My Handwoven Thoughts

The very first book I would recommend for a new weaver is “Learning to Weave” by Deborah Chandler. This book starts with and introduction into looms and weaving equipment. It gives enough information to help with the purchase of the first loom and the basic equipment needed to start weaving.

It quickly moves into the process of “warping” a loom. For those of you who are not familiar with this weaving term, it means setting the loom up with the threads attached to the loom and held under tension during weaving. The pictures are clear and the step-by-step instructions are easy to follow.

After the loom is warped, there are many important things to learn. This book will answer most of the questions that arise and assist a new weaver in understanding the weaving process. It describes the basics of thread interlacement in weaving, how to plan a project, and how to read a draft. A draft is the pattern a weaver follows to set up the loom and weave a specific pattern. Some basic weave structures are discussed and the back of the book has some great information charts. I have been weaving for more than ten years and this is still the reference book I use as I am researching a new project.

So if you have just started weaving or think weaving may interest you, this is the first book I would recommend. This is the book I use as a text book when I give weaving lessons.

Are you a book collector? I am! Every time I start a new hobby, I start collecting books on the
subject. It’s just another one of my addictions. Whether you are a serious book collector or not,
a few good books are a necessity for any weaving library.

I found my collection of weaving books to be very valuable as I worked on Level l of my
Certificate of Excellence in Handweaving. It was so nice to be able to find answers to my
questions and the techniques I needed to learn on my own shelves at home. I did not have to plan
what I needed to look for in the Guild library at the next meeting or count on finding the
information in the limited titles found at the local library.

There are a few weaving books I think every weaver should have on hand. I have a good sized
library, but it is not all inclusive. Some books will not be for everyone. A lot depends on your
loom and the type of weaving that interests you most. So stay tuned for recommendations to see
if any of these books will be a “must have” for your weaving library.