Tapestry Weaving: A Comprehensive Study Guide

A very comprehensive and detailed guide, gives detailed drawings and clear explanation, to explain each element of tapestry weaving. With samples of each element, for the weaver to try, this study guide is a must for the beginning tapestry weaver.

I felt this was a very comprehensive guide to the "want to be". It answered many questions I had before I decided to begin.

I have read most of the tapestry-weaving books in print or in my local university library and this is the one I turn to when I have a question. Nancy Harvey does a fantastic job of teaching the art and method of tapestry weaving from construction of a basic frame loom, to cartoon design, to finishing techniques. The book has good B & W illustrations and photos of the lessons, although larger photos would have been helpful-more like the wonderful color close-ups in Kristen Glassbrook's tapestry book. There are several teaching designs included in the book that are a pleasure to weave. Harvey's lesson on how to weave a circle is priceless as I have not seen that technique so well covered in any other book. The color photos included in the gallery illustrate a wide variety of weaving styles and are inspiring. I would especially recommend this book for intermediate weavers who are ready to progress beyond the lessons in Kristen Glassbrook's excellent book.

I have explored many resouces for a good example of how to design and utilize a cartoon. Ms. Harvey gave wonderful examples and a variety of ways to use the cartoon from design to final product. It was most helpful for a Jack loom weaver.Must have for the "designing" weaver.

Before buying this book, I checked a number of tapestry books out of the library. I found this book to be the only tapestry weaving book that gave clear instructions. I also appreciated the simple explanations given by Harvey for the reasons for performing certain techniques in certain ways thus helping the learner to think in the way of a tapestry artist/craftsperson. At least two other tapestry books left me feeling quite confused but I am very impressed with this book. It begins with equipment information followed by some easy exercises that one can use to build one's technical knowledge on, but the exercises, despite being studies, produce beautiful, 'to be proud of' samplers that anybody would be happy to have on display. Nancy Harvey takes one through a series of tapestry weaving lessons, from these very basic samplers to very beautiful and difficult tapestries. The colour photographs are quite lovely and some actually take the breath away and cause one to be amazed at the creativity of some of the members of the human race.