I am a knitter and crocheter and I suppose I have been spoiled by all the infinite patterns in the world for those crafts but I don't seem to find the same type of pattern love for weavers. What gives? Maybe we could make a section here on weavolution for patterns for whole projects and not just a draft. Am I not looking in the correct spots for myself?

Comments

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 04:18

ReedGuy

There are tons online in archives of old books. Also one site stores and makes them available on CD or download.

http://handweaving.net/Home.aspx

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 10:51

kerstinfroberg

The Swedish national guild published one pattern per month - downloadable from www.riksvav.se/vavbeskrivningar. The language is (of course) Swedish, but a) drafts are universal (almost) and b) there is always Google translate... which quite often give surprising results, but with some guessing it should work. My local guild also have some pages in English.

And then there are all the books, of course - talk to your library!

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 12:54

endorph

also some free pattern downloads on the Interweave site and I have found some just by googling and surfing. . .
Sat, 02/25/2012 - 14:00

thenutmeg2000

I just haven't dug far enough and there really isn't a huge compendium of them in a large place. Scattered about. I think I have seen the few on Interweave. I did also find some on Leclerc's site but not so many. I wish there was a Ravelry type spot for us. I also noticed I don't see many for sale unless they are in a kit. Thanks for the tips on locating some. I will use those ideas.

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 14:11

thenutmeg2000

The Swedish ones are lovely! I could find some fun things to do there. Thanks again for the tips on locating patterns.

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 15:04

Michael White

In the short cut http://handweaving.net/Home.aspx by the reed guy above there are over 50,000 drafts on this one site and they are all FREE. There is a Ravelry weaving group.

Michael

Michael

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 15:41

Kade1301

Maybe there aren't as many patterns for weavers because it's easier to shape a rectangle than a fitted (and fitting) sweater? And there's tons of sewing patterns that show how to transform the woven rectangle into useful items.

I'm just too lazy (or independent?) to hunt down first a pattern I want to follow, then the yarn(s) suggested by the pattern, possibly the equipment needed to do it (reed size - I have all the knitting needles) and finally following the instructions (I admit, I can't even execute sewing patterns as written - there's always something to improve or simplify).

For knitting I have stitch dictionaries, for weaving Ann Dixon's pattern book, but I think weaving software (I use WeaveDesign) might be just as useful, or maybe even more useful. And then I just think up what I want to make - and try till it works.

Which doesn't stop me from (more or less) following a pattern when I happen to see one I really like - the new Big Book of Weaving (2005/2008 edition) has a few lovely nice projects in it...

Or maybe there aren't so many weaving patterns because there's many, many more knitters than weavers. I mean, there's a lot less activity here than on knitting forums ;)

Happy weaving! Klara

 

 

 

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 16:25

ReedGuy

"Warp and Weft" by Eriksson,Gustovsson and Lovallius is full of draft lessons with color photos that also teach different weave structures. "The Big Book of Weaving" is more concise on learning how to read drafts,threading, treadling and tie-ups.

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 17:08

mneligh

Are you interested in patterns for making the woven cloth, or for sewing with it afterwards?

I'm the sort of person that creates their own pattern once I learn a technique, be it weaving, knitting, or crochet.  The way I create the pattern (draft) is to look them up by technique -- overshot, summer & winter, krokbragd, damask, double weave, twill . . . and then draw out my own draft based on what I've learned and my loom's capabilities.  This is typically how I find drafts on line or in books, by weave structure.

To a certain extent, the loom constrains the pattern.  You cannot weave a 16 harness undulating twill on a 4 harness loom, or a one-piece bedspread on a 26" wide loom.  Reed availability to influences sett.  The only time a completely predeterimed pattern works is if you make assumptions about loom capabilities, usually assuming either a lowest-common-denominator configuration or orienting the pattern towards extremely common looms such as the BabyWolf (a fine little loom, btw).  There is way more variability in looms than in knitting needles.

Also, while knitting is portable, weaving by and large is not.  Although there is on line sharing of knitting patterns now, knitters always have and still do sit down with other knitters, whereas with weavers, that really doesn't happen except in workshops, guilds,  or tight-knit communities of weavers.  In the latter, the patterns are frequently learned, not written.

If you want to get into weaving in a bigger way, the easiest thing to do might be to go to a workshop or two that focuses on a technique, and then learn pattern drafting. This is assuming weaving, and not sewing with your weaving, is the reason you want patterns.

Sat, 02/25/2012 - 18:25

Sara von Tresckow

After one gains experience in weaving and learns how to draft the desired fabric, a pattern is no longer necessary.

Very complex designs are generally not put out on the web for free - those are done by individuals for their own work.

Start with basic structures - plain weave, twill and satin. Then advance to patterned variations on the above structures - weaving is "modular" and not like other "ladies needle arts" in that weavers are very oftenh designers as well.

Sun, 02/26/2012 - 02:42

Guiding Myth (not verified)

By patterns I assume you mean finished projects where the yarn, colors and draft is already designed?  Have you looked at Handwoven Magazine and other weaing magazines (both old and new)?   Perhaps once you weave a few projects you will be more interested in planning/designing your own projects rather than following someone else's design.

Best wishes

Stephanie S