The Art of Bolivian Highland Weaving

The Art of Bolivian Highland Weaving: Unique, Traditional Techniques for the Modern Weaver Marjorie Cason, Adele Cahlander (1976) This book is the only full documentation of both the techniques and the rich visual history of Bolivian Highland weaving. Illustrated with 16 full color plates and 350 b/w illustrations. 216p hardbound edition in a pictorial dustjacket

The title says it all: unique traditional techniques for the modern weaver, re-interpreted for the multi-shaft loom. This is not the easiest area of weaving to try and interpret, and the authors are not the first to try and do it. Atwater and Tidball blazed the trail once the warp faced band weaves were recognized as a separate and distinct technique and the authors have called on this earlier research along with research done by other weavers and textile commentators. Transposing indigenous pick-up styles that were generally used on a backstrap loom so that they can be recreated on a modern 4 shaft loom has meant developing a unique method of pattern notation that makes the whole pick-up process much easier. This goes hand in hand with standard pattern and tie-up notations, and this in itself creates the one disadvantage of this book; if you don't have the standard multi-shaft weaving background there is little explanation of how this works, and you may need to read another weaving book, or attend a few classes to learn the basics necessary to interpret these charts. Apart from that one drawback, this is one of the "bibles" of this technique, and despite the black and white photos that do not do justice to the patterns they record, and the fact that the diagrams you need to study are not on the same page as the instructions that go with them (editors please note that this is not user-friendly!), its worth persevering until you get that "aha" moment when you understand what it is you are supposed to be doing, and why you are doing it. The patterns are interesting and challenging, and each chapter progresses to another aspect of the technique, building upon what you have already achieved. Not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards for those who persevere are well worth it!