Tien Chiu

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April 22, 2011 by Tien Chiu

Shadowfolds

This is possibly the coolest book ever:

Shadowfolds, by Jeffrey Rutzky and Chris Palmer
Shadowfolds, by Jeffrey Rutzky and Chris Palmer

This was one of Amazon’s recommendations, and it hit right on the nose: this book combines origami-like folds with cloth – and what’s not to like about that?  But not only can you get very cool results by looking on the surface, but the folds give magical results when backlit (thus the title, “Shadowfolds”): see the Shadowfolds website for an example.  Check it out, and buy it, on Amazon!

I am already thinking of interesting ways to combine it with handweaving.  For example, I could take my devore sample, burn out the tencel in strategic places, and create an iridescent “window” in a shadowfolded piece.  That would be pretty neat!  And, and…

I think I’m going to ask my mom if we can run out and get some fine dupioni or shantung silk for me to play with on the flight home.  I don’t have a whole lot of time to play with it, but I think I’d like to understand the principles.  Intuition says this will play a part in my work, eventually.  (It’s just too cool not to!)

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Filed Under: All blog posts, sewing, textiles

Previous post: Finished sample
Next post: Proof of concept

Comments

  1. Carla says

    April 22, 2011 at 6:07 pm

    Hi Tien, I bought a copy of Shadowfolds at Book Passages in San Rafael when I visited California in February. Never mind that I don’t weave gauzy, translucent cloth, it just leapt off the shelf and said “buy me”. I will do _something_ with it, I’m just not sure what.

    I regret that your visit to Maryland coincides with rain and grey skies, even though the flowering trees are still beautiful.

    Carla

  2. BlueLoom says

    April 23, 2011 at 6:35 am

    Amazon has a “Look Inside” for Shadowfolds, and it looks wonderful. I’ve put in on my long-term Amazon list. It’s a nice complement to Colette Wolff’s The Art of Manipulating Fabric (which no fiber lover should be without).

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