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Strange Material: Storytelling Through Textiles
Strange Material" explores the relationship between handmade textiles and storytelling.Through text, the act of weaving a tale or dropping a thread takes on new meaning for those who previously have seen textilesquilts, blankets, articles of clothing, and moreonly as functional objects. This book showcases crafters who take storytelling off the page and into the mediums of batik, stitching, dyeing, fabric painting, knitting, crochet, and weaving, creating objects that bear their messages proudly, from personal memoir and cultural fables to pictorial histories and wearable fictions.Full-color throughout, the book includes chapters on various aspects of textile storytelling, from "Textiles of Protest, Politics, and Power" to "The Fabric of Remembrance"; it also includes specific projects, such as the well-known and profoundly moving Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, as well as poetry mittens, button blankets, and stitched travel diaries. Offbeat, poetic, and subversive, "Strange Material" will inspire readers to re-imagine the possibilities of creating through needle and fabric.Leanne Prain is the co-author (with Mandy Moore) of "Yarn Bombing," now in its third printing, and the author of " The Art of Unexpected Embroidery." A professional graphic designer, Leanne holds degrees in creative writing, art history, and publishing.
- GenresNonfictionArtCrafts
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2014
7 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Leanne Prain
7 books15 followersAuthor and designer Leanne Prain writes about crafts (especially textiles), design, art, and activism.
Her books are The Creative Instigator's Handbook, Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti (co-authored with Mandy Moore), Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery, and Strange Material: Storytelling Through Textiles published by Arsenal Pulp Press.
Her books are The Creative Instigator's Handbook, Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti (co-authored with Mandy Moore), Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery, and Strange Material: Storytelling Through Textiles published by Arsenal Pulp Press.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 26, 2025
A fairly short and condensed book of storytelling and narrative through the use of different textiles, be it knitting, crochet, quilting, dressmaking or embroidery.
There are short snippet style stories of artists and their "manifesto's" if you will. The colour photographs showcase the work well.
The only problem with this type of book is that for me, it's a read it once and you've seen it title. I'm not going to re-read or re-visit. Off it goes to my local library for donation to see if it inspires someone else's creativity.
There are short snippet style stories of artists and their "manifesto's" if you will. The colour photographs showcase the work well.
The only problem with this type of book is that for me, it's a read it once and you've seen it title. I'm not going to re-read or re-visit. Off it goes to my local library for donation to see if it inspires someone else's creativity.
April 22, 2016
I took a really long time to read this book, not because I was not enjoying, but because I did not want to finish it. This is the first book I have read by Leanne Prain, and will be reading her others.
This book is a wonderful look at how fabric artists tell stories, some explicit, and some implicit. All through this I kept thinking about the value of these ideas, and how they could be used to create some wonderful local studies content. There are some patterns, prompts and lots of inspiration. There is the idea of using a sometimes overlooked method, textile work, for telling neglected stories. This can be seen as helping to highlight, record and share marginalised culture and experience, it can also be seen as be seen as very inclusive because we all have connections with textiles.
Many artists are interviewed, sharing their motivation and ideas. This is a wonderful combination with illustrations of their work. Some works are comforting, and others are disturbing. Some done by individuals, other collaborations. Many of the prompts would be great for recording oral histories as well as prompts for community art works telling local stories for public library local studies collections. A wonderful read which is also a call to action. It is likely to appeal to people who read for stories.
This book is a wonderful look at how fabric artists tell stories, some explicit, and some implicit. All through this I kept thinking about the value of these ideas, and how they could be used to create some wonderful local studies content. There are some patterns, prompts and lots of inspiration. There is the idea of using a sometimes overlooked method, textile work, for telling neglected stories. This can be seen as helping to highlight, record and share marginalised culture and experience, it can also be seen as be seen as very inclusive because we all have connections with textiles.
Many artists are interviewed, sharing their motivation and ideas. This is a wonderful combination with illustrations of their work. Some works are comforting, and others are disturbing. Some done by individuals, other collaborations. Many of the prompts would be great for recording oral histories as well as prompts for community art works telling local stories for public library local studies collections. A wonderful read which is also a call to action. It is likely to appeal to people who read for stories.
March 12, 2021
More of a 3.5, but this was a pretty expensive book so I'm keeping it at 3 stars.
This was fine, there were several nice interviews. There were also interviews I didn't find to be all that engaging, which was to be expected. In fact, when I first started reading this book I thought I'd accidentally chosen a generic sort of craft book (like some of the other ones where all the authors know each other because they all have crafting blogs.) There ended up being artists and faculty that I recognized, which was a nice change.
I realized that the project sections in this were a sort of accessible craftivism, but I honestly didn't like their inclusion. The instructions took up too much space when I would've rather read about more artists.
This was fine, there were several nice interviews. There were also interviews I didn't find to be all that engaging, which was to be expected. In fact, when I first started reading this book I thought I'd accidentally chosen a generic sort of craft book (like some of the other ones where all the authors know each other because they all have crafting blogs.) There ended up being artists and faculty that I recognized, which was a nice change.
I realized that the project sections in this were a sort of accessible craftivism, but I honestly didn't like their inclusion. The instructions took up too much space when I would've rather read about more artists.
April 30, 2015
Good book about contemporary fiber art. Prain interviews the makers, all of whom have pithy comments. She ask includes prompts for getting one's practice going and projects for those who want some guidance. Not your mamas embroidery book.
November 18, 2016
Amazing, beautifully illustrated, and inspiring. Reverent of the often small, time-consuming work that is textile craft. I've learned about so many more artists from this book. The interviews were fascinating. The suggested projects were cute, maybe good for a beginner, or a class environment?
Want to read
November 8, 2014Just heard Leanne interviewed on CBC radio. Man, does this book sound super interesting! I can't wait to get a copy!
August 4, 2018
A fascinating exploration of storytelling through needle-based craft, like embroidery, knitting, quilting and other fabric-based art. Loads of interviews and profiles of textile artists from across North America. A great read and creatively very inspiring.
March 7, 2021
Interesting collection of artist interviews, project prompts and even instructions. I enjoyed learning about new artists and seeing other ways people are inspired to use textiles to tell stories through their art.
June 11, 2018
I might be biased 'cause I'm in this book, but that aside, I loved reading all the stories from all the artists around the world using craft to raise their voices and make change in the world.
January 29, 2024
Really amateur. Nothing profound.
March 31, 2025
oh boy, get your post -its and and your internets cued up. this book is packed with great shares and prompts!
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July 27, 2015http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2015/0...
Review by Steffanie Pinch
From old Blockbuster video receipts to embroidered pillows to crocheted fabric squares, Strange Material: Storytelling through Textiles by Leanne Prain showcases artists who work with textiles you'd expect to see in a living room, not an art gallery.
Yet, these artists churn out pieces that you'd expect to see in an art gallery, not a living room!
Strange Material is an intimate overview of a diverse selection of modern artists working with textiles, highlighting these artists through short interviews alongside photos of their pieces.
The artists use techniques that have been passed down through generations of women -- like quilting, knitting, patching, felting, embroidering and sewing -- and not only challenge mainstream narratives, but tell and create completely different narratives through this work.
Ten sections grouped by narrative themes, ranging from personal histories to wearable art to revolutionary crafts, categorize these artists. Yet, they all remain interconnected through their desire to share a relationship between their art, their story and their audience.
And that seems to be the balance in this new take on an old craft: how to stay approachable while remaining deeply engaging and relevant.
The artists all accomplish this in different ways.
Read more here: http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2015/0...
Review by Steffanie Pinch
From old Blockbuster video receipts to embroidered pillows to crocheted fabric squares, Strange Material: Storytelling through Textiles by Leanne Prain showcases artists who work with textiles you'd expect to see in a living room, not an art gallery.
Yet, these artists churn out pieces that you'd expect to see in an art gallery, not a living room!
Strange Material is an intimate overview of a diverse selection of modern artists working with textiles, highlighting these artists through short interviews alongside photos of their pieces.
The artists use techniques that have been passed down through generations of women -- like quilting, knitting, patching, felting, embroidering and sewing -- and not only challenge mainstream narratives, but tell and create completely different narratives through this work.
Ten sections grouped by narrative themes, ranging from personal histories to wearable art to revolutionary crafts, categorize these artists. Yet, they all remain interconnected through their desire to share a relationship between their art, their story and their audience.
And that seems to be the balance in this new take on an old craft: how to stay approachable while remaining deeply engaging and relevant.
The artists all accomplish this in different ways.
Read more here: http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2015/0...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews