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A Weaver's Library: Books Every Weaver Should Have

by Christine Jablonski

Aside from stashing weaving yarn, we know weavers also love to stash weaving books. While we have a few “must haves” listed on our resources page, we polled a few folks in our design community to find out what their favorite weaving books are, and why.

Weaving bookshelf

Sedona Rigsby

Sedona Rigsby is a designer and craftswoman who views creativity as a process of discovery and love. She weaves in her Santa Fe studio and travels to find special yarn made from sacred fibers. Beyond creation, she sees weaving as a link to ancestral wisdom and a form of meditation.

Patterns by Sedona: Tassel Wrap, Zigzag Decor Set, Rustic Ribbons

Sedona's Picks:

Deborah is conversational, clear, and humorous in her step-by-step guide to warping multi-shaft looms in multiple ways.
    The only book you need for rigid heddle. Clear warping instructions with photos, plenty of projects, and techniques you can use beyond the rigid heddle.
    I encourage new weavers to push themselves and try the doubleweave sampler outlined in this book as one of your first projects on a floor loom. It will solidify the principles of treadling while exploring a magical and expansive technique. You'll walk away feeling smarter!

      Kristin Crane

      Kristin Crane is a weaver, designer, and writer obsessed with textiles. She is fascinated by what textiles can tell us about a place and the people who make them. 

      Patterns by Kristin Crane: Breezy Twill Throw, Cozy Crepe Weave Scarf

      Kristin's Picks:

      • Color and Fiber by Patricia Lambert, Barbara Staepelaere, and Mary G. Fry
      This book is great, especially for people who may not have taken classes in color. It feels like a color course in one book with a lot of info on color science and theory. What I like is it gives a lot of detail on how color works specifically with fiber. For example, there are clear descriptions of how light interacts with different types of fiber and how that affects what we see. Also, how weave structures can influence how our eyes blend colors. Plus, a lot of information on dyeing. Overall, an informative reference book for any textile library. 
      I'm new to tapestry weaving and have found this book incredibly helpful on its own, and in conjunction with Rebecca’s online classes. It is rich with clear photography to accompany instructions.

       

      The following three books are all incredibly valuable for weave structures and drafts:

      For inspiration, I turn to:

      A must-have in every weaver’s library and the new edition has beautiful images. (I also like her On Designing book, but that’s out of print and hard to find.)

      There are so many books on Anni Albers available, but she wasn’t the only weaver in the Weaving Workshop. This book contains information about the many other weavers at the Bauhaus. It’s well-researched and contains many historical images. (And written by a former professor at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science.)
      An inspiring and gorgeous book that covers the long life of Lenore Tawney.
      This book accompanied the 2023 exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt. It’s an inspiring look into the work of a prolific designer.

        Jennifer E. Kwong

        Jennifer E. Kwong is a Canadian freelance designer and illustrator. Weaving appeals to her love of math, color, pattern, folk art, and working with her hands. When not weaving, she enjoys making pysanky (Ukrainian eggs), playing ukulele, and hanging out with her cat.

        Patterns by Jennifer E. Kwong:  Line by Line Hand Towels, Juxtaposition Scarf, Onward and Upward Towels, Light and Shadow Placemats, Birch Bark Runner, Summer Solstice Placemats

        Jennifer's Picks:

        For beginner multi-shaft weavers:

        For rigid heddle weavers:

        For those looking to go beyond the “normal" 4-shaft stuff:

        For baltic pickup inkle weaving:

        For general inspiration:

        Amanda Rataj

        Amanda Rataj is an artist and weaver living and working in Hamilton, Ontario. She studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design University and has developed her contemporary craft practice through research-based projects, artist residencies, professional exhibitions, and lectures.

        Patterns by Amanda Rataj: Halftones Collection, Fade Gamp, Bloom Table Squares, Simple Woven Coasters, Squarish Rug, Tidal Towels. Amanda is also our resident blogger extraordinaire.

        Amanda's Picks:

        Great for technical information. My friend Megan recommended it and I permanently borrowed my mum's copy. 
        I finally understood drafting after working through this book years ago — it's an older book, so folks would have to buy it used, but I really liked it. 
        When I was learning to weave I used this book all the time — it has so much useful information in it. I was also given one of Interweave's Little Weaver's Companion books, which I still use all the time when I need to have a look at a reed chart. It was very helpful when I was learning to hemstitch. 
        I still pull this out all the time. It's an excellent pattern resource. 
        This is my dream book which I borrow endlessly from the library but cannot for the life of me find an affordable copy of. Great resource! Everyone always wants upwards of $300 USD for it, which is capitalist robbery, if you ask me. Years ago I photographed the entire thing during one of my borrowing sprees, which is something I don't generally condone because of copyright, morality, etc but I hardly use the pictures — it's so much nicer to look through a book. It's not necessarily a book I think everyone needs to own, but it's a fun specialist topic within a weaving book.

          For patterns, I quite like Tina Ignell's books and VAV in general. 

            Elisabeth Hill

            Elisabeth (Lisa) Hill is a weaving enthusiast. She has been weaving for almost 30 years, and completed a 6-year Master Weaver Program at Hill Institute in Florence, MA in 2012. Elisabeth was a tech editor for and is a frequent contributor to Handwoven and Little Looms Magazines. She has taught at guilds, weaving
            conferences, and folk schools across the country and has kept a weaving blog since 2010.

            Patterns by Elisabeth Hill: Creamsicle Towels, Trompe L’oeil Towels, Deflected Doublweave Towels (4S+8S), Ric Rac Mix & Match Napkins

            Lisa's Picks:

            Favorite Technical:

            Best for Beginners: 

            Best Inspiration: 

            Dana Lutz

            Dana Lutz is the artist and weaver behind Otterwoven. Her experimentation and love of color began with her first box of Crayola Crayons. Dana was introduced to various fiber arts throughout her life, but it wasn’t until a trip to Peru that she found weaving - her true fiber passion. She seeks to take traditional weaving techniques and add a contemporary, colorful twist. When she’s not at her loom, you can find her spending time with her family and enjoying the outdoors - either surfing or combing the beach with her two rescue pups.

            Patterns by Dana Lutz: Skip Dent Plaid Wrap

            Dana's Picks:

            For Rigid Heddle:

            For 4-Shaft

             

            Looking for more weaving resources? Explore some of our most popular blog posts and downloadable charts here.