Textures and Patterns for the Rigid Heddle Loom (2nd Edition)

Reviewed by Syne Mitchell on June 14, 2008

by Betty Linn Davenport

Textures and Patterns is the book you want by your side when you master plain weave on your rigid-heddle loom and start to wonder: "What else can I weave on this loom?"

The bulk of the book is devoted to a weave dictionary specific to rigid-heddle weaving. It covers weft- and warp-float patterning, inlay, lace (such as huck and bronson), deflected weaves (like honeycomb), weaving with two heddles, and much more. In addition, there are appendices that cover weaving tips, designing, and a comprehensive bibliography of rigid-heddle books and articles.

Many of the weaves involve the use of a pick-up stick, but Textures and Patterns teaches you how to save the pattern by picking up behind the heddle, so you only need to re-pick when and if the pattern changes. (Many weaves only use one pattern.) This is an admirably efficient method.

Originally published twenty-eight years ago, the new edition updates Textures and Patterns with all new pictures, a cleaner organization and layout, and techniques, such as double weave, not covered in the first edition. It also introduces color images in a gallery of projects, and the cover. The book is spiral bound.

This is an intermediate-level book. It assumes you are comfortable warping and weaving on a rigid-heddle loom. Those who need the basics of rigid-heddle weaving can find that information in Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving by the same author.

Textures and Patterns belongs in the library of anyone who weaves on a rigid–heddle loom.