Edited by Laurie Knapp Autio. Complex Weavers is an international organization of weavers who share a passion for creating textiles. Despite the name, they aren't limited to dobby looms or a specific number of harnesses. Eight Shafts: Beyond the Beginning is a book about the design process and how different weavers approach it. Seventy-two different weavers contributed pieces for this collection. Each entry has a description of the designer's process and a listing of what went into the particular fabric: yarns, structure, and finishing techniques, among other aspects. This is followed by a section of tips, not in weaving the piece but in manipulating the aspects of the fabric during the design process. Each entry has at least two color photos and most use a full-color draft.

The first half of the book is dedicated to working with eight harnesses and has the subdivisions of

• Straight Lines
• Curved Lines
• Stripes of Structure
• Figures and More

The second half of the book explores designing using 8-harness structures as a starting point but then expanding beyond eight harnesses. Its subdivisions are:

• 8-Shaft Drafts as Profiles
• 8-Shaft Blocks or Sections
• Layers
• 8-Tie Weaves
• Graphic Techniques

If you would like to feel more confident in creating your own original textiles and you have at least eight harnesses, learn more about design from these very talented weavers!

Softcover, 280 pages.