Learn More About Your Craft

Many of us don't have time to attend workshops or courses to find out about the crafts that interest us. Often the courses aren't available or they take place at inconvenient times. To learn more about textile crafts it may be necessary to investigate for ourselves.
It can seem daunting to take up a new interest such as batik or weaving, without first exploring what is involved. The basic materials and equipment can add up to quite an expense, especially if it turns out to be a craft that doesn't suit.

One excellent resource is through Guilds. These Guilds offer membership to like minded individuals who wish to learn more about their chosen interests. Their web sites can be found easily in search engines using the term 'guild' preceded by the discipline (i.e. silk painting). Membership usually includes regular newsletters and sometimes magazine subscriptions.

Another way to learn more about a craft is to read about it. FIBRECRAFTS offer an extensive choice of textile craft books. The titles range from beginner's guides for the complete novice through to the advanced reference books designed to inspire the skilled crafter. The titles can be browsed online through the Book Shop and the newest titles are showcased in the New Products section.

Some readers would prefer to subscribe to one of the 17 magazine titles. These cover quilting, weaving, spinning, surface decoration, beading, sewing, knitting and more and the most recent issues can be previewed online through the Book Shop.

There are also a number of excellent and informative DVDs available. The films that demonstrate the techniques, such as 'Felt Magic' can be paused or replayed, and the films that introduce us to the history - and the possibilities - such as 'Arimatsu-Narumi Shibori' provide information and entertainment.

Dispersed Dyes and Paints

With such a diverse range of textile related products we often wonder what happens to them and how they are used once they leave FIBRECRAFTS for homes, workshops and classrooms.

We try to offer you first-hand advice and usage instructions for all the products and most of them have been used or experimented with by the staff. But just how many different ways can you apply paints and dyes? And who are we to tell you how to use them!

The Embroidery magazine gives us some clues. Their feature 'Transfer Printing on Textiles' from the January/February issue names us as a supplier for transfer paint and disperse dyes and ideas of how to use them are also offered.

We're delighted to see the samples of printed work by designers Barbara Massey and Helen Rogers. Their fine work certainly shows the potential of the transfer paints.

The outstanding publication, Embroidery is available through the Embroiderers' Guild web site and features articles and reviews on the textile arts.

Christmas Decoration Ideas

If you've got some free time between now and Christmas, here are some Christmas projects just begging to be explored....

Computer Printed Silk Organza Christmas Card

This card was designed and created by Linda Chapman. It is a relatively simple design but nonetheless very effective. Linda used a card blank, available from most stationery stores, and stuck a layer of batik decorated tissue paper in the centre. The tissue paper was wetted with a paint brush before being pulled apart to reveal a feathered edge. Find out more...

Angelina Fibre Bell

Heat bondable Angelina fibre can be used in a number of ways. Here we have discovered a fun and simple way to bind them into a three-dimensional shape. The Angelina fibres need only a very small amount of indirect heat to make them fuse, in this instance, boiling water is involved so please take care! Find out more...

Felted Santa

Felt is created by agitating wool fibres until they mat together to form a non-woven fabric. The fibres can be laid flat on a surface or molded around a former such as a hatshaper, cardboard or even a ball.This Santa was felted entirely in a washing machine. The head, body, hands and nose were created from balls while the limbs were made by shaping the fibres before rolling them and tack stitching them into J-cloth. Find out more...