Mexican Tapestry Weaving
By Joanne Hall
In l976 I published a book on Mexican tapestry weaving. I spent three months weaving in Mexico and returned two times to do research on the book. It has a section on weaving techniques and weaving a sampler. From this section you can learn the basic tapestry techniques by weaving a sampler. It starts with very basic weaving, then describes weaving figures, starting with the easier ones. There are many diagrams to help you get started. If you want to read the entire book, you may find a copy in your guild library or through your local library.
Some weavers start learning tapestry weaving by working on a table or a frame loom, but if you have a floor loom, it will be easier to weave on it. Having treadles makes the weaving easier. If you only have a frame loom, then use it. You can weave tapestry on a frame loom, but it is easier to first learn the techniques on a larger loom, which has a beater and at least two shafts.
These techniques will produce tapestries which you can hang on the wall, but they can also be use to weave rugs which need to be reversible. The weaving develops in a logical and methodical way, so that after some practice, the weaver can design and weave any kind of design. Like many other learning experiences, these techniques become second nature and the weaving will progress very quickly and easily. The weaving is done so that the beater on the loom is used to beat the weft in. You do not need to use a hand beater.
I have had many requests for this book but it went out of print a few years ago. So I hope to get the instructional section here on the web for you to read or print out (in the future when I can get to it).
For information on classes for tapestry weaving, visit Elkhorn Mountains Weaving
If you have any questions about Mexican Tapestry Weaving, you can contact me any time.
P.S.
(Sometimes you can get a copy of the book, used, from www.bookfinder.com or other used book web pages.)
The background on this page is the San Miguel Pattern woven by Joanne Hall
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update 1/08