Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom

October 15, 2015

Mitchell is a modern Renaissance woman: she's an sf author, a technical writer who has worked for Google and Amazon, a podcaster, and an accomplished handweaver. Her debut weaving book provides a thorough education on the art and science of weaving, from choice of warp and weft yarn to various warping methods to styles beyond plain weave. There's ample coverage of the technical side of weaving, but Mitchell has both a sense of humor about her topic and a historical perspective on weaving that makes this book compelling. Weavers who worry that a rigid heddle loom is too limiting will be thrilled by the directions for converting four-shaft weave drafts for use on such a loom, which opens a world of possibilities. A variety of projects, from simple plain-weave blankets and scarves to explorations of woven lace, reinforce the instructions. VERDICT Notable for its full coverage of rigid heddle weaving, one of the most accessible pathways into this ancient art, this is an essential addition to weavers' bookshelves, right next to Mary E. Black's (long out-of-print) The Key to Weaving and Deborah Chandler's Learning To Weave.

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