Judy Ryerson's new book comes out March 31, 2026 by Routledge.

Choosing Fabrics for Theatre: A Practical Guide to Textiles for Costume and Prop Artisans defines textiles, tools, useful products, and how they are used to create costumes and soft goods.

Fabric can be mercurial and play differently on many kinds of applications. This book answers the question "How do you pick fabrics for costumes and props?" and takes the guesswork out of selecting materials and understanding the varieties available. Beginning with guidance on how to select fabric and what fabrics say about a setting, character, or mood, the book explores different types of textiles, their construction, and their use in theatre design. It also guides readers in resource pre-planning and material measurement estimations, commonly used tools, comprehensive ways to manipulate and work with fabrics and textiles, and contemporary substitutes that mimic historic textiles.

This book is written for the novice theatrical costume and prop artisan and will be a useful resource in Costume Design and Construction university courses. It also provides guidance for costume and prop makers working with limited budgets and cosplay artists.

Routledge is a global publisher of academic books, journals and online resources in the humanities and social sciences.