A DIY Guide to
Designing Fabric, Wallpaper & Gift Wrap
By Stephen Fraser, with Judi Ketteler & Becka Rahn
Stewart Tabori & Chang 2015
Paperback £16.99 UK/ $27.99 US/ $33.50 CAN
Star rating: *****
“This book is about
the joy of making something mingled with the challenge of learning new things.”
- Stephen
Fraser
Spoonflower is the online service that has brought pattern
to the people since 2007. If you have a computer, an internet connection, and appropriate
software then Spoonflower can digitally print your original designs on to fabric,
wallpaper, or gift wrap. Everyone’s a
maker, anywhere in the world, 24/7.
Makers do need a little know-how and encouragement before
taking the DIY printable plunge. This enthusiastic and empowering book, by the
website’s founder, Stephen Fraser, and
key Spoonflower contributors is both a Spoonflower-specific user manual and a
project book. The 30 projects build your design skills while simultaneously
showcasing the creative possibilities of Spoonflower-printed makes.
The book covers info about Spoonflower’s choice of printable
surfaces and their project suitability, as well as giving pointers on how to
get the utmost from the Spoonflower website. For example, in addition to
supplying aids to colour selection, and
pattern creation, the Spoonflower website is also a vibrant online community
whose members share their creations and participate in weekly competitions.
Need -to -know basics covered include essential info about
colour specification and how to scan an image so that it is reproduced to the
correct size. There’s essential knowledge
about working with photo-editing and vector design software. You will learn how
to create repeats by both methods, and also to craft engineered non-repeating
surface designs.
The selection of projects highlights a myriad of design
possibilities – surely some will appeal to your particular method of working.
Drawing skills are not required – photographic images or collaged and scanned shapes can be
used to create pattern. One fabulous less-is-more project is the Recipe Tea
Towel from Emma Jeffery. Scanned-in, bigged up, and printed on fabric, it makes
the perfect kitchen wall decoration. Another
timely, genius idea is the colouring wallpapers – channelling the ubiquitous
colouring trend and giving kids a sanctioned opportunity to draw on the walls J! Designer Ellen Giggenback has designed a baby
quilt from a scanned paper collage – a very
appealing technique. Another idea for
the drawing-averse is the use of copyright-free clip art.
The can-do attitude of this book is irresistible. I for one
will be putting “design a Spoonflower print” on my list of New Year’s
resolutions for 2016.
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