All About Silk: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Series, Volume 1) [Plastic Comb]

Julie Parker (Author)

Book Description

Series: Fabric Reference Series, Volume 1 | Publication Date: December 1992

The three books in Julie Parker's Fabric Reference Series explain the different fabrics made from silk, cotton and wool, using plain English instead of technical jargon. A detailed description of each fabric is illustrated with a real cloth example, right there on the same page, which clarifies in the simplest way what a silk shantung, cotton seersucker or boiled wool actually looks and feels like.

All About Silk is the first volume in the series. A brief introduction covers the history of silk, the main sources of silk and the silk textile industry, followed by descriptions and samples of 32 silk fabrics, in alphabetical order: batiste de soie, broadcloth, brocade, charmeuse, chiffon, China silk, cloque, crepe, crepe de Chine, douppioni, four-ply silk, gabardine, georgette, habutai, jacquard, knit, matelasse, matka, noil, organza, peau de soie, pongee, printed silk, sandwashed silk, shantung, suiting, surah, taffeta, Thai silk, tussah silk, tweed, velvet.

All About Silk is packed with information about the different weaves, yarns and finishes used to make silk fabrics. Terms such as cultivated silk, wild silk, raw silk and spun silk are clearly explained. The author uses simple drawings, an easy-to-read, consistent format and clear uncomplicated language.

Other books in the series include All About Cotton, with 40 cotton samples, and All About Wool, with 35 wool samples.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Explores the most versatile, popular and luxurious of all fabrics. Information on silk's history, the silk industry and silk's allure and limitations are included along with some details about the Bombyx mori (silk moth) a creature whose behavior makes it as singular as the fabrics made from its cocoons. The 32 swatches give you a chance for hands-on evaluation of the various silk types before seeking one for your next silk creation. Accompanying each swatch is a checklist covering more than 100 aspects of the fabric, including its care, uses, price range, wearability, suggested styles and the ease or difficulty of working with the fabric. ...A readable and enjoyable exploration from the "soft-as-down" habutai to the slubs and texture of douppioni. -- Ann Price, Sew News, Nov. 1992

A new concept in sewing books is not easy to come by, but Julie Parker has one, and it's a winner. Her All About Silk includes real samples of 32 different silk fabrics, which clarifies in the most obvious way what a matelass or a peau de soie actually looks and feels like. Each mounted swatch is 2-1/2 by 4 in., and comes with a full-page checklist explaining its qualities from the sewer's point of view. Mail-order silk sources and a host of silk facts are included. Great idea! -- David Page Coffin, Threads, Dec. 1992/Jan. 1993

A set of very readable, useful books. ... Many not-so-well-written 'trade' manuals run into the three figures if they include samples, so these are certainly being pushed to the front of my birthday 'wish 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

Fascinating information about commercial silk fabrics accompanies the 32 swatches in this handy reference, and tips for sewing and care are included with each swatch. Written to help the home sewer judge fabric before buying, this book should also be useful to anyone weaving or printing on silk. -- Handwoven, Nov./Dec. 1993

If you would like to be able to ask for a fabric by name, hold an intelligent conversation about fabric, or locate a fabric you have spotted in ready-to-wear, Julie Parker's Fabric Reference books are for you. -- From Sandra Betzina Webster, syndicated sewing columnist, Oct. 1993

This thorough and well-organized handbook will prove valuable to anyone working with silk, whether focusing on clothing design or construction. -- Julie Berner, Northwest Fiber Network, Nov./Dec. 1992

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

Unlike many textile books, All About Silk is understandable and not at all dry. The attractive layout of the book should win an award for clarity and ease of use. -- Teri Hales, Sewer's SourceLetter, Winter 1993

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 recently was hired by 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 lives in Seattle.

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Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 92 pages
• Publisher: Rain City Pub (December 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096376120X
• ISBN-13: 978-0963761200
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #805,393 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensible resource for silk junkies!, May 31, 2002

By 

Lola (wanderer) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All About Silk: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Series, Volume 1) (Plastic Comb)

This book was love-at-first-sight. It doesn't blab unnecessarily about the fabric, just lets you touch and see it for yourself. While being very visual and tactile, it also devotes a page with all the relevant information about each particular kind of silk (and who would have thought there would be so many?!): how to care for it, how difficult it is to sew, the ideal projects for each fabric, its characteristics, its approximate price per yard, hints/tips for working with the fabric, etc. I wish there was a reference book like this for everything! It has really inspired me and given me the confidence and knowledge that I need to both shop for silk and start some projects.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, February 7, 2002

By 

Desiree (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: All About Silk: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Series, Volume 1) (Plastic Comb)

I got this book through the Crafter's Choice bookclub, but I had to come here to recommend it. It is ideal literally for anyone. Someone who wants to know more about the fabrics they wear, or as a book for someone like myself who knows a good deal about fabrics to refer to, which I often do. I'm a student at Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan, so I've taken textile classes before and know my fair share. I even have a swatchbook with many fabrics but this books is just exceptional. I will definitely buy the wool and cotton versions of this book eventually. Silk is my favorite fabric to sew in so it was a priority. The book has a really great layout also, making it not too much reading and easy to find the information you are looking for. You can find in the book what to expect from each fabric when you're sewing it, how to take care of it, all its variations, suggestions on fitting, really anything important that you'd need to know about a fabric.... and then more, making you knowledgable on the subject.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a wonderful book!, December 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: All About Silk: A Fabric Dictionary & Swatchbook (Fabric Reference Series, Volume 1) (Plastic Comb)

I don't know how to sew, but I love this book because I buy most of my clothes from mail-order catalogs and this book helps me understand the catalog descriptions. The fabric samples are a great idea! I also bought the cotton and wool books. I use the books every time a catalog comes in the mail. What a difference it makes to understand what is meant by poplin, twill, charmeuse, etc. Plus, they're just fun to read.