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Fibre arts



Starting point for Fibre arts

Starting point contains definitions, facts, figures and overviews

Key online dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks

ArtLex art dictionary.definitions for more than 3,600 terms used in discussing art / visual culture, along with thousands of supporting images, pronunciation notes
FabricLinkTextile dictionary of definitions
Textile Technical DictionaryMore than ten thousand words and expressions in four languages relating to the textile sector
Handbook of Technical TextilesEssential guide for textile yarn and fibre manufacturers; producers of woven, knitted and non-woven fabrics; textile finishers; designers and specifiers of textiles for new or novel applications

Key print dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks

Use the catalogue to search for more dictionaries, encyclopedias and handbooks


Catalogue searching

You can search the Library Catalogue to find books, DVDs, journals and other materials

If you know the exact title in the New catalogue

If you are searching for a topic in the New catalogue

Truncation is generally not needed as entering any version of a word will retrieve many variations.

More information


Databases and journal articles for Fibre arts

Use databases to search for journal articles, book chapters, conference papers or research reports

Key databases for Fibre arts

Databases Notes Help
Design and Applied Arts IndexCovers both new designers and the development of design and the applied arts since the mid-19th century, surveying disciplines including ceramics, glass, jewellery, wood, metalsmithing, graphic design, fashion and clothing, textiles, furniture, interior design, architecture, computer aided design, Web design, computer-generated graphics, animation, product design, industrial designHelp is available via the CSA Help & Support link
Art abstractsprovides abstracting and indexing for international art publications, including periodicals, conference proceedings, yearbooks, and museum bulletins.Help is available via the EbscoHost Help link
Art bibliographies modernabstracting and indexing of journal articles, books, essays, exhibition catalogs, dissertations, and exhibition reviews.Help is available via the CSA Help & Support link
APAFT Australian public affairs full textbased on the journal indexing of the database Australian Public Affairs Information Service (APAIS) providing indexing and selected full text access to Australian literature in business, health, social sciences and humanitiesHelp is available via the Informit Help link

Complete list of Art databases. Also check the multidisciplinary databases as they cover a wide range of academic topics. You can select other subjects from the database subject list


Full text not available?

When the full text is not available, search for the journal title in the Library catalogue to discover if print or online copies are available

Database search tips

For help with searching databases see Connecting and Combining Search Terms or Truncation/Wildcards/Phrase searching: Basic or Online training or Ask the Library


Key internet sites for Fibre arts

It is important to critically evaluate all information you find particularly information found on the web.

This is a starting list of internet sites. You may want to do your own searches using search engines

Useful starters

Professional organisations

  • Handweavers Guild of America, Inc is a non profit organisation dedicated to encouraging excellence, inspiring creativity and preserving fibre tradition through education (US)
  • Surface Design Association is the colouring, patterning, structuring, and transformation of fabric, fibre, and other materials. This organisation promotes contemporary textiles, printing, dying, weaving, stitchery, embroidery and computer assisted textile design through publications and conferences (US)
  • Creative Fibre site of the New Zealand Spinning, Weaving and Woolcrafts Society. It brings together spinners, weavers, knitters, dyers, flax workers, felters, crocheters, free form fibre artists and all other people involved in the use of fibre (NZ)
  • Craft Australia Top advocacy organisation for Australia's contemporary craft and design

Methods and materials

  • Rugweavers.com is dedicated to weaving. It provides instruction and help with rug weaving problems
  • Computer Textile Design Group is an association of people who work with computers in embroidery, surface design, screen printing, patchwork, knitting, beading, lacemaking and other textile activities (UK)
  • QuiltEthnic.com quilting and/or fiber-related art, craft and textile traditions of diverse ethnic groups from contemporary, traditional and/or historical perspectives

Museums

  • Costumes and Textiles commenced in 1876, this collection is one of the United States' oldest and longest collections of costumes and textiles. Produced by Philadelphia Museum of Art
  • Textile Museum is committed to its role as a centre of excellence in the scholarly research, conservation, interpretation and exhibition of textiles, with particular concern for the artistic, technical and cultural significance of its collections. Washington DC (US)
  • Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidery that is approximately 20 inches tall and 230 feet long. It tells the story of the events leading up to and including the Battle of the Hastings Oct 14, 1066
  • Textile Museum of Canada is devoted to the collection, exhibition and documentation of textiles from around the world. It contains items such as embroidered Chinese hats, African indigo cottons, Indian silk saris and Turkish folk art rugs

Australian artists

  • Kay Lawrence main interest is in the area of textiles practice and theory, especially in relation to tapestry weaving.
  • India Flint - alchemist, fashion designer, writer, feltmaker, cloth colourist & costumiere
  • Patricia Black specializes in the field of dimensional textiles using dyeing techniques
  • Julie Ryder explores eco-friendly dyeing techniques involving fermentation of fruit on fabric.
  • Babara Rogers Barbara Rogers is a textile designer, based in Sydney
  • Liz Jeneid Trained as a weaver in the USA and returned to Australia in 1977


For further information about any of these resources please contact the Ask the Library service or ask at the library desk

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