Learning to Weave Paperback – Illustrated, April 1, 2009

This book informative and easy to understand, with clear explanations of complex topics, with great illustrations and diagrams. It is worth the price is an essential weaving resource. The book covers basic weaving on large looms and different warping methods. It starts off with a very brief introduction to looms and ancillary tools needed by the weaver. Then it provides a very detailed discussion, complete with many pictures, of how to warp the loom, then leads the reader through a home-study course, starting off with a simple weave sample. Throughout, the author explains the details of how to perform each step, what problems might arise, how to prevent them from doing so, and how to fix problems that do arise. It is a good resource for beginners.

This is a terrific book for someone who wants to learn to weave. It starts off with a very brief introduction to looms and ancillary tools needed by the weaver. It then provides a very detailed discussion, complete with many pictures, of how to warp the loom. The book then leads the reader through a home-study course starting off with a simple weave sample, a good explanation of reading drafts, and an interesting as well as comprehensible explanation of various twills. My favorite chapter was that on reading drafts----I had looked at a couple of weaving magazines previously and was completely puzzled by them. The author's explanations were so delightfully clear that after reading the chapter once I was able to understand all the patterns I had looked at in the magazines.Throughout, the author explains the details of how to perform each step, what problems might arise, how to prevent them from doing so, and how to fix problems that do arise. Deborah Chandler has a real gift for imparting complex information, and this book amply reflects that gift.Since I am a complete beginner and have never touched a loom before, I would have liked a much lengthier discussion (with diagrams) covering how the various types of looms work as well as their advantages/disadvantages. That said, even if you don't know how a loom works (which I didn't before reading this book carefully), you can puzzle it all out from the book by seeing what the different steps in warping and weaving are and relating them to the physical structures involved. It took me a while to puzzle this all out & this is where it would have been nice to have more information on "loom theory" in general.I was interested in buying a loom and getting started in weaving, but I wasn't sure I could learn how since there doesn't seem to be anywhere near where I live to take lessons. Since I didn't want to buy a loom I couldn't use, I bought this book first to see if I could learn how to weave from a book without an instructor. Although I will not know for sure until I give it a try, the book explains things so well and in sufficient detail to make me confident I can do it. So, reading the book made me decide to take the plunge and order a loom.Wish me luck (and buy this book)!

Even though this book is above my head, I’m reading it. I just have a frame loom/lap loom, not the fancy one in this book. BUT there is a LOT of information on fabric and thread types. Weaving patterns, etc. I’m glad I bought it because I’m learning a lot.

This book is directed towards those who want to learn how to use a 4 harness table loom or a floor loom. The author writes very clear instructions in a lesson format. This can be difficult for some people to understand. The book has a large amount of easy to understand illustrations as well as good black and white photos. I like the fact that the book covers many advanced skills like how to weave different types of twills, lace, using multiple wefts, etc. The drafting and pattern sections are really good. Good weaving requires that a weaver understand pattern reading and this book covers this aspect really well. All in all this is a good book for an "advanced beginner". A person who has never weaved before may have a problem in understanding the process without reading the chapters a gazillion times.

I bought this book before I decided on what style my first loom would be. Due to financial and time constraints, I opted to start with a backstrap contraption I would build myself. This book has nothing on that but will be useful once I have the loom set up and am actually weaving. It also has a way to build a simple frame for smaller projects made with combs, duct tape and boards. I do plan to try that but I always start big first and then go small. Backwards, I know. Could have been weaving this weekend if I'd just waited for the book and built the loom it offers.Not an in depth pattern book but a good intro to weaving for beginners and a good place to start.After receiving several other books, including one specifically on backstrap looms, I'm finding myself using this book the most. It's the only one out of 4 books I purchased that details how to set up continuous-string heddles. Also finding the draft reading sections most helpful in deciphering patterns. Updated my stars.

This was recommended somewhere, maybe a group I'm in, or on a youtube video, I don't recall, but it is a VERY informative book for walking you through weaving as a beginner. I've you've been looking at looms thinking that you might want to get into a new crafting technique (and a new excuse to hoard more materials, lol), but can't quite wrap your head around all of the terminology and technique, this is a great book to get before you invest a chunk of money and also, to have on hand when you actually start using it.