Heritage Crafts & Skills

A guide to the history of basketry and willow weaving, from ancient times to today, plus photos and information for crafters. The story begins in prehistory, when people first wove plant fibers together to create containers, shelters, and fences. This book explores the ways in which basketry and willow weaving has continued to be important throughout human history in artistic, economic, and functional terms. It brings us up to date via interviews with modern basketry and willow weaving artisans who generously allowed the author a window into their studios and discussed the way they use and adapt traditional methods, techniques, and tools for the twenty-first century. Photos of their work and their working environments offer a unique view into the world of this ancient craft. Finally, in case you're inspired to try your hand, the book also has a resources section that includes a valuable list of suppliers of plant fibers, plants, and tools, as well as information about training courses, useful websites, and more-everything you need to get started.

A history and handbook explaining this ancient craft, including step-by-step instructions for beginners. This book offers a journey through the history of the ancient craft of felting from the earliest times, when people first discovered that animal fiber, moisture, and friction created a durable, warm fabric. Felt has been used for everything from apparel to housing, it has been used for practical, decorative, and even religious applications. This book looks at the rise and fall of felting through history and into the industrial era, including its importance to the hat-making industry. The second part of the book brings us to the modern-and some might say, golden-era of artisanal felting with interviews from felters and textile artists generously sharing their creative process. Finally, if you are inspired to try this fascinating craft, there are step-by-step instructions for both wet and needle felting, and a useful list of resources to get you started on your own felt-making journey.

A look at the extensive history of the folkcraft, its presence in the modern world, and resources to help beginners enter the world of textile artistry. This book offers a whistle-stop guide to the history of spinning and weaving. The story begins in prehistory when people first wove yarns to create clothing and blankets. The book explores how spinning and weaving have continued to be important throughout human history (or should that be herstory), in artistic, economic, and functional terms. The second part of the book brings us up to date, via interviews with modern-day spinning and weaving artisans. These textiles artists generously allowed the author a window into their studios and discussed the way they use and adapt traditional methods, techniques, and tools for the twenty-first century. Photos of their work and their working environment offer a unique view into the world of this ancient craft. Finally, if you are inspired to try your hand at this fascinating art, the book also has a resources section. It includes a valuable list of suppliers of fiber, dyes, tools, and yarn, as well as information about training courses, useful websites, and more-everything you need to get started.

This book offers a whistle-stop guide to the history of dyeing. The story begins in prehistory when people discovered and used the glory of colors created by earth pigments, plants and more. We move through history from the medieval dye gardens to the horrors of chemical dyes from the Victorian era that damaged watercourses, created pollution and caused terrible sickness and untold deaths. Today, along with safe commercial dyes, modern 'cottage industries' are once more the leaders in the innovative use of dye plants. The second part of the book brings us up to date, via interviews with modern day artisans. These dye workers generously allowed the author access to their studios and creative lives and discussed the way they use and adapt traditional methods, techniques and tools for the twenty-first century. Photos of their craft offers a unique window into the world of dyes. Finally, if you are inspired to try your hand at this fascinating craft, the book has a section that explains simple eco dyeing and planning your own dye garden. It also has a resources section containing a valuable list of suppliers of plants, seeds, dyes, tools and materials, as well as information about training courses, useful websites and more – everything you need to get started!