Hot Textiles: Inspiration and Techniques with Heat Tools [Hardcover]

Kim Thittichai (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2008

Textile artists will find this unique guide—which follows up on the bestselling Fusing Fabrics—a superbly practical and inspirational introduction to a truly “hot” topic! With detailed instructions, beautiful photography, and health and safety advice, it explains how such equipment as soldering irons, heat guns, and even household irons can add stunning levels of texture and variety to all types of fabrics. The range of techniques covered is amazing: hot and cold foiling, painted and plain Bondaweb (fusible webbing), bead making from synthetics, three-dimensional work, embossing powders, and so much more. There are even ideas for melting and distorting plastic bags and cellophane, and for using a combination of tools and fabrics to create various layers on a single piece.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Hot , in British artist Thittichai’s parlance, means the application of heat to specific textiles to create a range of works, from decorative hangings to practical gift cards. As the green movement increases in power, hot can also denote a trend that’s hard to ignore: how to recycle and repurpose the amazing quantity of grocery packaging (among others) that the world produces? Thankfully, the author uses both Rs in this meandering exploration of transforming space-age materials and, yes, plastics. Textiles take first and second place, whether name brands like Tyvek (10 percent polyester) and different weights of the interfacing Pellon to plan everyday plastic shopping bags and candy wrappers. Much space, too, is devoted to safety, such as toiling in a well-ventilated room and wearing protection while using irons, solderers, and guns. Yet, since techniques are so heavily dependent on the combination of materials and amount of heat, readers will have to be content with the glorious number of color examples from nine artists, a handful of exercises to practice, and a few projects (brooch, greeting cards). True eco-imagination at work—and play. --Barbara Jacobs

Review

'Looking at inspiration and techniques with hear tools, textile artist Kim Thittichai is officially hot stuff! The inspirational examples in the book use heat tools such as soldering irons, craft hot air tools and household irons..the resulting surfaces are wonderfully textured and, when embellishment is added, the results are stunning'. Stitch magazine

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Batsford (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713490403
• ISBN-13: 978-0713490404
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the Contrary, February 9, 2008

By 

Roberta L. Payne - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hot Textiles: Inspiration and Techniques with Heat Tools (Hardcover)

Contrary to the previous reviewer who didn't think Kim Thittichai (Hot Textiles) did a good job on addressing the safety issues...I beg to differ. I'm only on page 27 and so far Ms. Thittichai addresses the safety issue on page(s) 7 (2 paragraphs); pg 10, entire page; pg 12, 1 paragraph; pg. 15, 1 paragraph; pg. 17, warning; pg 24, entire page. I think this is an excellent book which leads the artist into using different mediums and how to safely use each of them. I'd highly recommend this book to someone who has used some of the products as well as someone who is new to working in this textile environment.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book, April 10, 2008

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P. Cozby (NV United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hot Textiles: Inspiration and Techniques with Heat Tools (Hardcover)

This is one of the few books I have bought that I read cover to cover. I can't wait to get started on everything!

There are not step by step directions but there are good descriptions of what to do to achieve each effect. It might not be the book for a beginner. The pictures are wonderful.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Book, February 22, 2008

By 

Dunlap Bean (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hot Textiles: Inspiration and Techniques with Heat Tools (Hardcover)

Although I am not skilled in this type of art, I am a visual artist. This book and the methods shown intrigued me enough that I will try to find a way to incorporate some of the methods and materials into my work.