Books

45 fabulous design ideas from 20 top weavers, bringing new life to discarded materials.

Creating rag rugs has enthralled weavers for over a century. Now you, too, can recycle your favorite fabrics and transform them into unique rugs that will bring a striking personal touch to every room in your home. From stripes, checks, and rosettes to mosaic, twists, and diamond twill; from soft to sturdy, and subtle to statement-making, Tina Ignell's superb selection of rag rugs provides you a wealth of inspiration, conveniently paired with practical instruction. Inside, find:

• Six technique-based sections with 45 designs by 20 professional weavers
• Charts, illustrations, and color photos of finished projects
• Creative use of unusual materials, like lambskin, straw, and leather
• Specialty patterns, such as a round rug and a runner for a spiral staircase
• Instructions for finishing, including fringed and woven edges
• A bonus section of five different rugs woven on the same warp
• Resources and supplier contact information

Author: Tina Ignell
Format: NEW in paperback
Total Page Count: 128
Illustrations: 82 color photos, 10 b&w photos, 67 charts
ISBN: 978-1-64601-036-3

Who’s ready for the holidays? Not us! Grab your needle & thread and get ready to stab away the stress of the holidays with this collection of festive f*cking patterns–and maybe even make a few gifts to boot!

Let’s face it - the holidays can be stressful. When the peppermint latte won’t cut it, you might find yourself in need of something to stab. A LOT. Now, you can release your holiday anxiety with some truly irreverent and silly sentiments, and make a couple of presents in the process! Featuring 20 patterns from the crafting world’s most bad-ass cross-stitchers, this book has everything from a simple “Ho” ornament to a sampler featuring Clark Griswold’s famous “Hallelujah, holy shit, where’s the Tylenol?”

There is no previous experience required here! In addition to simple instructions and clear, easy-to-follow patterns, you get a basic lesson in cross-stitch technique, so anyone can make these designs. Stitch your stress away with a little “Hello Drunk, I’m Christmas” for your tree, or make a “Deck the Halls and Not Your Family” for your sibling.

And above all, have a Happy F*cking Holiday!

TOP DESIGNERS: Patterns created by some of the f*cking best-selling cross-stitch designers and influencers on Etsy

20 FESTIVE PATTERNS: Festive As F*ck includes 20 hilariously sassy patterns to help ease the stress of the holiday season

EASY-TO-FOLLOW-DESIGNS: With simple instructions and clear and easy-to-follow patterns, even a novice potty-mouth can enjoy this filthy holiday fun

INSPIRING IMAGES: Full-color images of the finished projects help ensure success and offer ideas of how to frame and display your festive artwork

THE PERFECT SNARKY GIFT: Make the best f*cking gifts of the season with hilarious and irreverent cross stitch designs that will make anyone laugh their ass off.

Let Carri Hammett untangle the mystery and allure of cabled knitting for you!

Knitted cables are intriguing patterns of stitches that crisscross, twist, and braid their way up through the knitted fabric. Their texture and depth have a uniquely magical allure.Though surprisingly easy to master, cabling is an intermediate level skill that opens up a vast realm of possibilities for knitters--a boon for every knitter!

This 32-page booklet covers, in great detail, all the basics about knitting cables. Step-by-step instructions, photos, charts, and sample swatches make it easy to learn this exciting knitting method. Yarn shop owner and author Carri Hammett's clear writing and a crystal-clear format ensures success for beginners and intermediate knitters alike.

Learn how to read charted cable patterns as well as directions that are written out row by row with abbreviations. Explore seven different cable patterns and experiment with a variety of cabling maneuvers and patterns. Complete instructions for two fun projects - a laptop cover and a cozy pillow - incorporate these cable patterns. Don't miss this comprehensive addition to your knitting library!

Paperback | 32 pages

The Absolute Beginner's Guide: There's a First Time for Everything

Author: Deborah Burger

Learning how to crochet has never been simpler! Enjoy this beginner's guide that takes you by the hand, like a personal instructor, and teaches you how to crochet. With detailed descriptions of materials and tools, the easy step-by-step instructions for all the basic crocheting techniques will have you creating projects like boas, coasters, and even slippers and bags in no time. Eight simple projects will introduce crocheting skills like basic stitches, chaining, increasing and decreasing, and color techniques; skills you will use often as you continue to learn. With First Time Crochet, soon you will be stitching amazing gifts and projects with confidence.

Format: Softcover                                                                                                        Pages: 128                                                                                                                        Size: 8.5"x11"                                                                                    ISBN: 9781589238251

This collection of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century weaving drafts from the Southern Highlands region of Appalachia includes 112 overshot drafts and drawdowns, and 31 drafts and drawdowns for the all-white summertime cotton bedspreads called counterpanes. Color photos of the original samples are shown side by side with valuable modern translations of the drafts, which enable today's weavers to make them. A vibrant example of our weaving heritage, these drafts were originally gathered in the nine states of the Southern Highlands region between 1892 and 1918 by the legendary Frances L. Goodrich. Handwoven counterpanes and coverlets were important possessions, and often were the only item of beauty in the women's otherwise impoverished living conditions. These are drafts Goodrich carefully collected but did not include in her classic Brown Book. Dozens of vintage photographs of Goodrich, the communities she served, and the women who invented the drafts help bring this part of our American craft heritage to life.

Size: 12" x 9"
308 color & b/w images
176 pp
ISBN13: 978076435266

Crochet your favorite characters, iconic outfits, delightful décor, and more from the beloved sitcom, Friends!

There’s nothing better than enjoying an activity with your friends! Gather yours and re-create iconic moments with this deluxe collection of over 25 official patterns for amigurumi, housewares, costume replicas, inspired apparel, and more both inspired by and pulled directly from the hit TV show, Friends. Featuring patterns for all skill levels, beautiful full-color photography, step-by-step instructions, and clearly presented charts and schematics, Friends: The One with the Crochet is the ultimate crocheter’s guide to the show that’s always been there for you.

PROJECTS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: This comprehensive, officially licensed guide includes fun projects for every skill level and a wide range of stitches and techniques.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS: Includes meticulous step-by-step instructions and easy-to-understand charts and schematics.

25+ ORIGINAL PATTERNS: More than 25 unique Friends-inspired patterns including patterns for amigurumi, housewares, costume replicas, inspired apparel and more.

GORGEOUS PHOTOS: With beautiful full-color photography and iconic images from the show, this is the perfect way to celebrate Friends.

COMPLETE YOUR FRIENDS COLLECTION: Also available are Friends: The Official Cookbook, Friends: The Official Central Perk Cookbook, Friends: The Official Recipe Journal, Friends: The Official Advent Calendar, Friends: Yellow Frame Softcover Notebook, and more!

Publisher: Insight Editions (April 25, 2023)
Length: 192 pages
ISBN13: 9781647227975

Learn the art of amigurumi to create small, plushy versions of your favorite Harry Potter characters, creatures, and magical objects, such as Professor Snape, a Pygmy Puff, a Howler, and more!

Packed with cuteness and more than 25 amigurumi patterns, Harry Potter: The Official Book of Crochet Amigurumi will have you crocheting adorable witches and wizards in no time!

A comprehensive, officially licensed guide to crocheting amigurumi from the Wizarding World, Harry Potter: The Official Book of Crochet Amigurumi includes designs for every skill level and a wide range of stitches and techniques featuring yarn expertly matched to the true colors used in the films.

Also included are behind-the-scenes facts and quotes from the films, as well as concept art and film stills to inspire your creativity and relive favorite movie moments. With beautiful full-color photography, step-by-step instructions, and clearly presented charts and schematics, Harry Potter: The Official Book of Crochet Amigurumi is the ultimate guide to creating your own adorable companions from the Wizarding World.

A MUST-HAVE FOR FANS: Featuring adorable designs for the likes of Harry, Fawkes, the Golden Snitch, and other Harry Potter favorites, this book is a must-have for any fan

STUNNING IMAGES: Beautiful, full-color photos of finished designs help ensure success

FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Perfect for kids, adults, and families, this book has easy-to-follow patterns, making it ideal for any skill level and occasion.

OFFICIALLY LICENSED: This is the first and only official Wizarding World crochet amigurumi guide

Stitch your way through the halls of Hogwarts with 25 unique cross-stitch patterns that bring the creatures, characters, and magical moments from the films to life, from the house crests to a Professor McGonagall-inspired bookmark. Learn how to cross-stich on clothes and 3-D décor and bring a bit of magic to the Muggle world.

Harry Potter: The Official Hogwarts Book of Cross-Stitch invites the beloved School of Witchcraft and Wizardry into your home, as you craft alongside enchanting behind-the-scenes facts and photographs from the films.

STITCH BEYOND THE HOOP: Learn how to cross-stich not just in hoops, but on clothes, and even as 3-D décor—so you can bring a bit of magic to the Muggle world.

PERFECT FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: With easy-to-follow templates that lead to big results, these patterns will be a treat for beginners and expert crafters alike.

AN EXPANSIVE COLLECTION: With twenty-five stunning cross-stitch templates, this book is brimming with beautiful options all in one place.

OFFICIALLY LICENSED: For fans looking for the most accurate patterns, this book is a must-have addition to any crafty collection.

APPARATE YOURSELF BEHIND THE SCENES: This book is brimming with fascinating facts that provide a rare glimpse into the making of the films.

A TRUE CELEBRATION OF HOGWARTS: Begin your own magical journal through the school, stitching up some must-have wizarding supplies and following along with patterns that capture important locations, from the castle’s iconic exterior to the door to the Chamber of Secrets.

Adorable amigurumi creations

Break into crochet with amigurumi, the Japanese craft of crocheting small stuffed toys! Beginners and crochet enthusiasts alike will delight in choosing from 16 quirky creatures to create, including a dapper tiger, a masked fox, an adorable hedgehog, and more. Quick and satisfying to make, these 4.5˝-tall creatures can be made in a few hours or over the course of a day or weekend. They are also conveniently portable for creating on the go.

Crochet 16 quirky characters and their accessories

Portable, collectable, and giftable 4.5˝-tall creatures made by you!

Beginners delight in easy-to-follow crochet instructions

Crochet 35 home accessories, decorations, and gifts that are bursting with color.

Discover the joy of crochet with this collection of 35 playful and vibrant patterns. Suitable for complete beginners through to experienced crocheters, these irresistible projects are made in a range of bright rainbow colors and many are perfect for using up yarn from your stash.

In the first chapter, you’ll find inventive patterns to add a burst of color and personality to your home, such as a toadstool storage basket, a flower pillow, and tassel placemats and coasters.

Chapter 2 features super-cute gifts such as simple bookmarks, refrigerator magnets, and a strawberry bottle carrier, so that you can share your handmade creations with family and friends.

Finally, Chapter 3 includes plenty of ideas for beautiful decorations such as a stunning crocheted flowers, bobble bunting, and a mobile complete with mini rainbows, bees, and flowers.

The projects are illustrated with inspirational photography, and there's a guide to the stitches you'll need.

Projects for the experienced and novice knitter. Each step is broken down into basic, easy-to-understand elements and clearly illustrated with photographs and drawings. For each of the 16 patterns in Getting Started Knitting Socks, you will find instructions for socks in five sizes and five gauges. Experiment with color and texture to create a pair of socks all your own.

Author: Ann Budd

Hardcover: 135 pages.

Never forget one of Lorelai’s iconic scarves, get fancy with Richard’s Friday Night Dinner Bowtie, and carry around your drum sticks in the adorable drum stick bag inspired by Lane Kim and her band, Hep-Alien! Inspired by the beloved and always quirky characters of Stars Hollow, these easy-to-follow patterns feature a mix of fun and vibrant knits in stunning full-color photography celebrating the on-screen relationships and friendships between Lorelai, Rory, Emily, Sookie, Lane, Paris, Luke, and many others from this classic series. Bring Stars Hollow to life with the help of your knitting needles, and create clothing, home décor, holiday decorations, and more that will transport you to the Dragonfly Inn, Luke's Diner, and beyond!

MORE THAN 25 PATTERNS: Dozens of patterns for Stars Hollow favorites from Rory’s Debutante Tunic to Lorelai’s Stranded Colorwork Hat.

FILLED WITH PHOTOS: Includes gorgeous full-color photos of patterns to help ensure knitting success, as well as celebrate beloved moments from the series.

THE FIRST OFFICIAL GILMORE GIRLS KNITTING BOOK: The only knitting book with official patterns inspired by Gilmore Girls.

BEST-SELLING AUTHOR: Tanis Gray, the author of Star Wars: Knitting the Galaxy and international bestseller Harry Potter: Knitting Magic returns to bring knitters everywhere into Stars Hollow with fun and accessible patterns.

Format: Hardbound
Publication Date: 10/22/2024
ISBN: 9798886634747
Pages: 200
Trim Size: 8 x 10

Fire up your crochet hooks and get your granny on! This accessible guide includes clear instructions and a photo of each finished project.

Adapted from the best-selling The Granny Square Book, Second Edition, Granny Square Crochet for Beginnersgives you everything you need to get started with crochet and to start making and creating projects with granny squares.

Granny Squares for Beginners shows you how the easy technique of crocheting square by square is not only portable and convenient but is also amazingly versatile and can be interpreted in countless ways with different yarns. You’ll find:
 

Easy essentials. Learn about basic supplies and stitches, easy techniques for making granny squares, and adding simple details and finishing.
A rich collection of granny square patterns. Explore a wide range of designs, from classic geometrics to fun florals.
Easy, beginner-level projects. The simple projects for accessories, garments, and gifts prove that granny squares can be used to make almost anything.

Learn to crochet granny squares and create your own unique projects with Granny Square Crochet for Beginners.

Guys want their knits to be warm and comfortable--and to look good, too! If you love to knit for the men in your life, this book will help you meet those requirements with style.

 

• Covers sizes from two-year-old through adult man with a 60-inch chest
• 12 sweater patterns in classic designs all ages will appreciate
• Each sweater is shown on a child and an adult, often in different colorways

 

Great Knit Sweaters for Guys Big & Small offers a variety of patterns sized from a child's 2 to a man's XXL, and provides options for knitted sweaters from cardigans to vests. Users should have a basic familiarity with reading knitted directions and standard abbreviations, but will find the pairing of patterns, directions, and color photos throughout lends well to understanding the process of knitting a variety of sweaters. ~California Bookwatch

Hand knitted sweaters aren’t just for the women and girls in your circle! Despite the old wives’ tale of the boyfriend sweater curse, there are plenty of deserving men in our lives. Andrea Sanchez’s collection of 12 designs remarkably includes sizing for every one of them in sizes Chilren’s 2 to Men’s XXL so you can create something for everyone you care enough about to knit for. Every level of knitter will find something suitable for your skill set, from the simple yet appealing Weekend Pullover to the textured but classic Ridgewood to the Cascade Locks Jacket complete with shawl collar and buttons. Enjoy the process of knitting something for your special man, big or small! ~The Knitting Guild Association, Cast On

Knitter and knitwear designer Andrea Sanchez brings us twelve spectacular patterns for the guys in our lives. Each sweater pattern is written in many sizes, from a child's size 2 to a men's XXL. The sweaters range from simple to more complicated, with some all in one color, knitted in mostly stockinette stitch, and others that feature cables or colorwork. Whatever the styles of the men in your life, you are sure to find something here they'll all like! ~Hannah Baker, Love of Knitting

Discover the colorful joys of hand dyeing your own yarn and fleece. It’s easy, fun, and can be done right in your own kitchen! Self-taught dyer Gail Callahan shows you a variety of simple techniques to turn plain, outdated, or leftover yarn into vibrant “new” fibers using ovens, crockpots, frying pans, and other standard kitchen equipment. Detailed advice on color theory, self-striping, “grocery store” dyes, and handmade multicolor skeins make successful dyeing a cinch, even for complete beginners.

Author: Gail Callahan
Size: 7.75 x 9.31
Pages: 168
Format: Spiral Bound Hardcover 
ISBN: 9781603424684

This beautiful and inspirational book written by a doyenne of British textile design explores the art of painting and making patterns on cloth.

Fabrics bring colour and vibrance to our lives, adding inventiveness and charm to both our clothes and our domestic interiors.

In this book, lifelong textile designer Sarah Campbell takes you through her world of pattern and colour to uncover the joys of design from dots, stripes and checks to more surprising decorative solutions. Painting straight onto fabric is a very different experience to designing for digital production. Everything is unique, the placing of the patterns and colours is in your hands. The beauty is that the pattern doesn't have to repeat - there can be just one bird or just one square, if it's in the right place. Beautifully illustrated with Sarah's colourful and internationally acclaimed work, her fabric designs show the comforting rhythm and universal language of pattern.

- Learn how to create your own unique designs using a range of tools and techniques including brushes and potato-cuts, stencils and simple 'kitchen cupboard' resists.

- Explore the delights of painting on different fabrics such as cotton, linen, silk and calico/muslin.

- Develop your understanding of scale, colour, tonality and the organisation of pattern ideas, alongside suggestions on how to use your finished fabrics.

With instructions for how to make wonderful projects and plain-weave variations, this user-friendly guide covers choosing, setting up, and weaving on a rigid heddle loom. Both beginners and experienced weavers will value its thriftiness and versatility.

Paperback, 120 pages. 

What better way to welcome that precious, tiny new person than with a luxurious, handwoven blanket! These beautiful, colorful designs will appeal to today's contemporary moms, as well as lovers of traditional weaves.

Publisher: Stackpole Books
ISBN13: 9780811714112
Binding: Paperback / softback
Pub Date: Nov 14, 2015

Get your creativity flowing, and weave something out of the ordinary! This issue features ten tempting projects in corduroy, summer and winter, barleycorn, honeycomb, and more, to energize and delight you. 

Whether you live for bright (or subtle) colors, are intrigued by curves, find yourself drawn to a particular texture (we’ve got smooth, fluffy, and satiny), or have a knitting stash to deploy, there’s a project here for you. (Psst! If you’re wondering what a twill is, Madelyn van der Hoogt lays it all out for you.)

Beyond the projects, the articles and features in this issue will help you create new weaving connections. You can catch up on Handwoven’s robust new life with owner Anne Merrow. In Notes from the Fell, Tom Knisely writes about old-fashioned laundry tools—and the one he still uses while finishing handwovens. Yarn Lab tests a silk that weaves into cloth with incredible drape and hand.

Are you a big sports fan? Read the article that explains how to make a custom scarf with your team’s logo or graphics. Follow one weaver’s journey from the most complex loom to a simple rigid heddle, and another’s experience teaching adults with disabilities.

Explore weaves beyond twill and try something new with Handwoven Fall 2024!

 

Articles:

With New Ownership, Handwoven Flourishes by Anne Merrow
Notes from the Fell—Scrub-a-Dub-Dub by Tom Knisely
Show Your Team Spirit by Claudia Tokola
From Jacquard to Rigid Heddle by Yvonne Ellsworth
Weaving a Fabric of Connection by Lory Widmer Hess
The Draft: What Is a Twill? by Madelyn van der Hoogt
Yarn Lab—The Silk May Not Be Smooth, but the Weaving Sure Is by Christine Jablonski
Endnotes—How Did I Get Here? by Lynn Rognsvoog
 
Projects:

Vis-à-Vis Runner by Sheila O’Hara (16-shaft)
Autumn Jewel Scarf by Véronique Perrot (4-shaft)
Rainbow Sherbet Towels by Malynda Allen (2-shaft)
Dizzy Drones Honeycomb Pillows by Rebecca Fox (4-shaft)
A Taste of Sonoma Scarf by Robin Monogue (4-shaft)
Blue Willow Towels by Susie Hodges (4-shaft)
Corduroy Patch Pillow by Sue Anne Sullivan (6-shaft)
Taqueté All Day Tote by Annette Swan Schipf (8-shaft)
Gilded Amethyst Scarf by Laurie Brown (8-shaft)
Mod Block Towels by Tracy Kaestner (6-shaft)

Now that autumn is on its way, we’re looking at our surroundings with fresh eyes—it’s time to put the beach towels and easy, breezy scarves away for now.

The eleven tempting projects in this issue are tailor-made to freshen up your home for the cooler weather and indoor adventures that lie ahead. We have pillows for extra couch time, rugs to protect your toes from chilly floors, runners to brighten your tables, dinner napkins to customize for family members, a pair of cozy throw projects for curling up with a good book (with ideas for making them your own), towels for your dishes or your guests (one towel project even has a matching wrap!), and a woolly basket to weave for your cold-weather knitting projects.

Wondering about the structures they use? You’ll find krokbragd, shadow weave, doubleweave, rep weave, huck and more huck, canvas weave, and multiple takes on twill, all woven in wool, cotton, linen, cottolin, silk, and old pillowcases.

You’ll also learn about the weaving community and ways we share our skills and knowledge, as well as tools and techniques for draft design, you’ll read about a wool yarn put through its paces, and you might even reconsider how you store your stash:

• Tom Knisely writes about the pleasures of demonstrating weaving in public.
• Read about the next Weave Together with Handwoven retreat.
• Accompany Véronique Perrot as she adjusts her weaving to use the bounty of shafts on her new loom.
• Learn how to use the tools on Handweaving.net to adjust drafts to your particular equipment.
• Yarn Lab takes a closer look at Brown Sheep Company’s Harborside Aran.
• Deb Essen writes about an old fridge and her garage—and what they have to do with her stash.

Get ready for cooler weather with the project ideas you’ll find in Handwoven Fall 2025.

Articles

• Notes from the Fell—The Pleasures of Demonstrating in Public, by Tom Knisely
• Weave Together 2026—You’re Invited to Join Us!, by Lynn Rognsvoog
• Find a Draft, Then Grab a Tool, by Kris Bruland
• Turned Twill on Three Blocks, by Véronique Perrot
• Yarn Lab—Supersized Wool for Cozy (and Speedy) Weaving, by Peggy Hart
• Endnotes—How a New Refrigerator Organized My Stash, by Deb Essen

Projects

• ON THE COVER: Autumn Berries Cushion Cover by Jeremy Uden (8-shaft)
• Zigzag Basket by Annette Swan Schipf (3-shaft)
• Plaid About You Throw by Kathy Broughton (4-shaft)
• Shadow Play Dish Towels by Dorothy Tuthill (4-shaft)
• Stormy Skies Towels by Rebecca Logan (4-shaft)
• Stormy Skies Wrap by Rebecca Logan (4-shaft)
• Prairie School Rug by Debra K. Sharpee (2-shaft)
• Ribbons and Blocks Runner by Véronique Perrot (12-shaft)
• Choose a Path Pillows by Angela K. Schneider (4-shaft)
• Family Dinner Napkins by Susan E. Horton (8-shaft)
• Falling Leaves Runner by Sue Anne Sullivan (8-shaft)

Connect with the handweaving world through Handwoven. Every issue is packed with projects, instruction, and inspiration to help you build technical skills and design confidence.

In this issue are 11 Projects That Look Great & Do Good, Use cartoons to weave pictures p. 22, Weave A Better World With Inspirational Yarns, Hemp Bag Bliss, and so much more! Pick up your copy in store or have us ship it to you. Check out our current inventory of back issues as well. 

Features: 

• Notes from the Fell: Breed-Specific Yarns by Tom Knisely
• Idea Gallery: Make a Cartoon and Use It for Tapestry: by Tommye McClure Scanlin
  
• Traditions: Understanding Cashmere by Amy P. Swanson
• Yarn Lab: The Singles Scene by Elisabeth Hill

Projects: 

• Color-and-Weave Tintes Naturales Towels
• Circle of Life Table Runner
• Patchwork Baby Blanket
• Among the Stars Pillows
• Audrey Stole
• Log Cabin at Sunset
• Hemp Bag Bliss
• Trinity Shawl
• Bags on a Budget
• Comfort in Solitude
• Floral for All Wrap

Softcover 

80 Pages
Published by Long Thread Media

Bast fibers like linen, hemp, and bamboo have been used for thousands of years. Recently, however, they have gained popularity in the weaving world in part due to their eco-friendliness—many bast fibers require fewer resources to produce, and they often come from renewable plant sources. Fabrics woven with bast yarns have a rustic yet refined beauty, and the yarns are known for their strength.

This issue features 11 projects that showcase bast fibers in various ways. In addition to the expected linen towels and curtains, there are surprises such as a hemp runner, a runner woven using a combination of cotton and raffia, pineapple yarn placemats, and baby blankets with hemp and bamboo wefts. The Yarn Lab explores weaving balanced cloth with a new hemp yarn.

Many of the articles in the issue have a reflective aspect. There are pieces on how to continue weaving as you age, the intrinsic value of handmade items, and journaling your weaving and your life. Tom Knisely takes readers on a tour of a production weaver’s studio, and Rebecca Fox invites you to a special island with a unique indigo dye studio.

If bast isn’t yet in your stash, this may be the time to add it! Enjoy this beautiful issue that celebrates the wonder of plant-based bast.

 

Articles:

• What’s Happening – Over/Under at the Mingei by Christina Garton
• Notes from the Fell –Production Weaving by Tom Knisely
• A Covid Journal by Toby Smith
• What’s Happening – Weave Together With Handwoven Retreat by Christina Garton
• Island Indigo: A Visit to the Daufuskie Blues Studio by Rebecca Fox
• Vintage Weavers: Staying Connected and Upbeat by Cynthia Evetts and Tina Fletcher
• Yarn Lab – Going Boldly in a Hemp Exploration by Robin Lynde
• Endnotes – The Intangible Value of Handmade by Regina McInnes

Projects:

• Indigo Windows by Rebecca Fox (6-shaft)
• Ribbons of Rosepath Blankets by Malynda Allen (4-shaft)
• Bamboo Panda by Deborah Bagley (pin loom)
• Versatile Cowl in Twill by Christine Jablonski (4-shaft)
• Freeform Shawl by Dawn Hummer (4-shaft)
• Elegant Hemp Runner by Robin Monogue (4-shaft)
• Rosepath and Raffia Runner by Kate Lange-McKibben (4-shaft)
• Rustic Pineapple Placemats by Jacquie Crema (RH or 2-shaft)
• Top Banana Table Topper by Sue Anne Sullivan (4-shaft)
• Linen Towel for Margaret by Karen Leach (8-shaft)
• Bespoke Wedding Towels by Susan E. Horton (4-shaft)

Take a step (or a leap, as the case may be) out of the box with this issue of Handwoven celebrating weaving that deflects out of the woven grid. Whether it’s a function of weave structure or yarn composition, the threads in all 12 projects curve and twist during wet-finishing, whether it’s a lot or a little, and many of the projects differ from one side to the other. Two technique articles expand on the deflection theme, one by Yvonne Ellsworth about dyeing a warp and weaving a scarf to mimic a doubleknit piece, and a Traditions article by Phyllis Miller on weaving sashiko-style patterns to pair with a treasured piece of kimono silk. Our new article series, Best Practices, by Susan Bateman and Melissa Parsons gives tips for better warping, and Tom Knisely in Notes from the Fell looks at different ways of keeping weaving records—some of which may surprise you. The Spotlight is on a young man, Nevan Carling, intent on studying and restoring antique looms, and for the Yarn Lab Elisabeth Hill puts three fine yarns into deflecting structures with great results. The issue wraps up with an essay by Janney Simpson about her own winding path to using deflection in her beautiful scarves and shawls.

Projects:

• Sawtooth Stripe Pillows by Angela K. Schneider (4-shaft)
• Shadow Play Kitchen Towels by Barbara Goudsmit (4-shaft)
• Take Your Turn by Liz Moncrief (4-shaft)
• Reflecting Pool Bed Runner by Christine Jablonski (4-shaft)
• Honeycomb Throw by Marcia Kooistra (8-shaft)
• Blue Circling Embers by Annette Swan Schipf (8-shaft)
• Bumple Scarf by Nancy Peck (rigid heddle, 2- and 4-shaft)
• Clouds of Alpaca Scarf by Susannah Day (4-shaft)
• Hashtag Deflected Doubleweave by Jill Staubitz (8-shaft)
• O’ So Beautiful Scarf by Merriel Miller (8-shaft)
• Cool Breeze by Natalie Drummond (8-shaft)
• Sashiko-Style Flower Scarf by Phyllis Miller (8-shaft)

Articles:

• Spotlight: Nevan Carling: A Champion for Old Looms by Karen Donde 
• Notes from the Fell: Keeping Records by Tom Knisely
• Stepping Up: The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Navajo Rug Show & Sale by C. J. Robb
• Best Practices: Winding a Warp by Susan Bateman and Melissa Parsons
• Idea Gallery: Translating Doubleknitting to Doubleweave by Yvonne Ellsworth
• Traditions: Inspired by Sashiko by Phyllis Miller
• Yarn Lab: A Fine Line: Silk City Fibers by Elisabeth Hill
• Endnotes: Reflections on Deflection by Janney Simpson

Softcover
80 Pages
Published by Long Thread Media

Weaving by its very nature invites exploration. This issue of Handwoven delves into the role experimentation plays in design development, whether it is using new-to-the-weaver yarns, unique color mixtures in warp and weft, or combining weave structures in a draft. Each of the 11 projects shows how the craft continues to evolve in the hands of weavers.

Many of the features continue along the theme of exploration, including an article by Tommye McClure Scanlin about developing tapestry designs, an Endnotes about treadling within a loose framework of rules, an Idea Gallery describing how to design blankets using the temperature ranges at a special location during a significant year as a color guide, and a Yarn Lab about an unusual blend of bamboo and cotton. You’ll want to check out the article about Handweaving.net, a website that has grown since its inception in 2003 to become not only a huge repository of weaving information but also an interactive website with a slew of design components. The Perfect Towel article explains why some towels are superior to others and provides tips for weaving better towels, Tom Knisely gives some surprising insights on managing heddles in Notes from the Fell, and two occupational therapists outline ways to weave smarter so you can weave longer and remain pain free.

Articles:

• Notes from the Fell: On Heddle Management by Tom Knisely
• net: From the Beginning and Into the Future by Sherrie Amada Miller
• Designing for Tapestry—What? How? Why? By Tommye McClure Scanlin
• Healthy Weavers: Using Ergonomics for Comfortable Weaving by Cynthia Evetts and Tina Fletcher
• Idea Gallery: A Year to Remember Blankets by Robin Lynde
• The Perfect Towel by Tracy Kaestner
• Yarn Lab: Bamboo/Cotton—A Blend with Great Promise by Deanna Deeds
• Endnotes: Spontaneity with Rules by Gretchen Huggett

Projects:

• Weaving a Place in Time by Rebecca Morris (2 or 4 shaft)
• Mixing It Up by Barbara Goudsmit (8-shaft)
• Ripples Scarf by Denise Bolger Kovnat (4-shaft)
• Treadling Twist Twills by Kate Lange-McKibben (8-shaft)
• Asymmetrical Challenge by Jennifer Sargent (8-shaft)
• 65 Roses, Take 2 by Susan Du Bois and Robin Wilton (8-shaft)
• Crackle Experiments by Anne Elixhauser (8-shaft)
• Block Party Runners by Jill Staubitz (4-shaft)
• Crackle Table Linens by Robin Monogue (8-shaft)
• Hybrid Table Runner by John Wendel (8-shaft)
• My Very Peri Perfect Towels by Tracy Kaestner (8-shaft)

Softcover

80 Pages
Published by Long Thread Media

One of the joys of weaving is creating the unexpected. For this issue, that meant looking at how the combination of color, weave structure, and yarn types can produce the illusion of iridescence, pearlescence, and even incandescence in cloth. All nine projects seem to glow, reflect, and even shimmer in the light surrounding them.

Some of the articles address these same qualities, including Bobbie Irwin’s studies of woven iridescence, a Yarn Lab about weaving with neon bright colored yarns, and an Endnotes describing one weaver’s attempts to create iridescence but getting other unwanted effects. From a technical aspect, you can read about weaving with rayon chenille, a light-catching fiber that can also be a challenge to weave with, photography tips for weavers, and an interview with a scientist currently studying bioluminescence and photoluminescence in fiber. Tom Knisley has some tips if you are considering starting your own sheep-to-shawl team, and in What’s Happening we’ve highlighted a beautiful and long-awaited show about the weaving program at Black Mountain College. Finally, our Spotlight is on Toshiko Taira, a woman who is credited with reviving a Japanese fiber and weaving cultural tradition.



Articles:

What’s Happening: Weaving at Black Mountain College by Christina Garton
Spotlight: Toshiko Taira, Reviving a Cultural Tradition by Beth Ross Johnson
Notes from the Fell: Sheep-to-Shawl Basics by Tom Knisely
Bioluminescent Yarn? By Heather Matthews with Dr. Sweta Iyer
Photography for Weavers by Kelly Casanova
Exploring Multicolor Iridescence by Bobbie Irwin
Weaving with Rayon Chenille by Deborah Jarchow
Yarn Lab: Prairie Spun DK: Neon Bright Colors from Brown Sheep Company by Liz Moncrief
Endnotes: To be iridescent or not to be by Eileen Lee
Projects:

Shimmering Crackle Scarf by Bobbie Irwin (4-shaft)
Neon Incandescence by Dorothy Tuthill (8-shaft)
Autumn Pearls by Jennifer Sargent (6-shaft)
Perfect Pairing by Brenda Gibson (8-shaft)
Dreaming of Butterflies Wrap by Merriel Miller (4-shaft)
Ray of Light Placemats and Napkins by Malynda Allen (4-shaft)
Northern Lights Tote by Sara Pate (8-shaft)
More Echoes, Please by Barbara Goudsmit (12-shaft)
Heavenly Harvest Chenille Poncho by Deborah Jarchow (4-shaft)

We invite you to welcome springtime along with Handwoven. From airy scarves to lacy table linens, and a painterly wall-hanging to a light jacket for breezy days—the ten enticing projects in this issue will help lighten up your weaving as the days lengthen.

Are you intrigued by lace, drawn to doubleweave, or curious about sashiko? In the mood for inlay, or obsessed with stripes? Whatever your preference, there’s a project here to spark your creative spirit. And in keeping with the season’s gentler weather, you’ll find scarves and towels using silk, mohair, or linen, as well as cotton and Tencel.

Then, expand your weaving skills and understanding with the articles and features in this issue.

• Tom Knisely writes about the value of textiles, from how to set a price for your weaving to how much you’ll pay for the work of others—and the surprising reasons those prices can vary widely. 
• Karen Donde reviews a comprehensive and important new book about how to weave optical illusions.
• Feeling confused about color? Tien Chiu explains how and why you can weave dramatically different pieces on the same warp—simply by changing your tie-up.
• Learn to use a handful of beads (or short pieces of drinking straws!) to create leno lace without doups or pick-up sticks.
• Meet a web tool meant for embroidery patterns, and learn about using it to easily create your own sashiko weaving drafts.

Moving around the world, Karen Brock gives us a glimpse of a remote Nepalese village where weavers are hanging on to their traditions in the wake of the pandemic. And you’ll learn about eri and how it is produced in a brief excerpt from Karen Selk’s recent book about wild silk.   

Embrace the season with the easy breezy, light and lacy ideas you’ll find in Handwoven Spring 2025.

 

Articles:

• Notes from the Fell—Thoughts About the Nature of Value, by Tom Knisely
• Knotted-Pile Weaving Tradition Endures, for Now, by Karen Elting Brock
• Color Lab—Magic in the Tie-Up, by Tien Chiu
• Create Sashiko Weaving Drafts with Ease, by Mary McConnell
• Eri Silk Runs Deep in Assam, by Karen Selk
• Weaving Leno? Let Beads Do the Work! by Annette Swan Schipf
• Endnotes—A Gift of Yarn, by Eloise DeHaan

 

Projects:

• Sweet Linen and Lace Towels by Malynda Allen (4-shaft)
• Lighter than Air Shawl by Véronique Perrot (2- or 4-shaft)
• Sunset Reflections wall hanging by Rebecca Smith (2- or 4-shaft)
• Cherry Blossom Scarf by Yvonne Ellsworth (4-shaft)
• Sashiko Trails Table Linens by Mary McConnell (8-shaft)
• Sugar Plum Lace Scarf by Susan Du Bois and Robin Wilton (4-shaft)
• Shades of Flax Towels by Dana Lutz (4-shaft)
• Mosaic Tiles Scarf by Eileen Lee (8-shaft)
• Spring Breeze Jacket by Annette Swan Schipf (4-shaft)
• City Circuits Scarf by Kate Lange McKibben (8-shaft)

Weavers have long been intrigued by the magical designs created by carefully placing dark and light colors in both warp and weft. Whether it’s traditional log cabin or more complex color-and-weave designs, including shadow weave and twills, the motifs and patterns that develop in the cloth are inspiring and delightful. Put any one of this issue’s 11 beautiful color-and-weave projects on your loom to learn the basics of this unique weaving approach. You may find yourself developing your own designs and magic as you play with the colors and values.

This is a technique-strong issue with three articles about design and one about weaving rugs using deflected doubleweave, a structure not well-known for rugs. Tom Knisely talks about the usefulness of marking your work for future generations and the method he learned for adding initials and dates to weaving projects. The “Yarn Lab” details a special yarn made from recycled plastic bottles and old jeans, and “What’s Happening” describes a not -to-be missed exhibit about Navajo weaving. From “Endnotes” you’ll learn about a unique way of weaving temperature blankets, one that you may want to try!



Articles:

Notes from the Fell: Leaving Your Mark by Tom Knisely
The Powell Method: Designing Shadow Weave Using Profile Drafts by Rebecca Winter
Twill on Opposites for a Weft-Faced Rug by Nancy Taylor
Idea Gallery: Art Rugs to Warm the Home by Ellen Kardell
Which Came First? by Alison Irwin
Yarn Lab–Eco Jeans: Good For The Environment, Great On Your Loom by Christine Jablonski
What’s Happening: Shaped by the Loom by Kenna Libes
Endnotes: A Memorable “Year to Remember” Blanket by Robin Lynde
Projects:

Fulled Mug Rugs by Ellen Kardell (8-shaft)
Mid-Century-Modern Runner by Merriel Miller (7-shaft)
Subtle Shift Towels by Rebecca Morris (4-shaft)
Eclectic Color-and-Weave by Deborah Jarchow (Rigid heddle)
Prairie Bloom Towels by Malynda Allen (4-shaft)
Pen and Ink Linen Towels by Christine Jablonski (4-shaft)
Fraternal Twins by Annette Swan Schipf (4-shaft)
Shifting Shadows by Barbara Mitchell (6-shaft)
Violet Waves by Jannie Taylor (8-shaft)
Square Fancy Chèche by Véronique Perrot (8-shaft)
Light Sussex Color- and-Weave by Alison Irwin (4-shaft)