Weaving for Beginners: an Illustrated Guide by Peggy Osterkamp

Weaving for Beginners, now in its 4th edition, has been the technique bible for weavers of all levels for over a decade. From beginners to advanced weavers and teachers, this indispensable handbook and textbook is a must-have on every weaver’s bookshelf, or rather, always open on their desk. From back-to-front and front-to-back warping to reading and creating drafts, finishing techniques, and special knots, it is the how-to book you will keep using for decades.

Having Peggy’s books at your loom is like having a patient, knowledgeable teacher at your side.

ISBN 978-615-01-9809-5

Fourth edition, 2025

Number of pages: 425

About the author: Peggy Osterkamp, once an apprentice to renowned loommaker Jim Ahrens in a production weaving studio, has since introduced hundreds of students to the time-tested techniques of handweaving. She is a natural teacher with a knack for making the richness of her training and decades of experience accessible to all, a life-long textile scholar, and an artist who exhibits her work internationally. Follow her at www.peggyosterkamp.com

 Also by Peggy Osterkamp:

Peggy Osterkamp’s New Guide Weaving, a 3-part in-depth series on advanced weaving techniques: 

No. 1: Winding a Warp & Using a Paddle

No. 2: Warping Your Loom & Tying on New Warps

No. 3: Weaving & Drafting Your Own Cloth

DVD: Warping the Loom Back to Front

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 The Basics 5

3 Back-to-Front Warping 15

Part 1: Measuring the Warp 15

Part 2: Putting the Warp on the Loom (Beaming) 37

Part 3: Threading the Loom 61

Part 4: Tying On  89

4 Weaving the Sampler 99

Part One: Plain weave (tabby) 117

Part Two: Using two shuttles 122

Part Three: Weft stripes 123

Part Four: Balanced twill 124

Part Five: Weft-face twill 125

Part Six: Warp-face twill 127

Part Seven: Herringbone128

Part Eight: Broken twill 129

Part Nine: Basket weave 130

Part Ten: Weft-face broken twill 131

Part Eleven: Rep weave 132

Part Twelve: Hand-manipulated weaves 135

Part Thirteen: Weave your ideas 135

5 Finishing 143

6 Front-to-Back Warping 155

7 Drafting 201

8 Computers and Weaving 225

9 Future Assignments 239

10 Sett 269

11 Planning a Project 291

12 Selvedges 311

13 Troubleshooting 329

14 Rigid Heddle Loom 339

15 Knots 377

Appendix 385

Opening a skein 385

Peggy’s weaving apron 386

Needle book 390

Counting string 391

Sett charts  392

Suppliers 396

Index 400

Expected publication date: 2025 June 30