Review:
Fabric, declares the author, is "the most exciting element" in decorating a room. Leaf through her attractive book and you'll see why. A wide range of styles is embodied here, from the opulence of a Renaissance-style hallway adorned in red silk to the lushness of creamy cotton drapes puddled on the floor to the contemporary lines of smartly striped Roman blinds to the rustic charm of gingham curtains. Melanie Paine explains how to choose, combine, manipulate, and paint on fabrics, as well as how to choose a style for window dressing, beds and bedding, and fabric coverings for walls and furnishings and ceilings. Although step-by-step directions are provided throughout for many of the items (such as various types of blinds, curtains, and bed covers), this is not a basic instructional how-to book. The New Fabric Magic is most successful and appealing as an idea book, filled with wonderful ways to use fabric to make rooms come alive.
From the Inside Flap:
ling guide to decorating with fabric, revised and updated with new photographs and techniques, including:
Transforming fabrics by layering, joining, pleating, stitching, adding edgings, and inserting borders.
Coloring fabrics by painting, patting, daubing, spattering, stenciling, tie-dye, and wax-resist.
Making roller, Roman, Austrian, and inverted-pleat shades.
Making lined and interlined curtains using pencil pleat, French pleat, box pleat, gathered, bunch, slot, scalloped, and goblet headings.
Draping and dressing sheers and curtains with swags and tails, tie-bands, cornices, and valances.
Making bed linen for a wide range of bed styles -- duvets, pillowcases, dust ruffles, and bedspreads.
Covering screens.
Making box, throw, and "hamburger" cushions.
Making table cloths.
Basic sewing techniques, from mitering corners to inserting zippers.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.