Friends, I’m a fabric addict. So it should come as no surprise to you that I’m in love with this book! It’s the brand-new second edition of Fabric for Fashion: The Swatch Book! I had my eye on the first edition, but it’s been out of print for some time, so I was really excited to receive this from Laurence King.
The book is packed with information about different types of fibers, and it’s all very clear and well-organized. The book is divided into sections about animal fibers, plant fibers, and man-made fibers, and is subdivided into smaller groups within each section. It’s easy to navigate and find what you’re looking for.
But the stars of the show are the swatches! There are 125 swatches, an almost shocking amount! I’m not sure I could’ve named 25 different types of fabric, let alone 125, before picking up this book! But I really appreciate that they sampled so many variations of fabric because it’s the variations on similar fabrics that are really hard to tell apart, right? It’s really easy to tell cotton twill from silk charmeuse when they’re both in front of you, but can you tell the difference between silk habotai and silk crepe de chine? Cotton satin and cotton sateen? Lawn and organdie? You can with the help of this book!
I really appreciate that the book gives good information on which fabrics are more ecologically sustainable (hemp, ramie, and jute are three examples… none of which are easy to find in my neck of the woods!) and which ones need lots of processing. I also really like that the qualities and best uses for different fabrics are listed (so you can decide whether to use silk, viscose, acetate, or polyester satin for your garment, depending on whether you need your garment to resist wrinkles, be very colorfast, wash well, or mold to the body).
The swatches are, for the most part, undyed (read: beige). I was hoping for a rainbow of colors and prints, but the authors were probably right- you want to notice the qualities of the fabric, not the colors and prints! But dudes, I still love the swatches. I’m a touchy-feely person and when it comes to fabric, even more so! You can read pages and pages about a fabric’s qualities, but nothing is quite so telling as touching a swatch!
I really, really like this book and wish that everyone could grab a copy. However. The big drawback is the cost- $95 USD retail price (although you can preorder it from Amazon for $63). Yikes! I understand why it costs so much – it can’t be cheap to produce and assemble – but still, it’s expensive. Better put it in your letter to Santa and cross your fingers that you’re on the nice list, not the naughty one! Or request it for your local library- it’s a great resource!
Good news: I can give away a copy to a US reader (I’m sorry, international friends… I’ve got another giveaway coming up that you’ll be able to enter)! Please use the Google form below to enter. I’ll draw a winner on Sunday, November 9th.
One last item of business- I forgot to announce it earlier, but the winner of the Famous Frocks: The Little Black Dress giveaway is Sarah Moum! Yay!
What have you guys been up to lately? Picked up any good sewing books lately?
Ginger Makes... 
HOLY CROW! Just today, I was feeling some fabric in a thrift store, wondering what it was!!! And sometimes, I hear at the words lawn… voile… batiste… and I just want a feel so I know. I’m a kinesthetic learner, you see 🙂 I would love to win. As for sewing books that are new to me… “Pattern Drafting and Grading” By M. Rohr It’s an encyclopedia of good stuff.
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Thanks for the tip about the book! I’ll keep an eye on secondhand shops… maybe I’ll get lucky and find a copy!
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OMG, I need one. Why must I live in Australia, where books are even more expensive?? I’m totally asking Santa. 125 swatches you say? Sweeeeeet!!
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Come on, Santa!!!
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Ooh thanks for the heads up, I’ve been eying this book up for a while, how great that they’ve decided to make a second edition and just in time for Christmas! This will definitely be on my list!
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Oh there is so much to learn about fabric and I am sure this book will teach it all! I just bought Joi Mahone’s book, Create the Perfect Fit, and I am learning so much about pattern alteration.
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Ooh, thanks for the tip! That looks like a great book! I could definitely use some help with my fitting techniques!
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That sounds like fun! And exactly like something I really need. 😉 Sadly US books are hard to get here in Europe. But it’s on my “Someday when I visit NYC” shopping list, like many other things! 😉
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This publishing company is actually based out of the UK, so maybe this will be easier to get your hands on? Hopefully, anyway! But either way, hope to see you in New York one day!
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I love your book reports, though they’re a bit dangerous as I end up needing the books you’re reviewed … I’m going to write to Santa now .)
Friederike, have you tried http://www.bookdepository.com for US books? They have quite a good selection and free delivery.
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Uh-oh, sorry about that! I don’t mean to tempt too much!
Thanks for the note about Book Depository! I bought Love at First Stitch from them a while back, and the cost of the book was quite reasonable, plus free international shipping?! Crazy!
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Thanks a lot for the good tip! You’re right, they have a good selection and a good price.
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I would love this book-especially since I do so much online fabric shopping. I hold my breath and hope the fabric works.
I just bought the Alabama Chanin books, I love the fabric created by stenciling, beading, applique.
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Do you read the blog Today’s Agenda? Gail has been working on some really beautiful projects using the Alabama Chanin techniques. They’re very cool!
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What a tremendous resource! One more reason to like this blog.
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Thank you for your kind words, MaryAnn! 🙂
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Oh wow wow wow! I am totally useless when it comes to determining fabric. Useless. This is the book of my dreams. It looks incredible. Thanks for sharing and here’s hoping!
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It definitely takes time and exposure to lots of fabrics! But hopefully I’ll get better at figuring out what fabrics are… some of the vendors in the Garment District fib about the fiber content!!
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This has to be THE book for us fabric nerds! I had to check immediately, and I can get it here in Finland for 62,50 €. It’s not cheap, but maybe as an early Christmas present for myself…? Thanks for the review!
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Christmas gifts to yourself are the BEST gifts! I just bought a scarf as a little birthday gift for myself… I felt a little naughty doing it, but every once in a while, a little gift doesn’t hurt, right?
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That’s really cool! I wonder how accurately or reliably descriptions of fabric from online stores will translate into descriptions/swatches from the book, that would be super helpful for those of us in fabric deserts who can’t always touch the fabric before it arrives. 🙂
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That’s a good question. I’m never certain how reliable different descriptions are, and things like fabric weight seem so subjective sometimes (is this lightweight, or is it medium?). But it’s got to help at least a little!
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This book is THE “it” gift this year for us fiber artists! I certainly understand why it is so expensive, but what a great reference piece to have in your sewing library!
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What an awesome book!
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Thanks so much for giving away such a fabulous book! I’m a big sucker myself for fabric swatches.
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I have been wanting just something just like this. I’m pretty new to clothing sewing and I love all my sewing bloggers, but when ya’ll talk about this fabric or that fabric, I have no idea what it means. Being able to feel the different types of fabric will be so helpful. Also, taking advantage of on-line shops is really difficult when you don’t understand names and weights and textures. Thank you for hosting this give away.
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This looks like a great book! It’s definitely going on my Santa list!
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Want this sooooo bad! Luckily I have some Amazon points that should cover the cost, if I don’t win that is 😉 haha!
I also like that you did that Google Form thing for the giveaway. I’m going to have to try that out for my next giveaway!
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Sweeeeeeet, Amazon points! Awesome!
Hopefully people don’t mind the Google Form! I don’t know if other people can see all the other entries or if they care. It was just getting too hard to count up all the comments and then try to find people’s email addresses! This is much, much quicker!
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WOW… the main reason that would be an ideal book to have is because I seem to order way more fabric online than at that “local fabric store chain.” (Their choices are severely lacking!) But I hesitate because I like to FEEL and touch fabric to see if it is the right thing for what I want to make… I wonder if I am on the naughty list? Sigh…. I hope not!
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I’m scared to ask Santa… guess it depends on whether or not he knows what our fabric stashes look like, yikes!
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This book looks great. I’m a total nerd about textiles and do already have some textbooks on the subject… but I’ve read them many times and like to read all the sources out there! This one looks like it might have different info and visually interesting, too. It’s probably a really good price- the swatch book and companion text I had to buy in school totaled almost $200! And you had to staple in the swatches yourself! (actually a good learning exercise, but AH so annoying. 🙂
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Oh I think I know that swatch book from school too. Such a hassle. I need this book – I’ve been thinking about making my own.
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Oh, wow, that sounds like a real timesuck! But I bet you really get familiar with the fabric types!
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lol. It was fun doing the burn test on some of them 🙂
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Wow! I love color too but w/these undyed swatches I can feel w/my eyes open and learn texture, depth, warp&weft, or w/my eyes shut and try to figure out what the fiber is. Awesome. I’m in!
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It looks like a great book! Thanks for the review<3
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This is amazing!!! But that price point – ouch! Fingers crossed I win it, but if not, it’s definitely going on the Christmas wish list 😉
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I am lucky enough to have a first edition of this book, so I don’t need to be in the drawing, but I want to say that I love having it on hand and have used it countless times to check the difference of fabrics. And maybe just to sit and pet the swatches for an undisclosed amount of time 😉
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Ahhhh, I’m so glad to hear that it’s really useful! Thanks for sharing!
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Fun stuff! Now I’m going to have to get this book you know. You are quite the enabler. I think it would be a fabu addition though since I do pick up fabric now & then from the thrift store. I just posted a pic of a couple recent thrift store fabric hauls on my blog a couple days ago. Oh…& as for books…I also threw a few of my fitting books & a DVD in that pic too. I need to spend more time with them most definitely. And also, b/c of you, I’ve been meandering around Mood’s website more lately. I do think I should buy more from them since they have a Boston named Swatch, don’t you agree? 🙂
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Yes, yes, how can you not support a Boston Terrier family?? Swatch is HUGE! He might be mixed with something else because he’s way bigger than any Boston I’ve ever seen… like, he’s nearly pit bull sized!!!
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Oooh, great review and terrific give away. I have entered (although I live in Canada) cuz my family lives in the US and I can ship it to my mother in the lucky event that I might be the winner 🙂
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I probably have enough fabric to assemble one of these books myself and yet I want it… Does anyone else buy fabric online just because the description sounds like something you’ve never seen before? Hmm, linen knit… I wonder what that feels like… and then it’s in my cart.
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I would definitely be guilty of that if I was an online shopper! What DOES linen knit feel like???
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Kind of like a sweater knit because the fibers are bulky, but cool enough to wear in the summer. Weird!
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Awesome book! WIll go on my amazonian wishlist IF IF IF I don’t win….which is nearly impossible because I think positive, so therefore I’ll win. LOL 😀
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This is a really great book. I bought the first edition and love it. Yes it is expensive but really great to help learn about fabrics.
p.s. I’m an international so can’t enter, but good luck to the ladies who can 🙂
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This reminds me of the book that I had at FIDM. If only I had kept it! Great give away though!
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Awesome resource! I can just imagine how many hours I could spend looking through this book:) Thanks for the giveaway!
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I am not eligible for the giveaway but what a great resource book. I love the idea of swatches. There is no substitute for the real fabric! xx
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Ooh, there’s a 2nd edition! Fantastic. This is top of my list for when I’m done with reading about baby shiz.
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Looks like a great reference, but ouch! on the price!
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Hi I am so thrilled I found your blog, I really found you
by mistake, while I was browsing on Google for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a incredible post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don’t have time to look over it all at the minute
but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the fantastic work.
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I want this book so badly!! I live in Canada so I hope you have the international giveaway soon 🙂 !!! It would really help me improve my fashion/sewing skills!
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Very Nice ….
Good One…
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