Books from Sweden, Finland, Estonia and USA

Weaving Patterned Bands: How to create and design with 5, 7, and 9 pattern threads. 

by Susan J Foulkes

This is my latest book. Weaving Patterned Bands: How to create and design with 5, 7, and 9 pattern threads. 

Hardcover: 152 pages

Publisher: Schiffer; 1 edition (July 28, 2018)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0764355503

ISBN-13: 978-0764355509

Dimensions: 7 x 10 inches

'Narrow bands woven in colorful patterns are a centuries-old part of Baltic craft tradition. The double slotted heddle makes patterned band weaving quicker to learn and easier to do, and this is the first book that offers beginners instructions for using it. The craft doesn't involve bulky equipment―all you need can be stored in a shoe box! Learn how to weave these beautiful bands step by step, from the simple 5 pattern threads to the more complex 7 and 9 patterns. Color photographs illustrate the instructions for learning to weave. More than 140 patterns are included, along with principles for planning your own unique designs for contemporary uses such as straps, belts, bracelets, and even handfasting bands. The breathtaking range of colorful bands woven in Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway are explored and offer additional inspiration.'

USA

In the USA, You can order this book through the Woolery.

https://woolery.com/weaving-patterned-bands.html

UK

In the UK, you can order it through ABE books.  https://www.abebooks.co.uk/ and from the Braid Society.     https://thebraidsociety.wildapricot.org/Books-for-sale

Sweden

In Sweden, you can order this book though Stoorstalka.    

 https://shop.stoorstalka.com/en/products/books/

Here is another wonderful book about patterned bands. 

Three-Color Pickup for Inkle Weavers: a modern look at an Ancient Baltic-Style Technique. 

 by Annie MacHale

http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com/

It is available from Taproot Video   https://taprootvideo.com  as a PDF or in book format

It is designed for experienced band weavers and introduces a fascinating technique - three colour pickup. This is the first time that this technique has been explained for modern weavers.  You will need to have experience in band weaving and pickup techniques before trying these lovely patterns.  Annie has provided 100 patterns so you can imagine the amount of work that has gone into producing this book. It is an important addition to any inkle weavers library.  

Here are two books about plain weave narrow bands.

In Celebration of Plain Weave.  by Annie MacHale
http://aspinnerweaver.blogspot.com/

Annie's enthusiasm for inkle weaving is infectious. The book has over 100 patterns in the  most glorious colour combinations for 39, 59 and 79 warp threads. I could hardly wait to try one of her patterns.  The layout of the book is very user friendly and the patterns are large and clear to read.  The book is available as a downloadable PDF. 

 Check out my review on my blog.
https://durhamweaver64.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-new-band-weaving-book.html

Another excellent book about plain weave warp-faced bands.

Making Inkle Braids An introduction to weaving inkle braids

Steve Kennett             https://www.sussexspinner.co.uk/  Book is available from his site. 

 self published, Steve Kennett, 2017

The book starts with an introduction to inkle looms and basic instructions.  It then progresses to warping for patterns, then pick up and drop down for patterning with some ideas for use. He also looks at the pros and cons of using different types of yarn. The book is clearly illustrated with diagrams and photographs.

STOP PRESS!

These three books are now in print. See my blog for April 2020.

jnjissjkot ja lahtat  Samiska band fran Arvidsjaur, Arjeplog och Mala  (2000) published by Sameslojdstiftelsen Sámi  Duodji ISBN 91-631-0499-7

To weave and to braid; Sámi bands from Arvidsjaur, Arjeblog and Malå, by Edit Svakko

This lovely book has patterns for the distinctive Sámi bands woven in Arvidsjaur, Arjeplog and Mala in Sweden. Look at the instructions for weaving with the Sigga heddle on my blog to see how these bands are woven.

Girjjit Samisks vavmonster  Karesuando, Jukkasjarvi och Gallivare  (1999)  ISBN 91-630-9564-5

This is a beautifully produced book of band patterns for traditional Sámi bands woven in Karesuando, Jukkasjarvi and Gallivare in Sweden.

Girjjit Samisks vavmonster  Karesuando, Jukkasjarvi och Gallivare  (1999)  ISBN 91-630-9564-5

Handwoven Tapes by Susan Faulkner Weaver

ISBN 978-0-7643-5196-9  2016

This is a lovely informative book giving many traditional band patterns from the USA. There is a wealth of background information about these humble examples of the weavers craft.

Schiffer Press 2016     208 pages 

 ISBN 978-0-7643-5196-9

Traditional Finnish Decorative Bands by Theodor Schvindt 

in English

ISBN 978-952-5774-88-7  1903 and 2015

This little book is charming.  It was originally published in 1903 and has 159 band designs in colour. All the illustrated bands are in the National Museum of Finland in Helsinki which I visited in 2014. It has been translated into English. It has only 32 pages but a wealth of band details.  The colours are not accurate reproductions of the originals to avoid expensive printing costs so only six colours have been used.  There is also a similar book about tablet woven bands.

This book is available from http://www.salakirjat.com/  They are very efficient and the book arrived very quickly.

Reflections from a Flaxen past - for the love of Lithuanian weaving by Kati Reeder Meek

ISBN 0-9700648-0-2

This beautiful book has some glorious pictures of traditional Lithuanian costumes. I will be reviewing this book next month. (June 2019)

It is available from http://store.vavstuga.com/category/books.html

Moraband  by Barbro Wallin              in Swedish.

ISBN: 978-01-978632-5-4              2012

This beautifully illustrated book is published by the Zorn Museum in Mora, Sweden. It is in Swedish but the band patterns are clearly set out. Barbro has carefully recorded the bands that she has woven over many years.  The bands are woven on a Swedish band loom using coloured heddles to choose the pattern threads.  The bands use a threading which has three background threads in between each pattern thread.  As the band loom is not easily available outside of Sweden, I made a YouTube video showing how these bands can be woven using an inkle loom or a backstrap and rigid heddle.
The book is available from the Zorn Museum and Stoorstalka.

Esti Kirivööd by Piia Rand               in Estonian.

ISBN: 978-9949-9363-2-8                  2013

This is a well designed and illustrated book.  The photographs showing how to set up a rigid heddle and backstrap and an inkle loom are very clear and easy to follow even without an English translation.  All the bands are from the Museum in Tartuu.  Each band has a clear graphed pattern accompanied by a photograph of the front and back of the original band from the museum. All the bands are constructed from the familiar 'Baltic' threading which has two background threads in between each pattern thread.  All these bands can be woven using a double slotted heddle.

Lapilised Vööd by Merike Freienthal and Veinika Västrik  

In Estonian

ISBN: 978-9949-9363-0-4                 2012

This is another well designed and illustrated book in  Estonian. These bands have a supplementary warp thread which makes the pattern.  The photographs show how to set up an inkle loom, a backstrap with heddles and a four shaft loom.  The pattern threads are raised and lowered in groups.  The background threads weave tabby.  In the book, each band has a weave pattern and is illustrated with a photograph of the front and back of the original band.
Here is one of the patterns which I wove on my four shaft table loom. Both sides of this band are identical.

Band on page 111.  Woven in wool.

These two Estonian books are available online from  Apollo store.

Gjord av din hand         in Swedish

ISBN 978-91-982042-0-9  2014

Vav Kompaniet in Boras, Sweden have just written their first book called Gjord av din hand. It is in Swedish and beautifully illustrated with a variety of craft projects. It is available from their online shop.

Norwegian Pick-up Band Weaving by Heather Torgenrud  in English

Schiffer Publishing 2014

176 pages hardcover.  Lots of beautiful illustrations and band patterns.  Very clear instructions for weaving.

Virumaa Seelikud by Kersti Loite in Estonian

ISBN 978-9949-33-310-3

2013  ISBN 978-9949-33-310-3

112 pages hardcover.  Lots of beautiful illustrations of skirts and other striped material from the museum collection.  There are close up pictures of the stripes which would enable reproductions to be made. This book is a treasure trove of ideas for designing stripes. 

Patterned Sashes: The Common Cultural Layer by Anete Karlsone,
Latvijas Nacionalais Kulturas Centrs, 2014 ISBN 978-9934-528-09-5

In Latvian with a few pages in English.

Patterned Sashes: The Common Cultural Layer by Anete Karlsone, Latvijas Nacionalais Kulturas Centrs, 2014 ISBN 978-9934-528-09-5

Out of Print Books

The following books are out of print but it is useful to know the details in case second hand copies are available.

Lithuanian Sashes by Anastazija Tamosaitiene and Antanas Tamosaitis, Toronto:Canada, 1988, ISBN 0-9191187-04-8

Although this is out of print, The Lithuanian Folk Art Institute in Toronto has a few copies for sale.  Here is the link: 

https://ltfai.org/lithuanian-sashes-book/

Sámi band weaving

Haugen, A (1987) Samisk Husfild I Finnmark

Haugen, A (1987) Samisk Husfild I Finnmark, Oslo, Norsk Folkemuseum  
ISBN 82-529-1073-4

This book was reprinted a few years ago but again out of print.  It has band patterns and knitting patterns and has a wealth of detail about Sámi costume in Norway.

Latvian Band Weaving

Latvian Belts by Aleksandra Dzervitis and Lilija Treimanis.
This glorious book is a treasure trove of Latvian woven band patterns.