Embellish me How to print, dye, and decorate your fabric

*Starred Review* Persuading other designers to collaborate on a crafts book is unusual but certainly nothing new. What stands out in first-time editor-author Wisbrun's collection is her joy with (and space devoted to) 10 designers, all of whom boast growing international renown. Each contributes not only a handful of step-by-step photographic how-to's on her particular specialty but also spotlights her work in a four- to six-page gallery and submits to an interview. The 30-plus choices of embellishment techniques range from old (applique, dyeing, and embroidering) to new digital-like methods, such as cyanotype printing (a photographic process that uses sunlight to print an image). Nor are the initial stages of embellishment neglected: Wisbrun covers a wide span of tools and techniques as well as fundamental fabric abcs, while Maine artist Heather Dutton provides a good overview of how to design a pattern. A further bonus is a final chapter on going pro, complete with three perspectives cum interviews.--Jacobs, Barbara Copyright 2010 Booklist

Austin-based fabric designer Wisbrun explores the possibilities of fabric embellishment in her first book, which covers a diverse variety of techniques for adding pizzazz to sewing projects. After an overview of fabric types and design principles, Wisbrun gets into the nitty-gritty of decorating fabric, including printing, dyeing, and embellishing with beads, sequins, thread, and other elements. Interviews with professional fabric artists are included throughout the book, allowing sewists a peek inside several different studios. VERDICT Wisbrun's techniques apply to all crafts involving fabric, from garment and accessory sewing to quilting to embroidery, so there's plenty of appeal here. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.