49 Sensational Skirts Book Review
Willoughby's Creative Embellishment Ideas for One-of-a-Kind Designs
Feb 17, 2008
About Alison Willoughby
If you know and admire Alison Willoughby’s work, then 49 Sensational Skirts: Creative Embellishment Ideas for One Of A Kind Designs, is an absolute delight – and an absolute must! If you are not aware of Alison Willoughby’s work but are interested in recycling and repurposing clothes, or producing very wearable art, then you may find her work worth investigating further.
Alison Willoughby is known as Skirtgirl, and her work has been exhibited internationally. Her skirts range from outrageously decorated confections through to more sedate yet surprising skirts, perhaps using pieces of ties as decorations.
The Book
The book 49 Sensational Skirts gives an insight into the creative process of designing a one-of-a-kind skirt, while also giving clear step-by-step instructions for making the featured projects. The book contains a pattern for an A-line skirt and this forms the basis for each of the 49 (and a half – a mini skirt nudges its way into the book at the end) projects.
The first section of the book is dedicated to exploring with the reader the art of deconstructing clothes. This means taking old and undiscarded garments to pieces and either reassembling them into something new or using the pieces to adorn or embellish other garments. Alison also takes the reader through the step by step process of using the skirt template in the back of the book to create the base skirt for the projects. The skirt pattern is adjustable to different sizes and lengths. This isn’t a "how-to-sew" book; however, there are enough clear and well illustrated instructions that a beginner sewer with just a few projects under the belt could give this a go with confidence.
While instructions are given for making a skirt to embellish, the projects also are ideal for bringing new life to an existing skirt and many of the projects encourage the use of recycled fabrics and "found" items. This helps to ensure that no two items will ever be quite the same.
The Skirts
The main portion of 49 Sensational Skirts is where things start to get exciting. In real Alison Willoughby style, the skirts are adorned and embellished in a whole myriad of ways and with a surprising number of techniques. Some skirts are completely hidden under a mass of adornments, others are given layers and flourishes and others a dramatic feature. Each project is open for variations and adapting allowing the creative sewer to stamp their own individuality on the skirt.
While fans of Alison Willoughby or of wearable art will find this book inspiring and intriguing, it must be said that this is not a book for everyone. You will not find within these pages formal understated outfits – these are skirts that will command attention. Unique designs that incorporate hat pins or plastic fruit might be regarded by some as being over the top, however others may see this as being great inspiration.
Techniques
It should also be noted that while the majority of the projects use techniques and equipment that most sewers will have at home, some of the projects do use techniques that step firmly into the realms of textile art. Screen printing, for instance, requires a screen and ink and this might not be accessible to a lot of home sewers.
Who Is This Book Good For?
- Do take a look at this book if you are looking for something really different and are not afraid of big and bold designs.
- Do not buy this book if you are looking for something run of the mill. Ordinary does not feature here!
Further Information
- Title: 49 Sensational Skirts: Creative Embellishment Ideas for One-Of-A-Kind Designs
- Author: Alison Willoughby
- Publisher: Interweave Press
- ISBN: 978-1596680616
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