The Art of Manipulating Fabric Paperback – 1 Feb. 2003

I’ve bought this book as a gift. I have a copy of my own which is great for trying out a wide variety of fabric manipulations including smocking, controlled pleats, godets , with full instructions on how to do them. All photographs are in black and white which is fine because the fabrics used in all techniques are also white which makes the textures of the fabric very visible.

I couldn't put the book down when it first arrived! Lots of knowledge, useful diagrams and photos showing techniques. Will be an invaluable source when I start sewing some of my ideas and making them reality!

Sure this book is in black and white but it is a rare find and has its own beauty in its monochrome as the pictures work on shade & light to feature the effect, which works. I’m bewitched, it’s a pouring of complete passion and library reference of techniques and the benefit of a lifetimes work catalogued in one place. I don’t know any other book as a ‘go-to’ guide for anyone wanting to learn various techniques from basic to advanced, and allow experimentation on the way in a book quite like this one. Step by step guides with pictures to bring fabric to life from start to end. It is definitely going to be well used in my workroom - well done Colette Wolff - a great book.

If you love fabric flowers, ruching, shirring, VV Rouleux ribbons, pleating etc and you like Molly Goddard's dresses and Boho outfits, then you need to buy this book. I learnt more from 10 minutes reading this in a café than I have on some sewing courses. You can translate every technique in here onto any project, try it on quilts, bags, curtains, you name it. This book is a bible of knowledge and demystifies what looks complex in couture, to very simple samples, that will give your projects the WOW factor. No need to buy textured, expensive dress fabrics, you CAN do it yourself.

My copy is already getting a bit dog eared from use - always a good sign in a reference book! This work takes what you already knew - or thought you knew - about using fabric, and takes it further. From the simplest (eg how long does a ruffle need to be to give the effect you want?), to using godets and other inserts, to three dimensional objects ... if you want to design your own costumes or clothes, or to use fabric as decoration, or to understand how to manipulate fabric to make quilts, hangings, cushions, etc, etc, this is an essential reference book. If you want a set of recipes for projects, look elsewhere!

This book is great. It's an encyclopedia of fabric manipulation and smocking. I am docking a star though as I though the book would have been more beneficial if the photos were done in colour. It would have sharpened the fabric effects alot more giving the reader a better idea of how the effects would look.There is a step by step guide as well for you to be able to try these fabric manipulations out.

This book, although heavily text based and would benefit from more colour images, is really great. If you want to learn about quilting stitches and interesting surface texture this book is great. I'm a pattern cutter who bought this book, so as to understand how much fabric gets used up in decoration like this. I recently received couture unfolded for christmas and it is the poor man's version of this book.

This book contains a variety of fabric manipulation techniques, anything from simple ruffles to more complex dimensional forms. I find it useful because it does go into great detail to explain how different techniques will affect the final product.