I just received my copy of "The Weaver's Idea Book" by Jane Patrick and I would strongly encourage anyone interested in exploring the capabilities of the humble rigid heddle loom to seek out a copy. There is a short chapter on the workings of the loom, then the text dives right into plain weave, finger controlled weaves, pick-up weaves, warp- and weft-faced weaves (including Krokbragd), and two heddle weaves (including double weave). The book is hard cover with a spiral binding so that the pages stay flat when the book is open. Jane and Interweave did a great job on this one!

Jennifer

 

Comments

Wed, 08/04/2010 - 06:07

Caroline (not verified)

Mine is on order. Interweave sent me a postage discount voucher, and I gave in to temptation.

its good to know its worth getting!

Wed, 08/04/2010 - 11:46

claudia (not verified)

Uh-oh, I guess I'll have to wait.  My birthday list is closed and the date approaches quickly.  I did get a shopping spree at The Mannings which I made good use of and came home with tons of terrific yarns.  A great start to a stash that does not snap and break when you hold it in your hand.  Most of my yarn was rescued or 2nd  hand and very weak.
Claudia 

Wed, 08/04/2010 - 19:24

kellytwo (not verified)

I had a copy pre-ordered and it came today. I just flipped through it, and it looks great. Maybe we can do a WAL with a pattern from this book. I can't wait to go through it when I have more time this evening. Doreen
Thu, 08/05/2010 - 02:10

claudia (not verified)

That's a great idea.  We need to find out who else has it.  I can contact Jane and see if she'll join us.  

Thu, 08/05/2010 - 02:44

jordanj (not verified)

Sweet! I vote for an early Fall start. That would give others a chance to obtain the book (as well as me a chance to catch my breath from this crazy summer) :-) 

Thu, 08/05/2010 - 12:39

kellytwo (not verified)

I think an early Fall start would be great. Jean9 mentioned a Krokbragd pattern, and in the book there are such beautiful designs. Maybe a variety of mug rugs or a small bag would be a good way to try out the patterns and be be possible gifts. I like the idea of pick-up too. Doreen
Thu, 08/05/2010 - 13:19

Caroline (not verified)

Sounds good to me as well, my loom should be free!

One question - when is early Fall? I know you call autumn Fall, but when does it start in the Northern Hemisphere? What sort of date were you thinking of? I should have my book in a couple of weeks, post and Customs willing.

Caroline, who is in the middle of a very cold winter DownUnder in Adelaide.

Thu, 08/05/2010 - 13:46

jordanj (not verified)

Caroline,

I so easily forget this is an international group! Isn't the internet so cool to connect us so easily and quickly?

Early Fall to me means mid-to-late September. Even into early October. The public schools in my area (Oregon) begin their 9-month session in early September. The public universities begin late September. To me, early fall coincides with the beginning of school. All to say, I vote for aiming for a mid-to-late September start date. That would give people who are interested time to get the book and we can decide on a project.

I like Doreen's mug rug idea, but I am open to pretty much anything.

Exciting!
 Jennifer

Thu, 08/05/2010 - 13:51

kellytwo (not verified)

I laughed when I read your post Caroline, about when is early Fall. The internet has made me think of our group members as 'neighbors', and I forget that some may live half way around the world. Isn't it unbelieveable that we can chat and work together on projects as friends without realizing how far away we live? I live in the northeast US, and I think of early Fall as mid to late September. Is that early Spring for you? Doreen
Fri, 08/06/2010 - 14:35

Caroline (not verified)

Hi Doreen, yes, that would be the start of Spring down here. It starts warming up then and seems to get warmer each year. We had an extended heat wave in November last year, the hottest for a long time, so our summers are getting longer. I'm not sure if thats good or bad, but I do hate the cold we are experiencing at the moment, though its nothing like your winters! We have below freezing temperatures during the nights, with thick frosts, but the days are reasonable - if it doesn't try to rain.

Spring is a good time for weaving before it gets too hot, so the Wal is at an ideal time. Someone mentioned Krokbragd - that appeals to me, but then I haven't seen the book yet, so I'm sure we will change our minds more than once, lol!

I love the internet! It makes it so easy to organise projects, exchange photos and help each other. I learned to use my charkha because of the encouragement I got from an online charkha group, and I have learned so much from exchanging ideas with friends I have made online! The WALs are great fun, seeing how we interpret things so differently - and the same, despite the distances.

I'm not too good at geography. Is the NE north of New York towards the Canadian border? I've heard its very beautiful there in the Fall.

cheers, Caroline, who is now off to bed.

Tue, 08/17/2010 - 19:26

Momof4 (not verified)

I just got my copy of the book and am enjoying going through it.  I can't wait to try some of the thngs in it.

Tue, 08/17/2010 - 21:07

claudia (not verified)

What do you think? Is it geared towards new rh weavers or people with some experience?  any 2 heddle projects? 3 shaft twills?

Claudia

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 00:45

Caroline (not verified)

hi Claudia, there are no projects as such, its full of techniques for one rigid heddle and pick-up, and then two rigid heddles, and pick-up. It includes Bronson, Krokbragd, honeycomb, twills and much more. For double heddlers there is 3/1 twill, double weave, and lots of layers and textures! Its fabulous! It was well worth the extra I paid purchasing it direct from Interweave, with their horrific postage, than waiting for Amazon or the Book Depository for a discount. I think this is why people are raving about it, because it gets down to the nitty gritty of what we all want to learn, gives us the techniques and then leaves us to use them as we want.

I'm about to dive into the Krokbragd with supplementary sting heddle and pick-up stick. I have several different patterns to choose from including flamepoint in 2 seperate patterns, borders, zig-zags and coloured squares. There is a great guitar pattern too.

 I think this is the book serious rigid heddlers have been waiting for. We can use it to extend our knowledge and skills, and push back the boundaries of what we can achieve even further. As the basis for a WAL its ideal, because we can decide on a technique and see how we all interpret it.

So count me in!!

Wed, 08/18/2010 - 01:32

claudia (not verified)

Ok, you sold me Caroline.  I have a little bit left from my birthday and I was trying to decide what else I needed.  It sounds like this book is for me. I spend several hours each week on my rh loom and would love to see more of the drafts for things like krokbragd.  I can't wait to see your project, please post pictures as soon as you start.  

Thanks, time to shop.

Sat, 08/21/2010 - 10:41

Caroline (not verified)

I'm slowly working my way through the Krokbragd, and its very straightforward. Its not very fast, its more a matter of counting the colours/shuttles because the sheds are as easy to do as with a regular, 2 shed, plain weave. This just happens to have 3, and if you follow Jane's draft its a natural progression. At the moment I am doing the Flamepoint (2) pattern while watching the results of our general election on TV. Its possible our first woman Prime Minister might just get back in - its a bit close so the weaving is suffering! Photos in a while.

Caroline

Sat, 08/21/2010 - 11:41

CraftinSusan

I am very surprised that your schools start so late.  Here in Illinois elementary and high schools are already in session as are colleges.  Somehow I can't think of 96 degree F as being early Fall.

Sat, 08/21/2010 - 14:00

claudia (not verified)

I just received a copy as a birthday gift!!  It's a beautiful book, well done, lots of great photos (did you notice they used three different photographers?).  I have just started to read through Plain weave and plan on reading as much as possible before I delve into a project.  

I also have to finish a few scarves before early October when we have another craft show so do not want to tie up my loom (LOL) with a long project just now.

I'm all for woman PM in Australia.  Keep us posted.  I checked the Wash Post and there is no article about it today.  I'll look again tomorrow.

Claudia