New ACC Library Books: December 2012

The American Craft Council Library has some interesting and inspiring new books in its collection. Here are a few books in the fiber family to enjoy.

Henrietta Thompson, a design writer and curator based in London and Barcelona and the author of Remake It: Home, has written a new book entitled Remake it: Clothes. She builds upon the remake, recycle, and refresh aesthetic, with smart ideas and great design alongside innovative examples from international designers. For example, ideas for repurposing T-shirts into other shirts is immediately followed by Issey Miyake’s concept of the A-POC (tubular knitwear that can be cut without fraying into endless variations). Check out American Craft's recent review.

Fashion & Sustainability: Design for Change by Kate Fletcher and Lynda Grose states that sustainability is the defining theme of the 21st century, and discusses the issues it presents to the fashion industry. The impact of a garment can be reduced across its lifecycle, from manufacturing through distribution, use and reuse. Fashion systems can be transformed with different business models, and designer-innovators can extend their roles beyond creator to activist or facilitator, to bring about systemic change. Read an interview with Kate Fletcher.

Sandy Black charts the development of knitting from domestic handcraft to a sophisticated computer-controlled textile production process in Knitting: Fashion, Industry, Craft. With photography from the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection of knitted fashions, which dates back to the fourth century, Black illustrates knitting with articles of everyday use and masterly examples of intricate special-occasion lace. The book includes high fashion knitwear as well.

In Step It Up Knits, Vickie Howell, knitter and host of DIY Networks’s “Knitty Gritty,” presents the techniques needed to become a master knitter. Her 25 projects include wrist warmers, cowls, lacy headbands, leg warmers, hats, and shrugs – many which can be completed in a cool winter weekend.

More than 70 artists are presented in Art Quilt Portfolio: The Natural World, with an in-depth look given to 19 featured artists through photos of their quilts and observations about their backgrounds and signature techniques. Galleries are divided into subjects: flowers, birds, water, animals, leaves, trees, and textures. The featured artists present their techniques and processes, use of color, and more.

Thom Atkins teaches basic stitches and embellishments to add texture and drama in Beading Artistry for Quilts. Atkins usually starts with the beads when designing quilts, using them to add texture while allowing areas of the fabric to be left exposed. He teaches about beads, tools, and technique - all illustrated with diagrams and photographs of examples.

To see more books on fiber and textile art and design visit our library catalog. If you find yourself in Minneapolis-St. Paul, stop by the ACC Library to check out these, and other, resources – whether you make, collect, or simply enjoy reading about craft.

A weekly shout out to the printed word, From the Stacks highlights what's new and what's loved in the American Craft Council Library.