I am wondering if anyone has suggestions for book titles relevant to starting a reference library for modern tapestry weaving. What are your 'essentials' and desirables?

Comments

Thu, 03/14/2013 - 08:49

Artistry

BoyLearner,I find myself turning to Line in Tapestry by Kathe Todd-Hooker frequently. By the same authour Tapestry 101, So Warped ( an overview of warping different kinds of tapestry looms ) and Shaped Tapestry. Probably use Shaped Tapestry the least, but I'm glad I have all of them.
Thu, 03/14/2013 - 08:58

tommye scanlin

Joanne Soroka's book, Tapestry Weaving: Design and Techniques, about tapestry is quite good; published a couple of years ago, she features many beautiful contemporary examples as well as technique info. Carol Russell's book, The Tapestry Handbook, second ed., is also good. For technique description with good digrams, Kathe Todd-Hooker's books are strong, including Tapestry 101, Line in Tapestry, and Shaped Tapestry. American Tapestry Alliance website has artist pages with thee examples each from many members around the world. British Tapestry Group also has a nice website where members' work can be seen. Lots of other web resources can be found through those sites, as well. Tommye
Thu, 03/14/2013 - 08:59

Artistry

Sorry, didn't see the essentials and desirables! Tapestry101 and Line in Tapestry, essential, for me.
Thu, 03/14/2013 - 15:25

BoyLearner

I have ordered Tapestry 101 and Line in Tapestry From Kathe Todd-Hooker and Joanne Soroka's book. I am actively looking for Carol Russell's book too. Your suggestions are much appreciated - I feel a love affair with tapestry may be beginning.

Hakim

Thu, 03/14/2013 - 16:49

Joanne Hall

I like the Kirsten Glasbrook book, Tapestry Weaving.  She is from Denmark and the book is very inspirational.

Joanne

Thu, 03/14/2013 - 17:46

BoyLearner

I am pleased to say I have just got this book from the library here and love it - I think there is a whole course here in doing each of the projects she describes. It was how good this was compared to some others that led me to wonder what else was out there.

Sat, 03/16/2013 - 14:01

Vdegroff

I have many weaving books for sale. 4 that you may be interested in. Alec Pearson's The Complete Book of Tapestry Weaving, Laya Brostoff's Weaving a Tapestry, Tadek Beutlich's The Technique of Woven Tapestry, and Nancy Harvey's The Guide to Successful Tapestry Weaving.
Sat, 03/16/2013 - 14:02

Vdegroff

I have many weaving books for sale. 4 that you may be interested in. Alec Pearson's The Complete Book of Tapestry Weaving, Laya Brostoff's Weaving a Tapestry, Tadek Beutlich's The Technique of Woven Tapestry, and Nancy Harvey's The Guide to Successful Tapestry Weaving.
Sun, 03/17/2013 - 00:47

sally orgren

I would recommend the DVD  "A Weaverly Path" The tapestry life of Silvia Heyden. It's not a how-to video, but more about the life of a particular tapestry weaver, and I found it was really a great investment of an hour of my time. I am not a tapestry weaver, but the documentary was very inspirational, and it was fun to recognize Tommye S in one of the filming sequences. (Tommye was very lucky to have studied with Silvia.)

See if you can seek out the work of Helena Hernmarck. She just taught a tapestry class in Minneapolis at the Textile Center last summer. She's not exactly "modern" (in terms of young ;-) but her work has stood the test of time. The MAD in NYC has a very large piece of hers on the main floor, and I have seen her large scale work at other public institutions. 

Irvin Trujillo's work in New Mexico has a modern take on traditional forms, and is amazing. His wife Lisa, also does contemporary tapestry work. 

http://www.chimayoweavers.com/category/IT.html

Finally, I own a book that has not been mentioned so far, called "Norwegian Tapestry Weaving" by Maria Brekke Koppen. This seems to be a basic technique book with clear illustrations and photos. However, I would rely on our tapestry experts to comment if this is a good source or not since my experience is very limited. (The first edition was published in 1974, my edition is 2006, in English).

Have fun building your resource base!

Group Audience
Small Format Tapestry