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All About Cotton: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Ser.; Vol. 2) (Fabric Reference Series)
 
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All About Cotton: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Ser.; Vol. 2) (Fabric Reference Series) [Plastic Comb]

Julie Parker (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)


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Book Description

0963761234 978-0963761231 November 15, 1998 Revised
The second volume in Julie Parker's Fabric Reference Series explains the different fabrics made from cotton, using plain English instead of confusing technical jargon. A detailed description of each fabric is illustrated with a real cloth sample, right there on the same page, which clarifies in the simplest way what a broadcloth, poplin, seersucker or voile actually looks and feels like. A comprehensive introduction covers fiber characteristics, history of cotton, the main sources of cotton and the cotton textile industry, followed by two-page descriptions of the main fabric types, each illustrated with a 2-1/2 x 4 cloth sample and simple black-and-white drawings. In the back of the book, space is provided for the reader to collect additional fabric samples and record personal notes, followed by a list of mail-order sources, glossary, bibliography and index.

The 40 cotton fabric samples are packaged separately, layered in the same order as they appear in the book. It takes only a few minutes to mount the samples to the book's pages, using double-stick tape or a small spot of glue. Instructions are included. Samples include: batik, batiste, broadcloth, calico, canvas, chambray, chenille, chino, chintz, corduroy, damask, denim, dotted Swiss, double knit, drill, duck, eyelet, flannel, gauze, gingham, interlock, jersey, lawn, Madras, monk's cloth, muslin, organdy, osnaburg, oxford cloth, piqu , pliss , poplin, sateen, seersucker, shirting, terry cloth, ticking, twill, velveteen, voile. All About Cotton is packed with information about the different weaves, yarns and finishes used to make cotton fabrics. Terms such as pima cotton, combed cotton, Egyptian cotton, Sea Island cotton and Peruvian cotton are clearly explained. A must for anyone who works with fabric! The Fabric Reference Series has been featured in Crafter's Choice, a division of Book-of-the-Month Club. Other books in the series include All About Silk, with 32 silk samples, and All About Wool, with 35 wool samples.



Editorial Reviews

Review

A set of very readable, useful books. ... Many not-so-well-written Ttrade manuals run into the three figures if they include samples, so these are certainly being pushed to the front of my birthday Twish list. They would make a great buy for a club library and excellent gifts for any textile student. -- Machine Knitting News, July 1997

At last, there are two resource books available to the home sewer that provide everything you need to know about cotton and silk. ... Easy to use and a pleasure just to leaf through, these two books are definitely worthy of being included in your home library. -- Vogue Patterns, Sept./Oct. 1993

From batik to voile, 42 cotton fabrics are described in this informative reference book. A swatch of each fabric type accompanies information on its origin and manufacture, sewing and fitting characteristics, care, cost and wearability. Cotton's assets, such as absorbency, and its liabilities, such as susceptibility to mildew, are discussed. A short essay links the cultivation and processing of cotton to the history of the United States through the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution and the current era. Glossaries of cotton terms and finishes, a list of the word for cotton in ten other languages, and mail-order sources are included. -- Handwoven, May/June 1993

If you love fabric, you'll love Julie Parker's meticulously researched and prepared Fabric Reference Series. ... Each book is thoroughly cross-referenced, making it easy to find information about a fabric's characteristics, how it's produced, and tips on its use for home sewers. The information is served up in small, easily digested bites, and combined with delicious swatches for each entry to give you a thorough understanding of the fabric category at hand. -- Toni Toomey, Threads, March 1997

Jam-packed with fabric examples, definitions and helpful hints about cotton fabrics. If you want to see what monk's cloth really is or find out some history on cotton, this is exactly what you need. -- Cotton Incorporated's StyleFile newsletter, Summer 1993

Parker has done a superb job combining all of her skills to present valuable information from the consumer's point of view in clear, uncomplicated language. -- Julie Berner, Northwest Fiber Network, May/June 1993

Parker presents facts and lore about cotton history, the cotton industry and shopping for cotton. She also describes the cotton plant and reports the fabric's assets and limitations. Information about each of the 42 cotton fabrics defined in the book fills a two-page spread. On one page, you'll find detailed fabric descriptions, how it's made and a mini-vocabulary of similar fabrics, related items or terms that need more explanation. The other page is a thorough checklist that provides the following at-a-glance details: degree of sewing difficulty, suggested styles and fit, characteristics that affect construction, care and wearability, likely cost per yard and where to find the fabric, such as major chain stores, fabric clubs or wholesale suppliers. ... The swatched volume allows a chance for hands-on evaluation of various cotton types before seeking one for your next cotton creation. -- Ann Price, Sew News, Sept. 1993

Part encyclopedia, part swatch book, All About Cotton is a beautifully produced, self-published book that explores the cotton fiber and surveys a rich selection of fabrics. ...Clearly the target audience of this book is clothing designers and anyone who sews, but All About Cotton would be a valuable addition to the bookshelf of the serious fiber artist who wants to learn more about fabrics. Moreover, writers of self-published books, monographs, newsletters, or patterns as well as those planning such a project should look towards this book as a fine example of what an individual can accomplish with desktop publishing tools. -- Charlene Anderson-Shea, Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot, Winter 1997/1998

Though written primarily for sewers, a weaver's knowledge is much enriched by the contents of these books. ... Julie Parker's background is in editing and she puts her skills to good use in making the text absolutely clear. If you've ever felt a little overwhelmed in a good fabric store, these books are for you. -- Madelyn van der Hoogt, Weaver's, Spring 1997

About the Author

Julie Parker is a former newspaper editor turned fabric junkie. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications from the University of Washington in Seattle and a second bachelor's degree in apparel design from Western Washington University in Bellingham. She was a newspaper editor for 10 years before returning to school to study clothing design. She is the author of three books and has worked with the Wool Bureau in New York to write a guide to wool fabrics that was distributed to members of the garment industry throughout North America. Her most recent book, All About Wool, was a finalist in the crafts category of the 1997 Small Press Book Awards. She and her husband live in Seattle.

Product Details

  • Plastic Comb: 120 pages
  • Publisher: Rain City Pub; Revised edition (November 15, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0963761234
  • ISBN-13: 978-0963761231
  • Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #287,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Average Customer Review
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars All three books in this series are invaluable!, August 10, 1999
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This review is from: All About Cotton: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Ser.; Vol. 2) (Fabric Reference Series) (Plastic Comb)
I love fabric and love to sew, but don't really know much about the fabrics I use. These books are so well-designed and well-written that it is a joy to learn from them. Be sure to buy the versions with the fabric samples included - that's what makes these books so special!
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference for fabric artists., April 28, 2001
By 
Ms. Ya-nan Chou "yaya chou" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: All About Cotton: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Ser.; Vol. 2) (Fabric Reference Series) (Plastic Comb)
The only fabric book comes with real fabric swatches. A great reference for fabric artists. You know how sometimes you want to achieve certain quality but don't know what material to use. The description of each fabric helps me to choose the right material for the right projects and make sure it stays that way forever. I also learn more materials for my fabric sculpture. I finally found this ideal book after so many years.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fabric Reference, June 22, 2007
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This review is from: All About Cotton: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Ser.; Vol. 2) (Fabric Reference Series) (Plastic Comb)
I've had this book for about six years and I still consult it at least monthly. Fabric vendors love to use hundred-year-old cryptic terms to describe fabric, most terms referring to the manufacturing method. Having never made my own fabric, I am not familiar with these terms. This book closes the gap and explains how the fabric is made, where it originated from, the predominant use of the fabric and its sewing characteristics. If you have a fabric stash, you need this book.

I also have the Silk and Wool books which are equally good (though I don't sew on wool or silk nearly as much as cotton).
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