Crafty Tuesday A Few Books I am looking at
Posted By Kathleen David on March 27, 2012
Consider this sort of a book review of random books I am using for my next couple of projects and some books that are in print and useful to me and I hope to you as well.
One general sewing book that is new to me and I have found very informative is Sarai Mitnick’s The Colette Sewing Handbook. It has very clear direction for pattern making and how to think about the shape of a garment. The information on darts is worth its weight in gold to me. The book’s author assumes that the reader is a beginner but don’t let that stop you from taking a look at this book. She also has some good advise to think about how you view clothing and what works for you. It is also one of the clearest explanations of what all those strange markings on a pattern pieces are.
In the realm of men’s fashion, I found The Victorian Tailor by Jason Maclochlainn very useful but it does assume a certain knowledge of patterns and pattern making. It is also interesting in the historical context that it presents. Again not for the beginner but if you have put a couple patterns together, this book is an interesting read.
If your interest goes towards steampunk but you haven’t a clue or a little clue as to how to make the gadgets that go with the look, I can recommend Steampunk: Gears, Gadgets and Gizmos by Thomas Willeford. These projects are great jumping off points for bigger ideas and the “where to find your gears” section is very useful. The author is a first class scrounger but also gives modern alternatives that you can find in your local hardware shop or fabric store.
In the realm of puppetry I really like 10-minute puppets by Noel MacNeal who is better known to many as Bear from Bear in the Big Blue House. The puppets are simple but the principles can be used to create more complicated puppets. Most of the materials are easy to find and this is a great book for teachers looking to put puppets in the classroom.
John E. Kennedy has two books out that I find useful but you have to read them in order since one builds on things from the other. Puppet Mania is a great book for the beginning puppet builder. He lays out a lot of the basic techniques that you need to make more complicated puppets. His follow up book, Puppet Planet builds on the first book and gives more advanced techniques to be used.
These are books that I know are still in print. Next week I think are some treasures that are out of print but I use all the time.
I am grateful for books that I can currently get my hands on.
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