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Rare Books > Silk

Silk

  • Silk Workers Notebook

Silk Workers Notebook, 3rd ed., by Cheryl Kolander

Silk bookThis classic text has been reprinted as an archival-quality hardbound edition, complete with seven tipped-in fabric swatches, over 30 photo plates, and new appendices. This limited edition printing (500 copies) is printed on acid-free recycled paper. A great addition to any library.

In addition to the text, reprinted from the original first edition negatives, this edition includes an extra 20 pages on bleaching, knitting, dyeing, and therapeutic aspects of silk, as well as a list of reputable suppliers and further reading on the subject of silk.

Silk Workers Notebook represents the culmination of Cheryl Kolander's lifetime of experience working with silk as a professional textile artist and a Master Natural Dyer. Her customers have used Aurora Silk yarns and thread to restore antiques and Oriental carpets, as well as recreate artifacts which would have been dyed using natural dyes. She creates custom colours based on her customers' needs, such as the over 20 colours she created for Judy Chicago's Holocaust Tapestry project.

Everything you will ever need to know about silk.  Seriously, Cheryl said when she wrote it: “This is everything I need to remember, in case I ever get total amnesia!”

"There are many books about silk, lots of pretty pictures, but your's is the one that has INFORMATION!" - Rose, California

"it's fun, it's beautiful, it has INFORMATION!" -Serena, Oregon

"Should be in every textile library." - The Library Journal

Silk Workers Notebook, 3rd ed.

Hardbound, archival-quality:

Acid free rag paper, Oregon printed and signet bound, Hard cloth cover in the colour of the original Tyria Purple, a deep maroon, text printed in dark brown on eggshell rag paper, photos printed on white smooth stock. Includes additions on Peace silk. Signed and numbered. 500 only printed, aproximately 200 remain.

$80

Table of Contents

  1. History - The history of silk cultivation, from its origins of China to it's present situation as a textile fibre.
  2. The Fibre - A detailed accounting of the characteristics of the silk fibre, including strength, elasticity, and durability. The different kinds of silk, including raw silk, wild silk, and spider silk. Silk raising methods. Silk worms of the world. Identification of silk fibre: the burn test, the lye test, by sight, and by feel.
  3. Reeled & Spun - A documentation and comparison of the two major methods of silk production.
  4. Fibre & Form - Discussions of appearance & quality, hand & drape, testing yarns, fibre quality, fibre length, noil, and reprocessed silk.
  5. Twist, Ply, & Function - Discussions of elasticity and strength, sparkles & lustre, ply, choosing yarns and best yarns for knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, and lace, warp, weft, and pile.
  6. Handspinning - Includes degumming cocoons, silk caps, cut fibre, spindle spinning, noil, reeling.
  7. Fabrics - A comprehensive and detailed glossary of scores of different types of silk fabric.
  8. Care & Handling - handwashing, soaps, delicates, drying, cleaning old silks, ironing, shrinkage & pre-shrinking, dyed silks, spot cleaning, dry cleaning, bleaching, weighting, display & storage, degumming, yarn handling, and sizing.
  9. Handweaving notes, plus Glossary, Full Bibliography, and Index

Appendix: (written for and added to the 3rd edition)

  • Home Bleaching of Silk
  • Knitting Notes
  • Natural Dyeing of Silk
  • Peace Silk
  • Therapeutic Aspects of Silk
  • More Good Books and Relevant Articles
  • Suppliers

 

For the true textile collector, an archival 1st edition!

A Silkworker's Notebook, 1st ed., by Cheryl Kolander

Silkworker's Notebook

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Everything you will ever need to know about silk.  Seriously, Cheryl said when she wrote it: “This is everything I need to remember, in case I ever get total amnesia!” This is the original first edition "Artist's Book", with blue deckle edged rag paper text, tipped in samples of 7 silk fabrics, and all the illustrations that were dropped from the paperback. Your order at this time includes "Additions" with sections on raising silk at home and the therapeutic aspects of silk.

Silk Workers Notebook, 1st ed.

Handbound, Japanese style, with Indigo silk cords on Tyrian purple coloured art paper cover and Madder red silk spine. Only 500 printed. Numbered and signed. About 40 left.

$200

Silk Workers Notebook, 1st ed.

Hardcover. Best for libraries. Only 500 printed. About 15 left.

$90