Focus On: RIGID HEDDLE WEAVING

You can count the number of books on rigid heddle weaving on the fingers of one hand and still have fingers left, but there ARE good books available if you search them out.

I think the best book on this subject for beginning rigid heddle weavers is Betty Davenport's Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving published by Interweave Press in 1987 and still in print.

Here is a brief list of other books on this topic:

Davenport, Betty Linn. Textures and Patterns for the Rigid Heddle Loom. St. Paul, Minnesota: Dos Tejedoras, 1980. 48 p., bibliography, paperback. Long out-of-print, this book is a treasure chest of information for rigid heddle weavers interested in exploring weave structures beyond plain weave. In 1978 Davenport received the Certificate of Excellence from the Handweaver's Guild of America with a concentration in textures and patterns for the rigid heddle loom. Major sections of the book include Balanced weaves with floats (weft float structures, supplementary weft float structures, warp float structures, supplementary warp structures, warp and weft float structures and supplementary warp and weft float structures), Weft-faced weave with floats, & Warp-faced weave with floats. Don't expect a beautiful book with glossy color photos. Illustrations are black-and-white photos of woven samples.

Hart, Rowena. The Ashford Book of Rigid Heddle Weaving. Ashburton, New Zealand: Ashford Handicrafts, 2002. 75 p., paperback. Detailed information (with color photos) on warping the Ashford rigid heddle loom. Includes a number of projects for the rigid heddle loom, including a colour and weave project, tapestry weaving, fleece rugs, textured cushions, cotton towels, leno lace, etc.

Howard, Sarah. Creative Weaving: Beautiful Fabrics with a Simple Loom, by Sarah Howard and Elisabeth Kendrick. New York: Lark Books, 2007. 112 p., paperback. Although there is brief information on warping a rigid heddle loom, the authors pretty much assume you already own one and do not include any information on choosing a loom. This is primarily a beautifully-illustrated "idea book" with many examples of how to combine a variety of fibers to make a unique fabric. A photo gallery illustrates ways to use the finished cloth.

Xenakis, Athanasios David. The Xenakis Technique for the Construction of Four Harness Textiles. Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Golden Fleece Publications, 1978. For experienced rigid heddle weavers, this book explains the author's technique for reproducing any three or four shaft textile on the rigid heddle loom.