A Manual of Fingerweaving [Paperback]

Robert J. Austin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000

This book describes the methods and rules necessary to create beautiful fingerwoven articles in various traditional patterns. Covers the lightning, chevron, arrowhead and diamond patterns, as well as sections on sash variations, twilling and beading, borders, interface, weaving, applique, and fringe. Includes color photos and illustrations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 56 pages
• Publisher: Book Publishing Company (TN); 1 edition (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 192957200X
• ISBN-13: 978-1929572007
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #932,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long awaited fingerweaving book, October 4, 2000

By 

"eaglemt" (Walker, WV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Manual of Fingerweaving (Paperback)

The long wait for new material on Indian fingerweaving has finally paid off. This manual not only picks up where Alta Turner's Indian Fingerweaving left off, but pretty much covers everything she wrote some 20 yrs ago (save for the peruvian braiding). This manual is great for the beginners as well as more advanced weaver who want to pick up a few tips and tricks to create beautiful warp face and oblique woven sashes. Color plates and bountiful instruction are presented in the lessons and as well for those who are interested in learning the selvedge edge methods. There are many color plates as well as illustrations to help with comprehension. In the back you will find a slew of old b&w pics of the old-time pow wow straight dancers in their regalia and sashes. It features a color plate of the earliest extant example of warp face weaving from the late 18th century, not to mention all the other awe inspiring beauties! It doesn't just stop at weaving it includes instructions on how to weave in the tiny white beads (as opposed to sewing them in), beading the fringes, and the twisting and braiding of the fringe itself.. This is the perfect book that both modern style and historical style weavers will not want to miss.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed, October 31, 2007

By 

C. Smitherman (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Manual of Fingerweaving (Paperback)

Based on a very positive previous review, I anticipated a beginner-level manual with many basic patterns, detailed weaving instructions for each pattern, suggestions for variations, and more advanced information which would go beyond the excellent finger weaving book by Turner I already have. None of my expectations were met. Much of the photograph is amateurish, the patterns are few, and the instructions are vague and poorly illustrated. The inexpensive booklet by Turner does all of this in a much more appealing way. I would suggest that the next book to supplement or go beyond Turner's book is one by Gerald Findley and not this book. The only value to this book in my opinion is that it does have a very nice discussion of the craft and some historical pictures of Native Americans wearing finger woven regalia. This was not what I was primarily looking for. Finger Weaving: Indian Braiding Fingerweaving Basics

2.0 out of 5 stars A Manual of Fingerweaving, July 7, 2011

By 

J. Episcopo (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Manual of Fingerweaving (Paperback)

For the average person who wants to learn the basics of fingerweaving, I suggest getting another book. This one has some interesting old photos and pays homage to the weavers of the past, but the actual instructions on the weaving techniques are not nearly clear enough. Trying to weave a belt on a first try would be far too daunting.

In comparison, the book FINGERWEAVING BASICS by Gerald Findley (ISBN NO. 1-929572-0805) has extremely clear diagrams beginning with the easiest pattern and moving through the more complicated ones. It's not as easy as it looks, so begin with a thick yarn or a good quality, heavy, cotton garden twine that doesn't unravel easily. Practice on some small pieces to get the hang of it. Then use acrylic or wool yarns, but avoid fluffy, soft or thin yarns when learning to do this craft.