weaving

Books for beginning weaving

My first weaving lessons were 22 years ago. I learned to warp a rigid heddle loom, and a few log cabin pattern variations. The scratchy New England wool was in pink and magenta, two colors I famously avoid, and it was in the middle of a very hot, very dry summer. In the afternoons when the sun was too strong and there was no shade, I would prop my loom up against the cool brick chimney in the middle of the house and call my best friend. With the phone cradled between my shoulder and my chin we talked for hours and I wove… what what did I weave? A table runner? I don’t recall, I hated the color.

I didn’t try to weave again for another 10 years or so. When my Grandmother passed away, we found a rigid heddle loom in her basement and it reignited my interest. This is when I started accumulating information. I have less time for weaving then I would like—really, I have less time for any hobbies then I would like, so despite the fact that I first learned rigid heddle weaving about 22 years ago, my skill level is still pretty much “beginner.” Nevertheless, I continue to accumulate a library of references and resources for the hobbies I wish I had time to pursue. This is a little round up of my favorite books on weaving.

The first book I got when I was learning how to set up a rigid heddle loom as a teenager was Hands on Rigid Heddle Weaving by Betty Lin Davenport. This is a good starting point, a slim volume with a few basic projects and a few aspirational ones to get you inspired. This book has all of the basic information you need to get started and the trouble shooting section has been invaluable to me.

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Where Hands On starts, The Weaver’s Idea Book by Jane Patrick (co-founder of Schacht Spindle Company) picks up—this is a favorite, an indispensable resource for Rigid Heddle weaving, in the way that a good stitch dictionary is invaluable for a creative knitter or crocheter. Lots of ideas, good pictures and all the information you need to design your own first projects.

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More recently I received a copy of Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom  by Syne Mitchell, and it’s quickly become my favorite—the warping instructions are the clearest I have found, there is a good amount of detailed information to ensure that you get your project off to a good start, and it includes a detailed overview of the various methods and approaches to nearly available to a beginning or novice weaver. What is really exciting to me about this book is all of the interesting innovations in Rigid Heddle weaving it introduces—this book goes far beyond log cabin and rep weaves. It introduces additional heddles allowing one to create overshot and other techniques that I always thought were only possible with a 4-shaft loom—exciting stuff!

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Are you a weaver? Are there any books we missed? Leave a comment below letting us know your favorite weaving books for little looms!

 

4 thoughts on “Books for beginning weaving

  1. You definitely got my three favorite books that I would consider library essentials! And I’d say those three are great for beginners and challenging the advanced, and they will keep you busy for years.

    Beyond that there are always great project publications that I have a hard time to stay away from:
    – Both “Easy weaving on little looms” magazines
    – Both books by Meg Stump, http://www.pinloomweaving.com/
    – MANY Interweave books at http://www.interweavestore.com, including the just released “Handwoven Home” by Liz Gipson … drool …

  2. Rigid heddle class awhile ago. Never wove again. Retired & inspired! Energy and time at last. But getting my loom out I realized, I remember very little. Thanks for books to jump start my efforts here in my golden years!!

  3. Gostaria de saber o preço desse tear e como posso adquirilo pois o meu sonho é aprender fazer tricor no tear espero resposta pelo o meu Gmail que envio para vocês abrçs

    1. Oi Maria! O preço do tear varia muito dependendo do material que é usado para o fazer e a largura do tear. Você pode google “hard lore loom” e encontrar muitas opções. Boa sorte!

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