Fiber Craft Heritage
Fiber Craft Heritage
Easy to Learn Textile Techniques from the Stone Age till Toda, with 52 Try-It Projects
Doris Fischer
Schiffer Craft
Introduction
In a world driven my online technology and moving ‘on’, turning ‘on’, no wonder we find it hard and guilt enticing to switch off. This has made our judgement of lets call them ‘timeless’ crafts a dwindling affair. Time is money, craft, done well takes time. Not ours.
This researched and thought out title, brought into written existence by Doris Fischer, brings the past into the present, the workable present.
Fifty two projects.
Ancient craft becoming craft now.
About the author
Doris Fischer works in the field of archeology. She works on site, specialising in the history of traditional art methods. She has studied how each of these methods words and the historical foundations which each one is built upon. She is the author of other titles, I do not think the others are fully in English, however I am prepared to be corrected! I managed to translate her official website, finding out a little more about her practice. She is active in educational values surrounding the environment and leads workshops in these ancient craft techniques - even in wool dyeing and spinning. Her website is focused on the historical findings and essays on such. Lots of education on the Middle Ages including those which look suited to younger audiances. Her website is suited to a German speaking audience, however it is of course available to translate!
The readership aim
This book is very educational. Actively speaking, it contains all the projects. It is just as interesting to read about them, even if we do not wish to try them out. That is what I found about this book myself - I have not got the available time to devote to try to all of these, but it has made me overall appreciate true craft even more and wish to elongate its life, by supporting its continued life even if its given a ‘best before’ date by so many.
It is not a title for the young minds as its complex, but for those who either have an interest in history or craft, I think its right to read such titles, it is a part of how we came to be, our backgrounds are our foundations and should be respected and not forgotten.
Contents
After the usual introduction, there are several titled categories which are then extended into many separate smaller projects/chapters. These are:
Fibers and Threads
Bands and Braids
Clothing and Accessories
Tool Workshop
Key areas of appreciation
I appreciated the consistent teaching by the author, not only in the crafts, but the story behind the craft, its place in that world gone by and this to come. Presenting her writing in this way means we can understand deeply why each method matters - not just a ancient piece of craft to be housed in a glass cabinet in the depths of a museum - we learn how to recreate them in a way which suits the now.
If you have your own garden or outside space, there are chapters build on harvesting certain materials to use - for example on page 35 it discusses Nettle and on page 255 we learn how to cultivate teasel.
I personally have always loved history, especially visiting ruins and digs. So this yes, adhered to my own fascination as well as being a book of art. The ‘Tool’ section which begins on page 259 was just so interesting - honestly I do not think I am at a stage where I will be making some for myself - but never say never!
Some tools and some projects are more relatable and recognisable. For example the Crochet Hook and Weaving sections.
Key takeaways
Most of us will not read this book to then go on and become historians or archaeological adventurers. But we might just venture a make, a project from this book, with more weight than its look and feel - no, its reading quality.
The writing as found on page 11 struck home with me and maybe it will too - it brought this subject into its simple and right place. What are fibers? They are connections - across lands, divides, times and create an identifiable link - links are positive, ties are too - they give us place and meaning.
Final comments
I forgot to mention about the layout visually - so that you have some preconceptions before purchase, the book contains lots of images but not on every page. There is a weight of text over visual. But because the text is so surprisingly captivating, I did not feel a loss. The images are really raw and true - the sheep of the land, the fibres in their varying states and the humans which work along with them.
This book has a place everywhere, in your Library, your high end museum shop, your local bookstore - do not let it go out of print like so many craft methods nearly have.
