Patch Pictures: a Creative Guide to Fabric Collage

Patch Pictures fills a long-felt need for a guide to a hobby that anyone can tackle with only scissors, a pot of glue, various pieces of fabric and a fertile imagination.

The medium is much more sympathetic than pencil and paper, and rather easier than appliqué – and in addition the subjects that can be used are virtually endless, from photos to child art.

With the aid of a clear and authoritative text and explanatory full-colour illustrations, the reader is taken step by step through the basic techniques of fabric collage to the final product, which will create a warm atmosphere and contribute greatly to the décor of any house. Many patterns are supplied, to serve as introduction; thereafter the reader will have to give his or her own imagination free reign.

Norma Slabbert, a former primary school teacher, is well versed in craftwork and has specialised in collage for the past six years. At one stage she ran her own crafts shop, and more recently she has regularly manned her own stalls at crafts markets. She has also participated in many hobby and crafts shows, and her work has often been rewarded with certificates of merit.