Cover Image
1975 Softcover edition. Scanned from my personal collection

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • FOREWARD
  • AUTHOR'S NOTE
  • 1. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
    • The material
      The tools and other necessities
      Cutting and stitching
      Preparing and covering wires
      Stuffing
      Making basic adult figures
      Making ans styling long hair
      Making basic child figures
      Short hair for the children
      Aprons and shawls
      Knitting
  • 2. FIGURES USED AS CONTAINERS
    • The baskets
  • 3. FIGURES FOR THE NURSERY
    • The toys
      The witch
  • 4. SOME COUNTRY CHARACTERS
    • The sheep
      The geese
      The cat
      The goat
      The hedgehog
      The tortoise
  • 5. FAMILY LIFE
  • 6. FIGURES FOR CHRISTMAS
    • Beards
      Moustaches
      Rolled bands
      Notes on individual characters
  • THE PATTERNS

Title: Modelling in Hessian
Author: Margaret Hutchings
Publication Date: TPB:1975
Publisher: Mills & Boon, Ltd., London
Page Count: 112
Book Dimensions(ht. x w.): 9 3/4" x 7 1/2"
ISBN: 0263063577

PATTERN RATING:Star Rating Patterns are all full-sized, but with minimal markings. There are excellent reasons for this, however, as you are handworking burlap(hessian) into art doll figures. You get some amazing photos of Ms. Hutchings' work throughout.

INSTRUCTION RATING:Star Rating Instructions are broken down into stages and there is photo illustrating throughout. I think someone who has never sewn or crafted before could use this book.

BONUS MECHANICS RATING:Star Rating Ms. Hutchings gets a bonus star, as this is the first time I've run across figure modelling in this medium.

SUMMARY- I was amazed at the life she could get out of these simplified figures. I was really glad to have come across a copy of this book, finally. I am guessing that the book she published the same year titled "Sculpting in Burlap" is the American edition of this book.

I got this book in a trade off of www.paperbackswap.com (check it out if you love books) and the crafter who sent it to me also sent the November 1986 issue of Crafts 'n Things that also had an article in it about sculpting figures in burlap by Jean M. Sherf. I laughed when I saw it - I just finished entering all the tables of contents for Stitch 'n Sew last week(about 40 hours of work), and Ms. Sherf is in every issue, I think. I believe this is about the fourth craft magazine I've seen her in - and she's prolific in those. I'm beginning to believe Jean M. Sherf isn't just one woman, but a set of quintuplets all working under the same name and they take turns wearing the Jean M. Sherf public clothes to go to various craft shows and publishing house events... Okay, I've wandered way off topic. I'm giving you the magazine article information in case this is the artform for you, and you're looking for other reference materials.

Margaret Hutchings blows really hot or cold for me, and this book is one of the hot ones, like her wonderful "Toys From Alice in Wonderland." It's bursting with imagination and creativity and gives you goals to reach for in creative fabric artistry that are worth reaching. There.