Needlefelting an illustrated guide to creating characters from wool

Michelle Hickhan

The Crowwood Press

As a young artist, who was totally new to anything relating to the textile genre, I remember first teaching myself how to felt; then needle felt. I actually gained confidence using these skills which led me on to a career in textile art as a whole. Why did I begin with these? Because they were reachable, easy to learn and results could appear before my eyes in a beautiful way.

Dare I admit it, I find the art of crochet currently beyond my stress ability. What do I mean by this? I come to my life as an artist, via fine art, the messy end of the tactile. No ruler in view, no pattern to behold. Yet this art form and yes it IS an art form in my eyes, is one I envy others and would secretly love to master. It is mathematical, methodical….almost otherworldly at times.

The feel of a stitch, the reminiscing of by-gone days…..a child’s view of the house old, a memory. We do not need to look far to find security, it can come right from within the place we spend most of our time - home. As humans we seem to be obsessed with harking backwards…things were better when….I wish it could be like that…again. So why not let this infiltrate into our artwork too?

Within Textile Creativity through Nature, there is a definite focus towards the felt, again wool being a natural medium - lending to her love. Its about what you can do with the fibre, not just seeing a flat piece of felt.

Creative Mending

Beautiful Darning, Patching and Stitching techniques

Hikaru Noguchi

Tuttle Press

Mending matters - these two words definitely apply to this offering. This subject matter is timely, we have hot a period of dare I say mending as cool. I

Peter Panda and Pals

10 Sweet and Easy Amigurumi Designs to Crochet

Femke Vindevogel

Search Press

Do not be put off by the small size of this book nor its cute persona. I first discovered this form of crochet via a beautiful lifestyle store on holiday. In this relaxed location, I would totally visualise making some myself.

This ‘20 to make’ idea is a series with all different subject areas included by Search Press. This publication sits in a stable hardback cover at a small but mighty (Approx A5) size; making it an ideal travel companion.

What is Furoshiki? Madly, this is no new textile fabric fashion, this is a key part of Japanese history which has spun the years, whilst coming into fruition in a variety of years depending on the time period. In its beginning, it was customary to only use these wrapping techniques for temple objects - precious. As we have moved into a throw away society, it now holds a new import

We may have succeeded in having less plastic and food waste, but what about the rest of the throw away society which seems to have become the norm? Financially, it may feel less of a strain to purchase cheaper clothing and interior items, but often they are not appreciated, thus yes we do just bin and forget.

Poetic Woods

Experimental Watercolours and Collage

Ann Blockley

A niche subject matter - yet universal. As an artist who is heavily mixed media and textiles based, I was surprised to open this title and find skills which I could easily add to my tool box of creative activities.

This book is simple, bold with so much packed into its little pages. With this artist as a guide, learn how to create thirty patterned pieces to then add all to one quilt. Personally though, I do not see why you need to do them all and add them all. They could all be beautiful one of patterns to illustrate and beautify any interior. I am already imagining making covers for cushions using up to just four of the patterns at once.

Within this title, Botelho showcases twelve projects which focus on the zoomed in view. We are not looking at landscapes here, this book is all about the finer detail of many a natural environment which we often tread through and never really appreciate. Take for example the sand beneath our feet, the bark of a tree, the inner cavities of a shell. Next time you go for a walk, try to remain present, with a focused view - what could you photograph and depict within your own stitchery?

Blackwork, Whitework….traditional in form…yet are they still relevant to our current art lives now? I questioned myself decades ago, as a virgin student, new to the tactile and loving all mess related methods. Could I ever pull off something this neat? I will wager that if I could, at age seventeen master this form of embroidery, then so can you.

I have always found flowers inspiring for my own creative practice. Not just within themselves, but also developmental thoughts - what could be done with them? Can I grow them? How to dry them? In fact….which ones DO dry?

Within this book, Jost provides a simplistic list highlighting all the ones we cab in fact dry successfully. (page 14-19) She is a well known florist, so she has the life experience to provide us with an accurate text.

What is improv? Many of us like to have a plan to work from when embracing textile methods - we are all aware of many books and tutorials which lead us through a step-by-step journey. This is often applied to the subject of Quilting. This book turns that walk the line on its head. Imagine having a bit of fun, improvising, creating a piece which isn’t perfect? This book showcases how to add a little of an edge to your quilting practice.

Weaving with Wire - Creating Woven Metal Fabric

Christine K. Miller

Schiffer publishing

I am always looking for ways to incorporate new materials into my already tactile artistic practice. Admittedly wire has not previously come to my attention.

Have you ever experienced the joys of using a simple loom with any threads or wool? As an artist, I could never be bothered unless I had a real inspirational force, a way of making the method my own as it were. This book excites me, as it reminds me of the vegetable garden inspired weaving I did at university.

A Beginner's Guide To Kintsugi

The Japanese Art of Repairing Pottery and Glass

By Michihiro Hori

Tuttle Press

I am well aware of the art of breaking - I am a natural accident prone person in every area of life. This may only be really brought to our attention when we chip, smash, harm an item which is dear to us - that sentimental cup, the plate which was our mother’s, our grandmother’s.

Finger Knitting For Kids

Super Cute & Easy Things To Make

By Eriko Teranishi

Tuttle Press

As a child, I was introduced to a tool which many refer to as a ‘Knitting Nancy’. It was achievable and engaging, perfect for a young child who did not have the attention span or the dexterity as yet to explore the endless world of “grown up” knitting.

Whitework Embroidery

Designs and Accessories with a Modern Twist

Seiko Nakano

Schiffer Publishing

I have smile inducing memories surrounding Whitework methods. As the inexperienced artist, embarking on an embroidery course with a RSN trained tutor in the form of UK based Tracy Franklin, I remember pre-judging this traditional method to be…dare I say it…boring. However, a good tutor makes for a positive experience and I now have altered views…this as well as most of the traditional embroidery methods can be what we want them to be - our own interpretations. As the author reveals in the introduction - this book is designed to tell a story.