A guide to weaving beautiful hand-woven structures without the complexity of the loom.
Artist and weaver Sarah Ward shares easy-to-follow ‘off-loom’ weaving techniques in this inspiring book. All you need is a solid base or found object and a needle and thread. Bridging the gap between simple frame and ‘proper’ weaving, working off-loom teaches you the basics of woven structure and pattern. And the best part it’s portable!
The book includes 14 projects with step-by-step instructions and photos, from paper weaving, to dogtooth, herringbone, hopsack and a striking three-dimensional waffle weave. Discover how versatile these structures are, and how many different designs can be made just by changing simple factors such as colours, fibre, yarn thickness, adding stripes, and texture. These small woven studies make beautiful artworks, and look great in a frame on the wall.
Sarah also explores why crafting has always been such an important part of being human, and how we can slow down in our increasingly fast-moving world and reconnect by spending time creatively.
Woven structure is explained in bite-sized, manageable ways, making complex patterns feel achievable. Whether you’re new to weaving or more experienced, this book offers a delightful new direction and celebrates the magic of sharing and preserving this ancient craft and the therapeutic benefits that come with it.
About Sarah Ward
Sarah Ward is a hand weaver known for her ‘off-loom’ woven work as Lark & Bower and for her checks, stripes and contemporary Ikats as The Aviary Studio. After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2010, Sarah gained experience across the textile industry including as a hand weaver at a design studio, a woven specialist at a homeware brand and as a designer for a weaving mill. She teaches online and in-person workshops to an international audience from her UK-based studio. See more of her work at www.larkandbower.com
