Stitch and Structure - Book Review
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This post was last edited/updated in March 2021.
Today I'm bringing you another book review, but this one isn't specific about felting. In fact, it's about textile art, not felting, but I think that in order to push felting further into the realm of textile and fiber art, we must find ways to link them together. Not only that but in order to progress as artists ourselves, we must seek inspiration from a variety of sources, especially ones that have nothing to do with our chosen medium itself (in this case, felting).
Stitch and Structure by Jean Draper is a book I received as a gift from my brother a little over a year ago, when I first created the Star Magnolias Facebook page (but before I launched my website) and pushed my interest in finally following my dreams as an artist. It's published by Batsford, which have yet do disappoint in their choice of subject matter/authors for textile/fiber art, and I have a few other of their books on my wishlist (I really love Batsford books). Seriously though, on the topic of Jean Draper sharing her secrets: I think she is absolutely amazing and love the fact that I have a book written by her.
Jean Draper - Aftermath Three of Seven Forms
Probably one of my favorite things about this book as opposed to most other books is how it has a section on how to find inspiration for your art. Think about it. Most books will give you plenty of examples of already made art to use as inspiration for your work (and there is certainly plenty of that in here), and many others will simply provide you with instructions on how to make, as my high school art teacher would call them, “Mickey Mouse projects” (meaning cookie-cutter, copy and paste). I have no difficulty with ideas of projects, and I absolutely appreciate craft tutorials for what they are. In fact, I utilize them quite a bit, especially when I don’t know how to do something! All that said, I really appreciate an “art course book” to help push me to the next level - and this is one of those.
In fact, I spent the next few weeks after reading this book and writing this review going out photographing nature, making sketches of things I looked at under a microscope (yes, I have one, we’re homeschoolers after all), and trying to emulate some of the stitches she uses in her work. I even shared them in an album on my Facebook page for anyone else who would like to borrow from my photographs for inspiration.
Jean Draper - Rock Rhythms
Back to the book itself, this is anything but another stitching book. There are plenty of books out there on stitches and quilting and embroidery and sewing and what is essentially two-dimensional textile art. This book is all about thick, structural, relief or even full-on three-dimensional textile art, and I think this is where you'll find your link to felting if you want to try to expand on that. One of the things that draws me to felt is that it can be both a two-dimensional medium, as in wool paintings, or it can be three-dimensional as in felt sculptures or wearable items. With Stitch and Structure, you're essentially opening your eyes to look at thread (much like we did when we first looked at wool fiber in total awe) as something that is fully capable of creating a three dimensional object. Do you remember your aha moment? That first moment of amazement when you realized that this ball of fluff could become anything you want if you just stab it the right way? I had that moment again while reading this book.
Now here is where it gets really cool. Have you ever looked at a fiber art book (like a coffee table book) and were just blown away by the beautiful art, wondering how they possibly made those coiled baskets out of cord and thread, or vessels, or just really visually intriguing wall art? This book tells you how to make those! It is no longer out of reach. It's not something that you have to spend days trying to figure out on your own, it's been figured out for you. I LOVE that she even included a bit about kantha stitching, which is something that has intrigued me for quite some time, and I was planning on making some kantha quilts for the summer out of silk sarees instead of the usual cotton ones (though I'll likely make cotton ones as well).
Do I recommend this to someone who is interesting in felting only as a craft or hobby, but otherwise has little to no interest in the fiber art world? No, and I don't think that there's anything wrong with that; we all need to do what makes us happy! Do I recommend this book for someone who is interested in fiber art beyond just felting cute objects and wants to be guided how to look at the world through the eyes of an artist and possibly in learning new ways to use stitches in a structural fashion? Absolutely! For me, this is definitely a keeper.