Search the library catalog here.

If you can't find a book on your specific topic, don't give up! Here are a few things to try:

• Different spellings (e.g. "tartan" vs "tartans" - it makes a difference)
• Synonyms or words with similar meaning ("embroidery" vs "needlework")
• Broaden your search. We may not have a book on crazy quilts, but we have lots of books on American quilts.

Don't forget to use the table of contents, index, and bibliography. These are the ORIGINAL search engines!

If we don't have the book, we can borrow it from other libraries for you via interlibrary loan - just find the details on Amazon or Worldcat, login with your RISD credentials, and fill out our form. Heads up: it can take a few weeks.

Browsing is a great way to get to know library collections. You can start in the catalog, or in the "stacks" (shelves) of the library.

Here are a few key areas for Textiles:

N: Visual Arts

NK: Decorative Arts

NK2775 - NK3296.3: Rugs, carpets, tapestries

NK8800 - NK9595.5: Textiles (history, exhibition catalogues, etc)

T: Technology

TS: Manufactures

TS1300 - TS1865: Textile industry

TT: Handicrafts, arts and crafts

TT490 - TT695: Clothing, dressmaking, tailoring (Apparel/Fashion books are here; Machine Knitting is TT 680)

TT699 - TT854: Sewing, needlework, embroidery, knitting, quilting, weaving, textile printing, dyeing
 

SUBJECT searches:

Browse through these examples, and try some of your own subjects by using the drop-down box in the catalog.

Textile design.

Textile fabrics.

Textile fibers.

Textile crafts.

Textile industry.

Dyes and dyeing.

Weaving.

Knitting.

Machine knitting.

Fiberwork.

Repetitive patterns (Decorative arts)