Weaving Explorer: Ingenious Techniques, Accessible Tools and Creative Projects for Working with Yarn, Paper, Wire and More

by Deborah Jarchow

The Weaving Explorer features a wide variety of techniques, weave structures, and weaving materials that will excite all levels of crafters. Many of the 30 featured projects combine traditional methods with non-traditional materials to create woven items inspired by a classic approach but updated with a contemporary look. Some projects require no loom at all, while others use a basic frame to hold the threads together, and still others are woven around an object, such as a stone, branch, or ring, that remains part of the completed item. The book guides weavers through working with a range of materials, from paper, ribbon, fabric strips, and yarns to wire, plastic, stones, and wood. Examples of beautiful finished pieces showcase each technique and will inspire readers to imagine their own creative weaving possibilities.

• ISBN13: 9781635860283
• Publish Date: 26 November 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Storey Publishing LLC
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 272
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Creative Weaving is a tutorial and resource guide for fibre-artists, weavers, and crafters for non-traditional weaving techniques and projects. Due out 26th Nov 2019 from Storey, it's 272 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a beautifully presented book, well written and photographed. The tutorials themselves are appealing and run the gamut from very simple (God's eyes) to more complex (triaxial weaving). None of the projects are beyond the scope of a keen beginner. The projects use a variety of materials and can easily be adapted to incorporate an almost infinite variety of found materials.

I enjoyed the numerous artist spotlights scattered throughout the book. The artists are a varied and eclectic bunch, from the whimsical to the formal. It was interesting to be able to read a little about their backgrounds and inspirations. The 'design notebook' sidebars with notes from the designers' processes in creating the projects was also very useful.

The book includes (by my count) 36 distinct project tutorials as well as a number of artist profiles. Additionally the book has a resource section which includes making tools such as a pin frame loom, warping, estimating materials yardage, knots for weavers, a glossary of terms, and an index. (Review note: The index wasn't included in the early review copy I received, so I can't give review info on that part of the book; Storey is generally pretty thorough in their references and indices, so no worries on that score).

This would be a nice gift for a beginning to intermediate weaver, support text for a maker's collective library, public library, school, and the like. I liked this one a lot and will be incorporating several of the project techniques included here in my own future projects.

Five stars. Definitely a worthwhile addition to the fibrecrafter's repertoire.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.