Marguerite Porter Davison (1887–1953)

This is the definitive book on four shaft weaving. It isn't a new publication, and everything illustrated is in black and white, but you could weave forever using nothing but the drafts in this book. It is particularly valuable as a reference for traditional overshot designs, some of them quite large and complex. Hundreds of drafts and lots of historical material as well.

The drafts in this book are intended to be used on a sinking shed loom. You can weave them on a rising shed loom and they show more will appear on the under surface of the cloth as it is being woven, or just convert the tie ups by putting 0's in all the empty tie up boxes and leaving the boxes with X's in them blank. show less

Truly, this is the book every weaver should have. It contains, in a simple manner, many of the basic patterns used by every weaver. The instructions, tie-ups, draw downs - well, every aspect of this book makes the weaving of the time honored and time tested patterns a fairly easy process. So much of weaving refers to patterns that are within the cover of this book. Ms. Davison's work to preserve the ageless patterns is well worth the price. Buy it, read it, use it, and pass it on to someone show more you love in your will. show less

Great book for profiles. A bit difficult to interpret the threading

Marguerite Davidson took over the publication of a hundred coverlet patterns from Laura M. Allen after her death. Marguerite Davidson then died suddenly, before the work was completed and it was finished by a Mr. Denzler. The drafts contained in this book are from weavers who lived in the 18th and 19th century and who wove them mostly as coverlets. There is an explanation of the draft notation and how to do the authentic threading for each pattern. However, the patterns lend themselves to show more other weave structures, such as Summer and Winter, which eliminates the long floats inherent in the original coverlet drafts. Each draft gives the name of the weaver who was the original source for the draft. However, it must be said that many of the drafts were passed around among weavers of the time and it is quite likely that the true origin of the drafts is probably largely unknown.

There is a lot for the handweaver to absorb in this book. Each of the drafts is given in four block profile draft form. These are big designs, suitable for bedspreads and table cloths. A good resource for period weaving. show less