Customer Reviews

Doubleweave: On Four to Eight Shafts

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What a wonderful book... Doubleweave is a beautifully presented course in the art and science of multi layered cloth. It begins with a history of the technique dating back at least 3,000 years and continuing through the great design houses of Europe in the last century. Modern examples of textile art illustrate techniques throughout the book.

A technique primer explains aspects of loom setup that have special considerations for double weave. The bulk of the text is devoted to technique and the specific arrangement of threads that produce multiple layers. This is where the book really shines. Several chapters are devoted to specific methods of interlocking layers: color blocks, stripes and spots, tubular and extra wide cloth, stitched, stuffed, pleated, and gathered textures usually associated with sewing. Each technique is thoroughly and clearly explained through the threading and treadling and the resulting effect. Each explanation is accompanied by a 3D diagram of the cloth extended from the drawdown, clearly showing the interlocking of warp and weft. The diagrams require a little concentration because of the complexity of the weave, but a little time spent on the charts will reward you with a thorough understanding of the structure.

The textile photographs that illustrate the techniques show a variety of yarn texture and size, sett, and color that would make even tabby weaves extraordinary. A chapter on textile design from inspiration to execution rounds out the technical information. With the fascinating cloth presented in Doubleweave, suddenly 8 shafts don't seem like enough. I borrowed this book from my guild library and read it cover to cover; it is now being added to my home collection as a valuable reference and source of inspiration.

I really like this book because it has all the things I want in any weaving book, the drafts, the diagrams that show exactly how each thread of warp and weft interact (which is essential for doubleweave, plus photos both in colour and black and white. There are examples of things I had never thought of before and that's always a plus.

I find this to be one of the best written books on a single weaving topic. If you want her to spoon feed you projects that you can just weave from this isn't the book but if you want to be able to learn to weave anything in doubleweave this book is what you want. I find the print very small and she has print over pictures at times which makes it very hard to read those items but other than that an excellent book.

Doubleweave on Four to Eight Shafts

by Ursina Arn-Grischott
1999

"Double and multilayered cloths are textiles made with two or more layers woven simultaneously, one on top of another. The technique has captured the imagination of weavers since ancient times and continues to offer fascinating contemporary design possibilities. While thought by many to be difficult to construct, Ursina Arn-Grischott successfully presents the subject in a easy-to-understand fashion, opening the field to every handweaver.

This book systematically introduces the principles of doubleweave and explains step by step the different aspects of construction.

chapters include:

Technique

History

Yarns, Setts and Ratios

Threading Sleying and Beaming

"How Doubleweave Works

On Designing

Tubular Weave and Double Width Cloth

Warp and Weft Interchanges

Multilayered Cloth

Stitched Double Cloth

Bibliography

Index

The many hand-drawn diagrams underline the very clear descriptions, and beautiful color photographs of double cloth show myriad design possibilities."

This is THE DEFINITIVE BOOK ON DOUBLEWEAVE!

I found the book a little disappointing. The format did not suit me. I would have liked patterns included for the pictures in the book. There seemed to be a lot of empty spaces.