Blog - Insights and Inspiration

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

A box of white clay with various shapes and designs.

A book cover with many different types of fabric.

The Art of Manipulating Fabric By Colette Wolff

The Art of Manipulating Fabric by Colette Wolff is an essential and timeless resource for fabric artists, quilters, and designers seeking to master the art of shaping textiles. This comprehensive guide explores over 350 techniques for pleating, gathering, smocking, tucking, and creating intricate textures with fabric, making it an invaluable reference for both beginners and advanced textile enthusiasts.

More than just a sewing manual, this book delves into the fundamental principles of fabric structure, helping readers understand how different materials respond to manipulation. With clear instructions, detailed illustrations, and step-by-step techniques, The Art of Manipulating Fabric empowers artists to push the boundaries of textile design and experiment with dimensional surfaces.

Colette Wolff’s meticulous approach and extensive knowledge make this book a staple in the world of fiber arts, inspiring generations of designers, costumers, quilters, and sculptors. Whether used as a practical guide or a source of creative inspiration, this book continues to influence the field of textile design, proving that fabric is not just a medium but an expressive art form.

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

SOMETHING UNDER THE BED

Bibliography of Colette Wolff’s Publications

Bibliography of Publications | By Colette Wolff

The Something Under the Bed website offers a detailed archive of Platypus Patterns, originally designed and published by Colette Wolff during the 1970s and 1980s. This page provides a comprehensive look at Wolff’s innovative fabric manipulation techniques, highlighting her contributions to doll-making, quilting, and textile arts. Featuring reviews, historical insights, and images of selected Platypus patterns, this archive is a valuable resource for sewing enthusiasts, collectors, and historians interested in vintage mail-order patterns and textile artistry.

Visit the archive to explore the creativity and craftsmanship behind the Platypus collection, a beloved staple among sewing communities of the era. Whether you’re revisiting these iconic designs or discovering them for the first time, this collection serves as a testament to Colette Wolff’s enduring influence on fabric arts.

SomethingUnderTheBed.com – Preserving Forgotten Craft Publications

Founded by Leigh Martin in 2003, Something Under the Bed is an independent archive dedicated to preserving overlooked craft magazines. While searching for The Cloth Doll magazine at the Library of Congress, Martin was shocked to find many craft publications missing. When she inquired, she received the dismissive reply: “We can’t concern ourselves with women’s hobbies.”

Determined to save this history, she created Something Under the Bed, now a vital resource for collectors, crafters, and historians passionate about handmade artistry.

VISIT SOMETHING UNDER THE BED - HOME PAGE

SOMETHING UNDER THE BED - COLETTE WOLFF’S PAGE

A close up of doll patterns by Colette Wolff

Colette Wolff – Platypusnow & Doll Patterns for Sale at Dollmaker’s Journey

Vintage Doll Sewing Patterns and Quilting Patterns – PlatypusNow

Explore a curated selection of vintage Platypus patterns from the iconic PLATYPUS collection, originally designed and published by Colette Wolff during the 1970s and 1980s. These beloved patterns, sold through her renowned PLATYPUS mail-order catalogs, captivated sewing enthusiasts, doll makers, and quilters with their intricate designs and innovative approach to fabric artistry.

During its peak, the Platypus Newsletter and mail-order pattern collection became a go-to resource for crafters eager to explore new sewing techniques, textile manipulation, and doll-making designs. With a devoted following, the newsletter not only offered meticulously detailed patterns but also provided expert insights, tips, and creative inspiration directly from Colette Wolff herself. Many of these patterns became treasured staples in the sewing community, celebrated for their originality, craftsmanship, and the unique charm they brought to handmade dolls, quilts, and fabric sculptures.

Now, a selection of these vintage Platypus patterns is available once again, allowing a new generation of makers to experience the artistry and expertise that defined Colette Wolff’s legacy. Whether you’re a seasoned seamstress, a quilting enthusiast, or a collector of vintage sewing patterns, these timeless designs continue to inspire and delight.

VISIT THE DOLLMAKER’S JOURNEY

REMINISCE WITH THE ORIGINAL PLATYPUS NEWSLETTERS

A purple cover of the cloth doll magazine.

Articles Written By Colette for The Cloth Doll Magazine, Bride’s Magazine & Thrifty Quilter

Colette Wolff’s Contributions to Cloth Doll Magazine, Bride’s Magazine and The Thrifty Quilter

Her work in Cloth Doll Magazine served as an invaluable resource for artists and crafters, offering both technical guidance and artistic inspiration. Whether exploring sculptural fabric forms, fine hand-stitching techniques, or innovative design concepts, Colette’s articles reflected her passion for textile art and her commitment to pushing creative boundaries.

In The Cloth Doll, Colette explored the intricate craftsmanship of handmade dolls, blending precision sewing with artistic expression. Her 1974 contribution to Bride’s Magazine showcased teaching new brides how to create the wedding quilt. Meanwhile, her work in The Thrifty Quilter showcased her ability to maximize fabric use with resourceful yet beautiful quilting methods.

Through these publications, Colette Wolff shared her deep knowledge and passion for textile arts, leaving a lasting impact on designers, quilters, and fabric enthusiasts alike.

The Cloth Doll Articles

The Thrifty Quilter Magazine

Bride’s Magazine August/September 1974 Edition

HELEN LOUISE ALLEN TEXTILE COLLECTION

The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection (HLATC) is a world-renowned archive of over 13,000 textiles and related objects spanning centuries and cultures. Housed at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, this collection serves as an invaluable resource for researchers, artists, and historians, showcasing exquisite examples of weaving, embroidery, dyeing, and fabric manipulation techniques. With a commitment to preserving textile traditions and inspiring contemporary innovation, the HLATC offers exhibitions, research opportunities, and educational programs for those passionate about textile arts and history.

Among its notable acquisitions is a collection of works by Colette Wolff, whose groundbreaking approaches to fabric manipulation have influenced generations of textile artists. Her contributions, including intricate fabric sculptures and textile experiments, highlight the expressive potential of cloth and reinforce the HLATC’s mission to preserve and celebrate the artistry of textiles across time and cultures.

VIEW MUSEUM COLLECTION

Publications Featuring Colette Wolff’s Designs and Techniques

A bunch of colorful lines are in the air

TEXTILE STUDY GROUP OF NEW YORK

The Textile Study Group of New York (TSGNY) is a vibrant community of artists, designers, and scholars dedicated to exploring and advancing the textile arts. Through workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and networking opportunities, TSGNY fosters creative growth and dialogue among fiber artists of all levels. The group provides a platform for innovation, technique development, and artistic exchange, connecting members with leading textile professionals and contemporary trends in fiber art.

VIEW SITE

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15