoxious. Bu contrast, This book is a very peaceful place to rest my eyes.I wish that I had this book when I was in my 20’s and sewing a lot of period inspired costumes - it would have helped me identify what I was looking at on the reference costumes I was using for inspiration.The book is less for people who want to do a more abstract style of textile art and more for people who want an overview of many different types of sewing techniques that can add 3 dimensional decoration to garments, tablecloths, curtains ect. As another reviewer mentioned it does not get into fabric dying or painting - its strictly about shaping. It does not have patterns or full project instructions.What I love about it is all of the samples that the author made and photographed in order to help the viewer compare different options. For example it shows what happens to ruffles when you use a satin stitch edge vs a double fold hem vs a pinked edge.My only regret is that I didnt have it 20 years ago - but I think it would have been a bit beyond my ability to comprehend at that time. Happy to have it now!

This really is a book about how to perform miracles with fabric! I disagree with Gingercook that this is not a book for novices or beginning seamstresses. I am just learning to use my Viking Topaz 30, taking lessons at the best sewing shop in Las Vegas, but I LOVE this book and, as others have said, cannot put it down! I have found ANSWERS to every question you could possibly have concerning getting fabric to do what you want it to do. I want to make a ruffle skirt for my 4 year old grand-daughter, but I want to make one with ruffles that stand out and "float" - not just hang there. Maybe other people know about Circular Flounce and cutting the ruffle pieces (as it shows on page 67) from a CIRCLE OF FABRIC - the strip closest to the center of the circle has tremendous flare, the next strip not so much and the third strip (which is cut farthest from the center of the circle has very little flare. The diagrams in this book are the best I have ever seen and they are on every page, helping you to understand, totally, how to do each step. It explains GRAINLINE BALANCE ON PAGE 70, with diagrams. Sorry but I had never heard of grainline balance, but I will never forget it now! I had never heard of a GODET, now I can't wait to try to make one and the SQUARE GODET shown on page 84 is one of the most beautiful things I have seen. Just take a large hankerchief (or large square of fabric) hold it by one of the 4 corners and let the fabric drape by itself. The drawing on page 84 shows this with 4 folds ending in a handkerchief edge. I can't wait to try to make one. I am taking this book to my instructors so they can teach me how to make a godet (go-day).I have never seen so many different drapery pleats. I especially like the CARTRIDGE PLEAT. Colette not only shows you all the different pleats, but she also shows you how to change them and make them look completely different.This book is an INSPIRATION, but it is not a book about which fabric to choose to make the miracles happen. It is about being able to make these miracles happen with ALL KINDS OF FABRIC.I'm taking classes in Heirloom sewing and this book shows how to do many of the Heirloom techniques and shows it with diagrams, making it easy to understand how to do all those intricate, gorgeous Shark's Teeth, Slashed Tucks, Keyhole Tucks, etc. The book also includes a chapter on Quilting and one on Stuffed Quilting & Applique, teaching you things that almost make you drool - because they are pieces of art and belong in a museum.I purchased this book on a whim while I was deciding whether or not to purchase the Colette Sewing Handbook by Sarai Mitnick and I ended up buying both of them.EVERY PERSON WHO SEWS OR WHO IS THINKING OF SEWING SHOULD OWN THIS BOOK. It is an inspirational book and a book of HOW TO PERFORM MIRACLES with fabric!

I have purchased more than one of these. It is inspirational to thumb through and gives clear direction in how to work with fabric. A permanent fixture in my library.

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.