“The art of weaving” Stackpole Books publishing

To introduce this book, I can think of no better way than to share my foreword with you:

« Why is weaving so captivating and enjoyable? Everyone has their own reasons, and there are many.
Creating a piece of fabric with only intertwining threads dazzles me. I feel it with every piece of
weaving and I often observe it in those who discover this field. It is tremendously moving for me to
be able to participate in this craft passed down from our ancestors, that millions of humans have
invented and perfected depending on the region or the use. Using your own fabrics in your daily
life, wearing a garment whose fabric has just come off the loom transforms what is familiar to us.

For a long time I have been weaving, training, researching, reading, making samples. I am fascinated
by the field of possibilities that leads me to unceasingly explore this universe. The day I was introduced
to coding, I discovered that textiles could be written like a text, which opened the doors to
an infinite world.

Today, we have the immense opportunity to share our knowledge on the Internet. There is an unlimited
exchange of expertise and discoveries among the vast community of weavers around the
globe. Innovations and questions related to textiles circulate freely on the web, and many books are
published revealing this wealth of knowledge.

As a teacher, I witness the special joy that each person finds in weaving, from choosing beautiful
materials, to creating a useful fabric, searching for a good color combination, or simply making
original creations. Some explore technique to craft a sophisticated weave while others follow their
intuition. Eyes and hands work together. We are enriched through the creative process. Weaving
leads to meditation, calling for serenity and patience. The passage of the shuttle through the shed
brings a rhythm to our thoughts.

In 2010, supported by precious friends, I created the ARTissage workshop-school in Chinon to share
my knowledge. Teaching weaving answers several of my wishes: to allow everyone the joy of designing
their own fabric, always moved by the smile and the impatience of every ARTissage weaver when
their fabric drops from the loom; to accompany the different steps with adequate explanations of
the technique so that it is not an obstacle to creation; to pass on the language of weaving in order
to decipher the countless publications and learn to how to write one’s own project.

During my training courses, the student weavers often tell me about their fear of putting the warp
on the loom and their hesitation about their choice of the right yarn or the appropriate density.
They confide in me their desire for resources in French that would help them to better understand
the weave patterns, encourage them to try more elaborate structures, and invite them to become
inventive and autonomous. They urged me to fill this gap.

Every book has goals and aspirations, but also certain boundaries, and this one is no exception.
You won’t find many patterns to replicate, but rather the keys to understanding, explanations, and
samples to accompany the process of making your own weaving. It will not replace either training
or personal experience, but I hope it will give you the confidence to overcome any hesitations you
may have and calmly dive into the weaving process.

This book is the one I would have liked to find when I started out. The first steps, the basic knowledge,
are found in part one. It’s a bit like kindergarten where we explore the tools and materials. Then we
move on to the primary grades to learn to read and write. We enter middle school and high school
(in part two) to study the fundamental structures with a fine-tooth comb: plain weave, twill, and
satin. This is followed by a brief presentation of some common structures. Supplementary concepts
are addressed in the last part for those who wish to go further.

In my workshops and courses, students of different levels interact and learn from each other. In the
same way, in this book, I wish to address beginning, experienced, and highly qualified weavers. The
experience gained in my ARTissage workshop-school has helped me to do so. It is up to each of you
to find your way through these pages, going back and forth from one chapter to another as needed;
it is a support tool to browse through.

In offering you this illustrated manual, I hope to spread the word in a way that is worthy of the richness
and generosity of the teachings I have received, to continue to pass on the threads of this craft»

To purchase the book

• visit my workshop at 8 rue des Marais in Chinon to get the French version only, by arranging an appointment (Tel: (00) 33 6 24 97 29 28);
• buy it at your favourite bookshop;
• Distributed by National Book Network

Please email me at betty.briand@free.fr to order the French version of the book directly from me. Payment can be made by cheque, bank transfer or PayPal.

290 pages – $39,95 + postage – Weight: 1.550kg

Reviews

The Art of Weaving by Betty Briand is a superb book, beautifully presented and illustrated with perfectly chosen photographs. The layout, colour scheme, excellent writing and technical explanations are also perfect. I would definitely recommend this book.

I won’t hide it from you, Betty Briand’s book is a pure marvel.

In terms of content, it is an extremely comprehensive work. It is one of those books that presents a wealth of material aimed at beginners, but which goes far beyond that.

The book is divided into three main parts. The first deals with materials, accessories and yarns and details all aspects of the project. The second part is devoted to basic structures and their derivatives, as well as creative possibilities involving stripes, colour effects, different yarns, density, manipulations, etc. Finally, the third part takes things further with a study of blocks, an analysis of fabric, the evolution of a structure, and suggestions for further exploration.

Throughout the book, detailed technical sheets accompany practical exercises.

The presentation is superb and clear, and the book is filled with inspiring images.

This is a book to own and treasure.

Clear and lively writing, superb diagrams… it makes you want to get started right away!

A practical book for beginners and experienced weavers alike, which I often refer to! The illustrations are well done and the photos are superb. What’s more, it’s very well written. I highly recommend it!

This comprehensive book answers all my beginner’s questions. It is very thorough, beautifully illustrated and really makes you want to take up weaving. I never thought I would find such a book. Thank you to Betty Briand.

I am used to books in English, but this one is aimed at beginners and experienced weavers alike. Photos of weaving with yarns available for purchase in France (which is rare!!!) with technical specifications (warp density, etc.).
Contains patterns for my 4-shaft Erica (Louet) table loom… but is also suitable for 8- and even 12-shaft looms.
Very comprehensive, perhaps even too much so for me, it requires a few re-reads in the difficult passages, but the author is well aware of this: the explanations remain clear, however.

A reference product in the field of weaving, especially for beginners. Simplified and particularly accessible approach. I recommend it.