Crafting Textiles in the Digital Age

by Nithikul Nimkulrat (Editor), Faith Kane (Editor), Kerry Walton (Editor)

In an era of increasingly available digital resources, many textile designers and makers find themselves at an interesting juncture between traditional craft processes and newer digital technologies. Highly specialized craft/design practitioners may now elect to make use of digital processes in their work, but often choose not to abandon craft skills fundamental to their practice, and aim to balance the complex connection between craft and digital processes. The essays collected here consider this transition from the viewpoint of aesthetic opportunity arising in the textile designer's hands-on experimentation with material and digital technologies available in the present.

Craft provides the foundations for thinking within the design and production of textiles, and as such may provide some clues in the transition to creative and thoughtful use of current and future digital technologies. Within the framework of current challenges relating to sustainable development, globalization, and economic constraints it is important to interrogate and question how we might go about using established and emerging technologies in textiles in a positive manner.

Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2016

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm beyond thrilled that my library had this book, and a little surprised as it's rather dry and academic for the subject, but you know there's nothing I'd rather be reading more on a blustery March night!
I think it's worth noting the three organizational divisions that break up the book, in as much as it may help others decide whether they want to pick it up: Digital Technologies Informing Craft, Craft Intervention in Digital Process, and Craft Thinking in a Digital Age.

Far and above my favorite chapters were in the last section: "Hand Knitting in a Digital Era" by Josephine Steed, "Hidden Values and Human Inconsistencies in Hand Stitching Processes" by Dr. Emma Shercliff, and "Perspectives on Making and Viewing: Generating Meaning Through Textiles" by Dr Sonja Andrew.