Author Description

Dust jacket notes: "An introduction to the age-old and ageless art of weaving, Shirley Held's book offers a comprehensive survey of the history, equipment, materials, and design principles of both loom and nonloom processes. The author's purpose has been to provide for those wishing to acquire skill in weaving, as well as for those generally fascinated by handcrafted objects, sufficient information to foster understanding and appreciation of the ways and means that have evolved for forming lengths of strandlike materials into a structured web capable of giving practical service and aesthetic delight. Because beautifully wrought forms are the best advocates of any art, Weaving commences with a brief but richly illustrated world history of fiber crafts. With this pictorial evidence as background, the text proceeds into a detailed discussion of fibers, yarns, and the instrumentation available for weaving fabrics on a loom. Subsequent emphasis falls on such techniques of fabric construction as pile weaving, weaving on simple looms, and the nonloom processes of macramé, sprang, netting, plaiting and braiding, spool and slot knitting, God's -eye, and card weaving. Passages on handspinning, the coloring of yarns with natural dyestuffs, and printing by the ikat and silk screen methods are among those designed to help the weaver control his work and its effect on the ultimate product...."