Book Review of Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan

Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan is a very inspirational book. I love how each section is set up with a new type of project and one for you to try at the end. She is very encouraging to have you experiment with different types of cording as well as fabrics and techniques. The book has instructions for both hand sewn baskets and machine sewn. She also gives instructions for how to make patterned baskets by using stripes and multiple colored fabrics. The only draw back I found is that since she included so many ideas in this one book, her descriptions are as thorough as they could be. She does include some photos with text to help you get started. I would recommend this as a second book to purchase if you are interested in fabric coiling projects. One technique that made this book worthwhile for me to buy was to wrap as you go. It's a Wrap suggests wrapping fabric ahead of time and then sewing. The advantage of wrapping as you go is you do not have to spend a couple hours wrapping fabric before getting started and you can change colors at the correct spot if you are creating a multi colored basket. I find that if I am making a large basket, I like to wrap the fabric before I start, but with a smaller project, I like to wrap as I go!

If you would like to read the book review I wrote for It's a Wrap, by Susan Beier, click HERE.

It's a Wrap - Book Review

It's a Wrap by Susan Breier
This book is an excellent resource for anyone who would like to try fabric coiling. Not only does the author have detailed written descriptions of her instructions, but helpful photos to go along with most steps. If you have interest in fabric coiling and know how to use a basic sewing machine, then I would highly recommend this book as a first book about fabric coiling. This book gives easy to follow step by step instructions for making bowls, baskets, pots, and bags. An 80 or 90 Universal size needle is recommended for your sewing machine. I would pick up a few extras. She also recommends to use cotton clothesline for the cording, 3/16 inch, which can be found at Walmart or your local hardware store. I found some poly-cotton cording at Rite Aide, but it is a bit thinner and I like the cotton cording better. She recommends not using cording wider than 7/32 inches, since her techniques require to assemble the coiling on a sewing machine. She also includes an inspirational photo gallery in each section of the book. My next book review, Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan, has directions for hand sewing and machine sewing baskets ; so you will have more flexibility choosing materials with her methods.

I saw this book at JoAnn Fabrics and knew that this was a craft that I wanted to try. Check out some of the baskets I have already made in my previous blogs.

Visit my Artfire Studio and Etsy Shop to see some of the baskets I have made.

Upcoming Blog Entries (Not necessarily in this order):
*Book Review of Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan
*Comparing Techniques of It's a Wrap by Susan Breier and Textile Coil Pots and Baskets: Easy Ways With Fabric and Cord by Helen Deighan
*My latest Baskets
*How to Make Different Types of Coiled Fabric Handles