Customer Reviews

Feltmaking (The Art of Crafts)

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I am an elementary school teacher and craftsperson involved in developing work in many mediums and techniques. I discovered the rather obscure, yet ancient and international, art form of feltmaking several years ago. It is easy, quick and satisfying to create many types of things from beads to clothing, scarves, masks, wallhangings. In England - where this book's authors reside - feltmaking is often successfully used with school children because it is so tactile and generally failsafe. The authors have researched their art carefully and been inventive with many possible techniques. They include samples and ideas not just of their own devising, but of other felt artists with whom they collaborate - many of whom McGavock and Lewis introduced to feltmaking in workshops that they have taught. This is a terrific book filled with tons of practical information and creative ideas - old and new - to get anyone interested in textile craft to leap into action creating exciting felt works! It includes great color photographs for the visual learner. VERY simple materials are required...ANYONE CAN DO THIS - and have fun!

This book was not what I expected after reading the reviews and veiwing the "look inside" pages. Why? It doesn't explain how to make felt very well. The author states things like "it's hard to describe what it should look like but you'll know when you see it" and uses line drawings that don't add to the clarity of the process either. I have a BFA in Art and am in the middle of getting my Masters and I couldn't get my felt to work from these instructions alone. I had to find four outside sources before I found - by experimentation - a funtional way to make felt. The majority of the pictures in the book are blurry and bad quality and they aren't explained. For example - the photo of the piece on the front of the book is not shown in a "how-to" anywhere nor briefly described in any way. This was the first book I have ever returned to Amazon for a refund and I buy a ton of art books from Amazon every year. If you already know how to make felt and are looking for some kid friendly projects I can see where this book could be useful and the history of the craft that is included in the first chapter is informative as well. It's not a horrible book but the reviews that are up and the "look inside" are a bit misleading, especially if you're wanting to make felt for the first time and really need something informative.

I began working with felt about 11 years ago and really enjoyed the simplicy of the process. I haven't done much felting in the last few years but this book has rekindled my interest in all the creative possibilities feltmaking offers. Feltmaking begins with a short history of the process and moves into describing the basic technique. This instructional section includes: an explanation of why wool is used for felting; the equipment necessary to make felt; a step by step description of the basic process and; instructions on variations of the basic process (i.e. making 3-dimensional felted pieces). The book also includes short biographies of contemporary feltmakers and photographs of their work. Although the book is interesting and informative, I thought some of the instructions would have been helped by additional illustrations and/or photographs. Despite this, I'm glad Feltmaking is part of my library.

This is a great book for fibre Artists, it excites the imagination and ideas flow which is needed at times.