Learning to Weave
by Deborah Chandler

For years, we have recommended this book as our favorite beginning weaving book. It isn't just for beginners, though. It is an excellent resource for any point along the weaving journey. You can use it as an excellent self-study course with step-by-step warping, draft reading, and project planning. Chandler follows a systematic approach, addressing questions you might come upon as you work alone and assigning "homework" for you to apply what you have learned. Lots of black and white pictures help the beginner understand the weaving process from start to finish. The book is divided into sections and subdivided into lessons, each teaching particular aspects of weaving.

Part I For the Very Beginner

• Getting Familiar--tools, the anatomy of a loom, and weaving terminology
• Your First Piece--measuring the warp and threading the loom. Both front-to-back and back-to-front methods are given.
• Weaving--basic techniques, including minimizing draw-in, fixing broken threads, splicing the weft, and keeping records of your work
• Planning a Project--going from idea to clear plan, including warp and weft calculations

Part II Now That You Know the Basics

• Reading Drafts--thorough explanation of the four parts of a weaving draft
• Plain Weave Variations--exploring how sett, beat, color, and texture effect this most straightforward structure
• Basic Twills--expanding your repertoire and using a floating selvedge
• Altering Drafts--changing the treadling or tie-up to change the fabric and generating a draft from a draw-down
• An Introduction to Other Kinds of Twills--offset, broken, and combination twills, waffle weave, and weaving on opposites

Part III For Those of You Who Know What You're Doing

• Double Weave--loom set-up, sett and beat considerations, methods of weaving
• Honeycomb--size and shape of blocks, color effects, and uses
• Loom-Controlled Lace Weaves--understanding the lace unit, creating blocks of lace, and how warp and weft choices affect lace
• Block Theory--block patterns and profile drafts
• Summer and Winter--understanding the units, treadling options, and tips for using two wefts
• Overshot--understanding the pattern blocks and threading, tie-up options, and yarn options

Part IV Other Useful Things to Know--fiber properties, sett charts, reed substitutions, types of looms, and other resources

Softcover, 232 pages