For centuries, the opulent and luxurious qualities of silk and velvet have made them treasured fabrics throughout the world. To adventurous fiber artists, these sumptuous materials can be inviting, yet intimidating. Textile Surface Decoration: Silk and Velvet provides the detailed guidance needed to transform these fabrics into stunning new garments and original works of art.


In this book, veteran textile arts educator Margo Singer provides a thorough examination of the unique properties of silk and velvet as well as the history and traditions of decorating these textiles. She then shows how to produce traditional decorative effects using household materials and widely available craft supplies. Make a velvet Japanese shibori scarf with the help of an empty glass bottle, some twine, and a blow dryer. Cut acetate stencils to create a Fortuny-inspired Belle Epoque design. If a calabash isn't available, use foam blocks to recreate Ghanaian adinkra prints.


Textile Surface Decoration covers basic painting, immersion dyeing, block printing, and stenciling along with a variety of resist, devore, and discharge methods. Singer includes product recommendations and formulas for mixing custom dyes. The book goes beyond dyeing into embroidery, foiling, and even slashing. Numerous color photographs of traditional and contemporary fiber arts from around the world will inspire both the weekend crafter and the devoted textile artist. From Scottish paisley to the mud cloth of Mali, Textile Surface Decoration offers a world of ideas to enhance the most radiant of fabrics.