African Fabrics [Paperback]

Ronke Luke-Boone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001

Sewers of all skill levels will delight in this exotic, exciting, and inspiring guide to African fabrics. Complete with 14 original projects, Ronke Luke-Boone shows readers how to make fashions for themselves and their home with some of the most popular African fabrics, including mudcloth, Kuba cloth, and Kente cloth.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-This title is a wellspring of inspiration and information. Fashion-magazine-style photos of gorgeous modern clothing and home furnishings showcase the versatility of the six common kinds of African textiles featured: mud cloths with abstract patterns, the familiar Kente cloths, Korhogo cloths with fanciful prints, plush Kuba-cloth velvets, and more. For each fabric, there is background about its cultural origin, traditional and modern methods of manufacture, and the meanings of colors or designs likely to be encountered. The author shares her knowledge of how to buy, care for, sew with, handle, and store African fabrics. Her instructions are detailed, right down to recommended needle thicknesses and interfacings. The 14 projects are relatively easy. Patterns for three items are provided in an envelope. However, for most of the others, clear instructions are given on how to make them. The last activity shows how to make and use a child's loom. Using a variety of illustrative media and straightforward explanations, Luke-Boone sends out her message: the beautiful fabrics of Africa are rich in texture and culture.

Sheila Shoup, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Born in Sierra Leone on Africa's West Coast, Luke-Boone is a clothing designer who also teaches techniques of sewing with African fabrics. Here she discusses six distinctive African fabric types: Mudcloth, Kuba Cloth, Korhogo Cloth, Fancy Prints, Wax Prints, and Kente Cloth. For each she includes a history of the cloth, traditional and modern production methods, its symbolism, where and how to buy the cloth, information on sewing and caring for it, and design ideas. Most African fabrics are sold in pieces not on bolts and are often best used in combination with other less spectacular fabrics, so Luke-Boone also discusses which fabrics work well with the African ones. The reader is referred to commercial patterns that lend themselves to African fabric, and the author presents 14 original patterns for items such as vests, shawls, tote bags, and pillows. Notable for its outstanding graphic design and illustrations, this is generally recommended for public library sewing collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873419146
• ISBN-13: 978-0873419147
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Last, No More Quality ControI Issues With Ethnic Fabrics!, January 24, 2001

By 

Elizabeth B. Anderson (Jamaica, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Fabrics (Paperback)

Asante Sane - Danke Schon - Merci Beaucoup - Muchos Gracias: A world of THANKS for a book that meets the inspirational needs of the contemporary multiculturalist who loves stylish fashion wear, unique interior design and simple creative construction. The beautiful illustrations were quite fascinating and they served as great enhancement to the book's well written information and neat instruction. From the front cover to the back cover and all of the pages in between, author Ronke Luke-Boone takes the reader on an exciting journey that is richly infused with lessons in history, geography, fabric preservation, nifty sewing techniques, super shopping resources and much, much more. Most valuable for me is the instruction she provides for working with the popular mud cloth, Kubba cloth and Kente. Unfortunately, these hand crafted textiles defy the sewing logic that is normally associated with that of the symmetrically printed machine woven fabrics. One must be taught how to reinforce these ethnic textiles correctly and how to lay the patterns properly to prevent the completed garment from taking on a life of its own while it is being worn. Ms. Luke-Boone provided a corrective experience for me in this regard. Previously, I had not had the desired success in working with these fabrics, so I had set them aside. Reading through the book several times was the much needed source of motivation that guided me to complete two Kubba cloth pillows and a beautiful mosaic swing coat, pieced with mud cloth, denim, Korhogo, calvary twill and tea-dyed linen burlap,just as she instructed. At last, no more quality control issues with these fabrics. I recommend this publication to any one from any culture who has basic sewing skills and a great flair for exotic styling.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unique and excellent introduction to African fabrics, June 7, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Fabrics (Paperback)

African Fabrics provides crafts people with fourteen original projects which use African fabrics to create tunics, place mats, pillows, shawls and other items. Discussions of mudcloth, fancy prints, Kuba cloth and Kente cloth, among others, provide a unique and excellent introduction to African fabrics as a whole, making this more than just a crafts guide. A wide audience will find it important for both its historical overview of African fabrics and its artistic/crafts attractions.

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Inspiration, August 12, 2010

By 

Dreamfisher (Oregon) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: African Fabrics (Paperback)

I was looking for a resource book on many kinds of African textiles; their cultural significance, history, countries of origin, and methods of production. This book covered all these areas, and more. Although my primary interest is in creating surface designs on my own fabric and paper for mixed-media art, I was tempted to pull my sewing machine out of retirement and try my hand at some "ethnic" inspired garments or gifts. A great book!