The Techniques of Rug Weaving

by Peter Collingwood

The author of this book, a doctor for five years, left medicine to take up hand weaving in 1950. Since then, he has lived by weaving rugs and wall-hangings, and by writing on and teaching textile techniques, especially in America.

Genres: Reference, Crafts

527 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Peter Collingwood was the pre-eminent British artist weaver of the past 50 years. His technical and aesthetic innovations have been appreciated around the world, most notably in his Macrogauze wall-hangings, in which his traditional skill and visual abstraction work in perfect harmony. A master craftsman and the author of several works on weaving, his work as a teacher and his generous spirit had a profound and lasting impact on generations of students.

Collingwood wrote five highly influential books of which the first, Techniques of Rug Weaving (1968), is probably the best known. His personal favourite - and the one that gives the most insight into his inquiring mind - is The Maker's Hand (1988), in which he analyses, with diagrams and photo-graphs, 100 woven structures from around the world.

He was awarded the OBE in 1974.

Adapted from TheGuardian.co.uk

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Peter Collingwood book on weaving rugs has about 500 pages and goes into incredible detail of techniques I'd never heard of. The cover picture doesn't match my edition either, but I can't see mine on here.
I weave occasionally as a hobby, playing with intricate patterns for fun.
Peter was the best. Take his chapter on soumak weaving. Amazing,and not in the half dozen other books I have. Peter compared to other weaving authors is like comparing Elizabeth David to Jamie Oliver, or if you like, comparing Churchill to Teresa May. From the sublime to the ridiculous. (Sorry Jamie! You're nice but you can't write!)

[Ruth Temple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you don't imagine yourself weaving rugs, Peter's work is well worth any weaver's time in reading, just for his insights and voice. It's also one of the five weaving books to be stranded on a desert island with.