Wild Textiles

Alice Fox, artist and author of Natural Processes in Textile Art, works with found, foraged, gathered, and grown materials to create fabulous textile pieces inspired by, and made from, nature. In her new book, Wild Textiles, she encourages crafters to be open-minded and experimental, using local (and sometimes) unconventional materials. By working with the seasons and learning what materials are available at different times of the year, artists are grounded in natural cycles, integrating creative activity with a strong sense of place and character.

Alongside advice on growing your own plants, such as flax or nettles, for creative work, the book is packed with practical ideas for foraging. These include gathering weeds, dandelions, and other plants useful for making cordage, or leaves that can be stitched, quilted, and shaped into vessels. Materials like grass, wool, plastics, and mud can be gathered and delightfully repurposed by the textile artist.

Other ideas for found materials include stones, shells, and wood, which can be wrapped or woven into, as well as a multitude of urban treasures that find new life in creative hands.