Fiber art involves creating items from fibers such as yarn or thread. The fibers can be made from a variety of materials including cotton, wool, flax, hemp, horse hair, angora rabbit hair or synthetic fibers. The most common forms of creating fiber art are weaving, crocheting, knitting and embroidering. Each form is used to create different pieces of beautiful fabric with different designs and embellishments.

Different Strokes

Tapestry weaving is used to create elaborately designed panels of heavy cloth that are hung on walls just as framed pictures and portraits are hung on walls. The benefit to creating your own tapestry is that it is created with the exact design you choose and in the exact size you want. It can also be more cost effective as materials are often cheaper to purchase than finished products. The only thing you’re really investing is the time it takes to create the piece, and after its finished, you have your very own hand-made decorative piece of wall art that’s completely unique to you.

Crocheting and knitting involve taking one or more strands of yarn or crochet thread and creating panels of material or items of clothing out of those threads. Crocheting and knitting are great for making hand-made and elaborately adorned blankets, afghans, bedspreads, skirts, dresses, sweaters, scarves, doilies, hats, gloves and lace. Many patterns can be found online for free including vintage patterns from the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s and early 1900s.

Embroidering is the art of taking thick strands of thread in various colors and stitching elaborate designs on pieces of cloth including towels, pillow cases, bedspreads, blankets, comforters and napkins. It can also be used to create images on stiff pieces of cloth that are later framed and hung on walls. The designs can range from initials to flowers and geometric shapes. The only limitation is your imagination.

Weaving is used to create bolts of cloth that can be simply designed or elaborately designed. Weaving can be done on the fingers or by using a variety of different types and sizes of looms. The cloth can then be used to make clothing, sheets, blankets, pillow cases, curtains, belts and intricate cords or other textiles.

Fiber art is great for creating items that simply cannot be bought or cannot be bought for reasonable prices such as intricately designed lace, doilies, blankets, rugs, tapestries, sweaters, scarves, hats and clothing embellishments. It’s also a great way to own vintage reproductions of items such as hand-made lace and doilies. There are many vintage patterns posted online for free. Imagine creating and owning your own 1800s era doilies, rugs, tapestries, bedspreads or curtains. It can be accomplished by learning how to crochet, knit, weave and embroider. Some projects even involve more than one process to create truly unique and one of a kind items.

One of a Kind

There is also great satisfaction in creating your own handmade items. Hand-made items are often times unique or one-of-a-kind items that cannot be acquired or purchased anywhere else. That makes them special to the creator. There is also the feeling of accomplishment and pride after every item is finished. There’s really nothing like the satisfaction of making your own unique clothing, décor and bedding. Plus, you get to show off your handiwork to all your friends and family.

KissoftheWolf.com is an art to wear apperal company who specializes in fiber art. Dylan Johnson is a writer for them who focuses on online marketing.