Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

This is the perfect book if your local fabric store doesn't carry any (or enough) silk to learn on your own. Words just can't replace running the fabric through your fingers to see if it will work for your project, and this book lets you do that and more. The information collected here is worth twice the asking price. Now you can order what you need off the internet sites and have a better idea what to expect.

I cannot say enough good things about this book (or for that matter the entire series!).
The author has an entertaining, easy to read writing style. She presents a great deal of information, and rather than feeling overwhelmed, the reader is able to learn a great deal.
The very best thing about this book is the fabric samples. If you have ever wondered about what a specific type of silk feels like, then you will have your answer. You just cannot get this information from a written description. This book is indespensible for fashionistas, designers, sewers and anyone else interested in clothing or fabric.

When identifying fabric, texture is more important than appearance. Even though I don't sew, I do purchase vintage items for my prop company and I have to label the outfit in the description. If you want to learn about fabric, this is the way to go.

I have sewn for many years but have very little experience with silk so I decided to "take a class" by purchasing this book. I found it to be very well written and informative. The swatches provide a great visual aid to what you are learning. Use of the internet now a days is invaluable and I highly recommend you view some videos on silk worms as it will further your understanding of silk thread. I now understand why "true, quality silk" is so expensive and have a new understanding of fabrics made with it. I also learned about how much of our fabrics sold in big chain fabric stores are more likely to carry blended, or completely synthetic fibers and use a version of the word "silk" in the fabric description, even if the fabric contains no silk fibers at all. I will be ordering the authors book on wool in the near future so as to learn more about this type of fabric.