Weaver's Idea Book: Creative Cloth on a Rigid-Heddle Loom

Description

New and experienced weavers alike are always on the lookout for new weave-structure patterns. The Weaver's Idea Book presents a wide variety of patterns for the simple rigid-heddle loom, accompanied by harness drafts for multishaft looms. The techniques include leno, Brooks bouquet, soumak, and embroidery on fabric. Each chapter contains weaving patterns along with swatches illustrating the techniques, accompanied by step-by-step photography. The book is arranged by structure or type of weave, from variations on plain weave to doubleweave. With traditional patterns from around the world, bands, and fabrics woven on two double heddles, The Weaver's Idea Book brings together a variety of ways to create exquisite cloth. Weaving tips and tricks help weavers at all levels achieve their textile dreams. In addition to pattern drafts, Jane offers project ideas that guide the reader through creating functional woven projects, from wearables to home decor. Weaving, especially on rigid-heddle looms, is enjoying a resurgence, and contemporary weavers are in need of a book to bridge the divide between basic books and complex text designed for advanced weavers with sophisticated tools. Celebrating the immense potential for creativity possible with the simplest of tools, The Weaver's Idea Book opens new avenues for exploration on both the rigid-heddle and multishaft looms.

Jane Patrick is the author of Time to Weave: Simply Elegant Projects to Make in Almost No Time, the former editor of Handwoven magazine, and Creative Director for Schacht Spindle Company in Boulder, Colorado.

As a guide for beginners and practiced weavers Jane Patrick's book is inspirational. Although specifically aimed at the rigid heddle loom, the 200 pages hold a wealth of information on weave structures and patterns that can be used on many looms. The spiral bound, textbook-style layout is good, with clear section separation, and the chapters take you up a hierarchy of difficulty. I felt comfortable with plain, finger-controlled and pick up weaves, then I marvelled in awe at sections on warp and weft-faced frabrics and working with two heddles. There is a nod to garment and item construction in the guise of a few set pieces, but the book's real strength is in opening a treasure chest of weaving possibility to new or relatively inexperienced weavers. Each section provides a soft kaleidoscope of samples which I have already been tempted to replicate. The book will doubtless remain a good source book to refer to for new creative ideas and inspiration. However, the book might give the absolute beginner a puzzle at times, as it is not always clear and sometimes repetitive. Generally though, the book was a joy to read and is unlikely to gather dust on my bookshelf.-Journal for Weavers Spinners & Dyers