The Handweaver's Pattern Directory: An Illustrated Reference to Over 600 Fabric Weaves

This is pattern book, not a "how to weave" book. One of the strong points are the color samples that accompany the drafts. These samples give you a good idea about the kind of cloth that can be constructed with the draft. Various weave structures are grouped together and also give you an excellent idea about variations within those structures. Also, color-and-weave is clearly shown in the drafts, allowing you to make nice variations on a simpler weave structure.

The book is spiral bound, which makes it easy to leave it open to a particular page while you weave.

I do have several complaints about the book. The first is that the type is very small, especially for older eyes. There are bold face headings, but then further explanations are show more done in a very fine, lighter typeface which can be very difficult to read. One of the most important pages in the book is "Understanding the Weaving Drafts". This is very important material about how to use the book and should have been done on several pages so that the text is readable.

Another complaint would be that many of the drafts need to be woven with a liftplan, rather than tie up and treadling. Very few four shaft floor looms have more than 6 treadles, so that a skeleton tie up or using a direct tie up system would be needed in order to weave them. I didn't see any references about how to make your own liftplan from the drafts, which would have been a good adjunct to the material even if you were using a table loom.

I recommend this book, but with the reservations I have listed above. It has much to offer, but a new weaver needs to seek out other sources for a complete understanding of what these drafts have to offer and how to weave them. show less

Review by Shelley Neate of Reno Fiber Guild

Recently, I purchased this book for my library and found it contains a wealth of great information about weaving basics: equipment, fibers, sett, weave structures, how to calculate warp length, color theory, etc. There is also a nice explanation of threading selvedges in a balanced weave. These are fairly brief, but clearly defined sections. The photos are all wonderful and very clear and colorful.

This is a really nice reference volume.

The Handweaver's Pattern Directory is a full-color practical guide to weave structures for 4-shaft looms that features drafts for 600 weaves including twill, zigzag, diamond, herringbone, block drafts, and specialized techniques. Each structure includes a color photograph, threading and treadling …

weaving