Books
Here you will find a comprehensive list of books and catalogues that might be of interest to tapestry weavers. Unfortunately, not all are currently in print, so they may be difficult to find. They are organised into four tables below. Click on a link to jump to the relevant one. If we have published a review of the book you will find a link to it under the book's title.
'How to' - books that are useful at all stages, from beginners to advanced
For new weavers, the following are often recommended, but you may find others useful too:
Kirsten Glasbrook - Tapestry Weaving
Nancy Harvey - Tapestry Weaving: A Comprehensive Study Guide
Rebecca Mezoff - The Art of Tapestry Weaving
Joanne Soroka - Tapestry Weaving: Design and Technique
Kathe Todd-Hooker - Tapestry 101
About Tapestry - general books about tapestry
Other textile books / weaving traditions, relevant to tapestry
If you have any books to add to the list, please let the BTG know using the Contacts page.
'How to' - books that are useful at all stages, from beginners to advanced
Author | Title of book | Year Published | Publisher |
Ammar, Diane |
Get Set, Advanced: a new technique in tapestry weaving |
2004 |
|
Beutlich, Tadek |
The Technique of Woven Tapestry |
(1967) (1969) 1986 |
Batsford |
Black, Mary |
New Key to Weaving |
1957 |
The Macmillan Company |
Blumenau, Lili |
Creative Design in Wall Hangings |
1967 |
Crown Publishers Inc |
Brennan, Archie & Susan Martin Maffei |
Techniques of Woven Tapestry |
(2010) 2020 |
Streaming option (videos no longer available) http://www.brennan-maffei.com |
Brooke, Jess |
Tapestry Weaving |
1975 |
Rigby Ltd |
Brostoff, Laya |
Weaving A Tapestry |
1982 |
Interweave Press |
Brostoff, Laya |
An Approach to Tapestry |
1982 |
Interweave Press |
Brooke, Jess |
Tapestry Weaving |
1975 |
Rigby Ltd |
Kristin Carter |
Tapestry Weaving for beginners and beyond |
2022 |
David & Charles |
Coffinet, Julien |
Pratique de la Tapisserie |
1977 |
Tricorne |
Collingwood, Peter |
The Techniques of Rug Weaving |
(1968) 1987 |
faber & faber |
Cyrus-Zetterstrom, Ulla |
Manual of Swedish Handweaving |
1977 |
Brand Ford Coppola |
Dietz, Paula |
Gobelinweben |
1980 |
Haupt |
Ewen, Thoma |
The Living Tapestry Workbook |
2018 |
|
Four, Robert |
Basic Knowledge of Tapestry |
1983 |
Gamma |
Galice, Roland |
La Technique de A a Z de Tapisserie de haute et basse lice et du tapis de Savonnerie |
1990 |
Les Lettres Libres |
Gilby, Myriam |
Free Weaving |
1976 |
Pitman Publishing |
Glasbrook, Kirsten |
Tapestry Weaving |
2002 |
Search Press |
Harvey, Nancy |
Patterns for Tapestry Weaving |
1984 |
Pacific Search Press |
Harvey, Nancy |
The Guide to Successful Tapestry Weaving |
1981 |
Pacific Search Press |
Harvey, Nancy |
Tapestry: A Comprehensive Study Guide |
1991 |
Interweave Press |
Hauger, Mette |
Billedvev |
1997 |
Glydendel Fakte |
Hope, Elizabeth & Estine Ostlund & Lisa Melen |
Free Weaving on Frame and Loom |
1972 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co |
Ingers, Gertrude & Ernst Fischer |
Flemish Weaving: a guide to tapestry technique |
1981 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co |
Ingers, Gertrude & Ernst Fischer |
Flamskvävnad |
1967 |
ICA bokforiag |
Kliot, Jules |
Tapestry Loom Techniques: a guide to weaving on a two-shaft loom |
1974 |
Lacis Pubs |
Leclair, Manon |
Le Métier Haute-Lisse: Cours de tissage et tapisseries |
1980 |
Éditions Mille Roches |
Larochette, Jean Pierre & Yadin Larochette |
Anatomy of a Tapestry: techniques, materials, care |
2020 |
Schiffer Publishing |
Lurçat, Jean [trans.] Barbara Crocker |
Designing Tapestry |
(1947) 1950 |
Rockliff Publishing Corp |
Mezoff, Rebecca |
The Art of Tapestry Weaving: A complete guide to mastering the techniques for making images with yarn |
2020 |
Storey Publishing |
Mezoff, Rebecca |
Untangled - A Crafty Sheep’s Guide to Tapestry Weaving |
2020 |
CraftySheepPress.com |
Redman, Jane |
Frame Loom Weaving |
1976 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co |
Regensteiner, Elsa |
Weaving Sourcebook: ideas and techniques |
1983 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co |
Regensteiner, Elsa |
Geometric Design in Weaving |
1986 |
Schiffer Publishing |
Remblier, Christiane |
Tapisseries Tissées |
1982 |
Éditions Fleurus idées vol 36 |
Rhodes, Mary |
Small Woven Tapestries |
1973 |
B T Batsford Ltd |
Rössing, Mette Lise |
The Thread’s Course in Tapestry |
2013 |
http://www.billedvaevning.dk/ |
Russell, Carol |
The Tapestry Handbook |
1990 |
Lark Books |
Russell, Carol |
Tapestry Handbook: The Next Generation |
2007 |
Schiffer Publishing |
Short, Jacqueline |
Imaginative Weaving |
1976 |
Pitman Publishing |
Soroka, Joanne |
Tapestry Weaving: Design and technique |
2011 |
Crowood Press |
Todd-Hooker, Kathe |
Shaped Tapestry |
2004 |
Fine Fiber Press & Studio |
Todd-Hooker, Kathe |
Line in Tapestry |
2005 |
Fine Fiber Press & Studio |
Todd-Hooker, Kathe |
Tapestry 101 |
2007 |
Fine Fiber Press & Studio |
Todd-Hooker, Kathe |
So Warped: Warping a loom for tapestry weaving |
2010 |
Fine Fiber Press & Studio |
Wilson, Jean |
Soumak Workbook |
1982 |
Interweave Press |
About Tapestry - general books about tapestry
Author | Title of book | Year Published | Publisher |
Amsden, Chas Avery |
Navajo Weaving |
1975 |
Peregrine Smith |
Andrew, Delores, M |
Medieval Tapestry Designs |
1992 |
(Delores Andrew/Owing Mills) Stemmer House Pubs |
Black Dog Publishing (ed) Collection of essays |
Tapestry: A woven narrative |
2011 |
Black Dog Pubs |
Barbican Centre (exhibition catalogue) |
Egyptian Landscapes: Weavings from the Ramses Wissa Wassef School |
1985 |
Ramses Wissa Wassef (UK) Exhibition Foundation |
Benaki Museum (exhibition catalogue in Greek) |
Weavings: Paintings and tapestries in Greece 1960 to today |
2020 |
Benaki Museum & Alpha Bank |
Brennan, Archie as told to Brenda Osborn |
Archie Brennan: Tapestry as Modern Art |
2022 |
Schiffer Publishing |
Campbell, T |
Tapestry in the Baroque, Threads of Splendour |
2010 |
New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art |
Carroll, Diane Lee |
Looms & Textiles of the Copts: First millenium Egyptian textiles in the Carl Austin Rietz collection of the California Academy of Sciences |
1988 |
California Academy of Science Press |
Catalogue |
Egyptian Landscapes: 50 Years of Tapestry at Ramses Wissa Wassef Art Centre |
1974 |
London: Studio Vista. London: Ramses Wissa Wassef (UK) Exhibition Foundation. |
Cavallo, Adolfo Salvatore |
The Unicorn Tapestries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art |
(1998) 2005 |
Yale univ. Press in association with The Metropolitan Museum |
Cumming, Elizabeth (ed) |
The Art of Modern Tapestry, Dovecot Studios since 1912 |
2012 |
Lund Humphries/Dovecot Studios |
Diederen, Roger (exhibition catalogue) |
Die Fäden der Moderne |
2020 |
Hermer Verlag |
Finckenstein, Maria von (ed) |
Nuvisavik: the place where we weave |
2002 |
McGill-Queen’s University Press |
Garrould, Ann & Valerie Power |
Henry Moore Tapestries |
1988 |
Lund Humphries/Henry Moore Foundation |
Greene, Carole |
Christine Laffer: Tapestry and transformation |
2008 |
Outskirts Press, Inc |
Hall, Joanne |
Mexican Tapestry Weaving |
1976 |
San Luis Printing |
Hauger, Mette |
Billedvev |
1997 |
Gyldendel Fakta |
Hedlund, Ann Lane |
Gloria F. Ross & Modern Tapestry |
2010 |
Yale Univ. Press/Arizona State University |
Hervé Lemoine, Yves Michaud, Christiane Naffah-Bayle |
Au fil du siècle. |
2018 |
Silvana Editoriale |
Hoskins, Nancy Arthur |
The Coptic Tapestry Albums & the archaeologist of Antinoé, Albert Gayet
|
2004 |
Skein Pubs |
Jarry, Madeleine |
World Tapestry |
1969 |
Hachette |
Kang, Cindy (ed) |
Marie Cuttoli: The Modern Thread from Miró to Man Ray |
2020 |
Yale University Press / Barnes Foundation |
Kauffman, Ruth |
The New American Tapestry |
1968 |
Reinhold Book Corp. |
Kokkin, Jan (trans. Arlyne Moi)
|
Gerhard Munthe: Norwegian pioneer of Modernism |
2018 |
Arnoldsche Art Publishers in conjunction with Nasjonalmuseet, Oslo |
Koppen, Maria Brekke |
Norsk Billedvev 1974, 1978, 1988 |
1974, 1978, 1988 |
Universitetsforlaget |
Koppen, Maria Brekke |
Videreføring i billedvev |
1981 |
Universitetsforlaget |
Koppen, Maria Brekke, trans. Christine Spangler |
Norweigian Tapestry Weaving (Norsk Billedvev) |
2006 |
Eikeskog Press |
Koppen, Maria Brekke, trans. Lisa Paulson |
Introduction to Picture Weaving |
1982 |
Decorah, Iowa : Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum |
Larson, Katherine (exhibition catalogue) |
The Woven Coverlets of Norway |
2001 |
University of Washington Press/Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum |
Lausanne, Edita |
Great Tapestries: The Web of history from the 12th-20th Century |
1965 |
Edita S.A. Lausanne |
Lazaj, Jehanne & Bruno Ythier |
Tapisseries 1925: Aubusson, Beauvais, les Gobelins à l'Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs de Paris |
2012 |
Editions Privat |
Lennard, Frances & María Hayward |
Tapestry Conservation: principles and practice |
2006 |
Butterworth-Heinemann |
Ofili, Chris |
Chris Ofili: Weaving Magic (exhibition catalogue) |
2017 |
Victoria Miro Gallery & National Gallery Co., Ltd |
Paasche, Marit |
Hannah Ryggen. En fri |
2016 |
Pax Forlag |
Paasche, Marit & Esther Schlicht (eds) exhibition catalogue |
Hannah Ryggen: Woven Manifestos |
2019 |
Prestel |
Paasche, Marit (trans by Katia Stieglitz) |
Hannah Ryggen: Threads of Defiance |
2019 |
Thames & Hudson |
Paulve, Dominique. |
Marie Cuttoli: Myrbor et l'invention de tapisserie moderne |
2010 |
Éditions Norma, |
Phillips, Barty |
Tapestry |
2000 |
Phaidon Press Ltd |
Quye, Anita & Kathryn Hallet and Concha Herrero Carretero |
Wrought in gold and silk: Preserving the art of historical tapestries |
2009 |
NMS Enterprises Ltd – Publishing |
Russell, Carol, K. |
Contemporary International Tapestry |
2015 |
Schiffer Publishing Ltd |
Scanlin, Tommye McClure |
The Nature of Things: Essays of a tapestry weaver |
2020 |
University of North Georgia Press |
Sevensma W S (trans from the Dutch by Alexis Brown) |
Tapestries |
1965 |
Merlin Press |
Banners of Persuasion (Exhibition catalogue) |
demons, yarns & tales |
2008 |
Damiani editori |
Sidore, Micala |
The Art is the Cloth: How to look at and understand tapestries |
2020 |
Schiffer Publishing Ltd |
Updike, David (ed. Exhibition catalogue) & Philadelphia Museum of Art |
William Kentridge Tapestries |
2008 |
Philadelphia Museum of Art/Klipriversbier |
Viale, Mercedes |
Tapestries |
1969 |
Cameo (Hamlin Pubs) vol 7 Cameo Art Series |
Walker S |
Modern Australian Tapestry |
2000 |
Victoria: Victorian Tapestry Workshop. |
Wells, K L H. |
Weaving Modernism: Postwar tapestry between Paris and New York. |
2019 |
Yale University Press, |
Wilcox, Timothy & Caron Penney and Fiona Mathison |
Tapestry: a woven narrative |
2012 |
Black Dog Publishing |
Willborg, Peter. David Black & Clive Loveless (eds) |
Flat weaves from Fjord and Forest |
1984 |
David Black Oriental Carpets & Peter Willborg |
Other textile books / weaving traditions, relevant to tapestry
Author | Title of book | Year Published | Publisher |
Albers, Annie |
On Weaving |
1965 |
Wesleyan University Press |
Amsden, Chas Avery |
Navajo Weaving |
(1949) 1964 |
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque (Fine Arts Press/South-West Museum) |
Bennett, Noël |
The Weaver’s Pathway: a clarification of the ‘Spirit Trail’ in Navajo weaving |
1974 |
Northland Press/Flagstaff |
Bennett, Noël |
Designing with the Wool: advanced techniques in Navajo weaving |
1979 |
Northland Press/Flagstaff |
Bennett, Noël & Tiana Bighorse |
Working with the Wool |
(1971) 1983 |
Northland Publishing |
Black, Mary |
New Key to Weaving |
1957 |
The Bruce Publishing co |
Blumenau, Lili |
The Art and Craft of Hand Weaving: including Fabric Design |
1956 |
Crowne pubs. Inc |
Butcher, Mary |
Contemporary International Basketry (exhibition catalogue) |
1999 |
Merrell Holberton/Crafts Council |
Emery, Irene |
The Primary Structure of Fabrics: an Illustrated classification |
2009 |
Thames & Hudson |
Hall, Joanne |
Mexican Tapestry Weaving |
1976 |
J. Arvidson Press |
Harding, Stella & Shane Waltener |
Practical Basketry Techniques |
2012 |
A & C Black |
Hoppe, Elisabeth, Östeland Estine & Melén, Lisa |
Free Weaving on frame and loom |
1972 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co |
Hutton, Helen |
Textile Structures |
1975 |
Watson-Guptill |
Kahlenberg, Mary Hunt & Anthony Berlant |
The Navajo Blanket (exhibition catalogue) |
1972 |
Praeger pubs & Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
Landry, Wendy |
Velvet on my Mind, Velvet on my Loom |
2020 |
Schiffer Publishing Ltd |
Rutschowscaya, Marie-Hélène |
Coptic Fabrics |
1990 |
Editions Adam Biro |
Sherman, Vera |
Wall Hangings of Today |
1972 |
Mills & Boon |
Smith, T’ai |
Bauhaus Weaving Theory: from feminine craft to mode of design |
2014 |
Univ. Minneapolis Press |
Wayland Barber, Elizabeth |
Women’s Work: The first 20,000 years |
1994 |
W.W. Norton |
Wortmann Weltge, Sigurd |
Bauhaus: Women artists and the weaving workshop |
1998 |
Thames and Hudson. |
Wortmann Weltge, Sigurd |
Women’s Work: Textile art from the Bauhaus |
1993 |
Chronicle Books |
Wilson, Jean |
Soumak Workbook |
1982 |
Interweave Press |
Supporting skills
Author | Title of book | Year Published | Publisher |
Albers, Josef |
Interaction of Color |
(1963) 1975 |
Yale University Press |
Bennet, Noël |
Designing with the Wool |
1979 |
Northland Press |
Bennett, Noël |
Working with the Wool |
1971 |
Northland Press |
Birren, Faber |
History of Color in Painting: New Principles of Color Expression |
1965 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co |
Birren, Faber |
Creative Color |
1987 |
Schiffer Publishing Ltd |
Cardon, Dominique |
Natural Dyes: sources, traditions, technology and science |
2007 |
Archetype Publications |
Dufour, Jean |
Natural Dyeing of Wool |
|
Les Gobelins |
Dunsmore, Susi |
The Nettle in Nepal: tradition and innovation |
(1985) 2006 |
John Dunsmore Nepalese Textile Trust |
Ellinger, Richard G |
Color, Structure & Design |
1980 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold |
Emery, Irene |
The Primary Structure of Fabrics: An illustrated classification |
1980 |
Textile Museum, Washington DC |
Ford, Birte |
Yarn from Wild Nettles: a practical guide |
2014 |
Nettlecraft |
Grierson, Su |
The Colour Cauldron |
1986 |
Self published |
Hart, Russell |
Photographing Your Artwork |
1987 |
North Light Books |
Itten, Johannes |
The Art of Color |
1973 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold |
Itten, Johannes |
The Color Star |
1985 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold |
Kobayashi, Shigenobu |
Color Image Scale |
1992 |
Kodansha International |
Kuehni, Rolf G. |
Color: Essence and Logic |
1983 |
Van Nostrand Reinhold |
Lambert, Patrica |
Color and Fiber |
1986 |
Schiffer Publishing Ltd. |
Magnus, Gunter Hugo |
Graphic Techniques for Designing & Illustrating |
1980 |
Barron’s |
Methuen Handbook of Colour |
Trans from Danish 1961 and 1967 |
(1963) 1967 |
Methuen & Co Ltd |
Murphy, Pat and Paul Doherty |
The Color of Nature |
1996 |
Cronical Books |
Ocvirk, Otto G. et al. |
Art Fundamentals Theory & Practice |
1975 |
Wm. C Brown co |
Rodwell, Jenny and George Short |
The Complete Guide to Framing |
1986 |
Quarto Publishing Ltd. |
Sargent, Walter |
The Enjoyment and Use of Color |
1964 |
Dover Publications |
Stockton, James |
Designers Guide to Color |
1984 |
Chronical Books |
Stockton, James |
Designers Guide to Color 2 |
1984 |
Chronical Books |
Whelan, Bride M |
Colour Harmony 2.: A guide to creative color combinations |
1994 |
Rockport Publishers |