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Finger Weaving: Indian Braiding
Learn the ancient art of flat braiding (a method that predates the loom), and make beautiful woven sashes, belts, collars, neckties, and headbands. A fascinating overview of the history of finger weaving and the methods used by different cultures is included. Designs include the Chevron, Lightning, Double Lightning, Arrow-Head and Diamond patterns. Colored pictures of finished woven objects along with drawings and photos of thread placements accompany explicit instructions.
48 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 5, 2024
I came across this book at the library. I wasn't sure what finger weaving was, but the book was tiny and thin, so finding out wouldn't take long I thought.
I think there are a few varieties of finger weaving. This book is concerned with weaving, using a dowel rod and fingers, where at times some warp threads serve as wefts, and then go back to being warps.
After skimming through the book I decided I wanted to make the diamond pattern. Being something of a knucklehead I skipped over the first and easiest pattern, diagonal stripes, because it wasn't interesting. I only looked at the second pattern, chevrons, because the diamond pattern starts with a chevron. My attempt failed. I had to be more reasonable and go with the diagonal stripes pattern first.
I was still struggling until I found some videos on YouTube that explained the teeny thing I was missing, My diagonal stripes got much better after that. Then I tried the diamond pattern again. It went much better, but I still struggled.
I don't know if I'll try the lightning, double lightning or the arrowhead designs.
The remainder of the book is concerned with Peruvian rep braids and Peruvian cross rep braids. I do want to try those, but I really couldn't guess how they'll turn out.
All in all, I'd say this is a decently good book on Indian braiding. It is readily available on Amazon for a low price. Other books on Indian braiding that I've looked into are much harder to obtain and more expensive.
I think there are a few varieties of finger weaving. This book is concerned with weaving, using a dowel rod and fingers, where at times some warp threads serve as wefts, and then go back to being warps.
After skimming through the book I decided I wanted to make the diamond pattern. Being something of a knucklehead I skipped over the first and easiest pattern, diagonal stripes, because it wasn't interesting. I only looked at the second pattern, chevrons, because the diamond pattern starts with a chevron. My attempt failed. I had to be more reasonable and go with the diagonal stripes pattern first.
I was still struggling until I found some videos on YouTube that explained the teeny thing I was missing, My diagonal stripes got much better after that. Then I tried the diamond pattern again. It went much better, but I still struggled.
I don't know if I'll try the lightning, double lightning or the arrowhead designs.
The remainder of the book is concerned with Peruvian rep braids and Peruvian cross rep braids. I do want to try those, but I really couldn't guess how they'll turn out.
All in all, I'd say this is a decently good book on Indian braiding. It is readily available on Amazon for a low price. Other books on Indian braiding that I've looked into are much harder to obtain and more expensive.
October 9, 2025
'Finger Weaving: Indian Braiding' by Alta R. Turner
It's supposed to be for beginners but it can be kinda confusing as to directions, plus poor quality pictures, so I'd look for a better choice to learn from. This is an older book (1973) but still useful, and weaving is a lot of fun!
Actually, if you can find someone who knows how to do this type of weaving, better to ask them to teach you; it's easier when someone shows you in person.
I am an intermediate skilled Navajo-style-loom weaver, using a Navajo loom that I built with help from a friend. And I learned to weave from a guy that was taught by one of the grandmothers at the 'Two Grey Hills Trading Post' (in NM) and from my best friend, a highly skilled Navajo/Diné weaver also from New Mexico.
I was looking to learn another type of weaving as well, more portable...(and yeah, I also knit...hey, guys do knitting, too; ever hear of 'Cowboy Knitting'? Yep, it's a real thing, just like sailors macrame, etc. You think hours and hours of herding and watching cattle, when you're not actively moving them around, isn't hell-bent-for-leather boring? It is; besides there's always a need for socks!)
Note: Traditionally, in the Hopi culture, the men were the weavers, but in the Navajo/Diné culture, the women were the weavers. That is, before Colonialism invaded and changed everything. But that's another discussion...
So in that culture, the grandmothers thought it hilarious that my teacher, being as how he's a guy, asked them to teach him how to weave. Amid gales of laughter, they declined. He was working on the rez as a health-care worker and as he was long-term local, he just kept going back, respectfully asking again and again to be taught...eventually they agreed to teach him.
So yeah, maybe there are better books and resources out there (sorry, can't recall other books, atm, as I didn't learn from a book, just from actual weavers). I just found this particular book, even if not great, maybe helpful and there are some interesting patterns here.
Weaving is a wonderful art/craft/skill to have, so hang in there, do your research to find good teachers and better books.
(yeah, I realize this is a BOOK blog, lol, but hey, real life!)
Best of Luck on your journey to learning a new skill; it's worth it!
It's supposed to be for beginners but it can be kinda confusing as to directions, plus poor quality pictures, so I'd look for a better choice to learn from. This is an older book (1973) but still useful, and weaving is a lot of fun!
Actually, if you can find someone who knows how to do this type of weaving, better to ask them to teach you; it's easier when someone shows you in person.
I am an intermediate skilled Navajo-style-loom weaver, using a Navajo loom that I built with help from a friend. And I learned to weave from a guy that was taught by one of the grandmothers at the 'Two Grey Hills Trading Post' (in NM) and from my best friend, a highly skilled Navajo/Diné weaver also from New Mexico.
I was looking to learn another type of weaving as well, more portable...(and yeah, I also knit...hey, guys do knitting, too; ever hear of 'Cowboy Knitting'? Yep, it's a real thing, just like sailors macrame, etc. You think hours and hours of herding and watching cattle, when you're not actively moving them around, isn't hell-bent-for-leather boring? It is; besides there's always a need for socks!)
Note: Traditionally, in the Hopi culture, the men were the weavers, but in the Navajo/Diné culture, the women were the weavers. That is, before Colonialism invaded and changed everything. But that's another discussion...
So in that culture, the grandmothers thought it hilarious that my teacher, being as how he's a guy, asked them to teach him how to weave. Amid gales of laughter, they declined. He was working on the rez as a health-care worker and as he was long-term local, he just kept going back, respectfully asking again and again to be taught...eventually they agreed to teach him.
So yeah, maybe there are better books and resources out there (sorry, can't recall other books, atm, as I didn't learn from a book, just from actual weavers). I just found this particular book, even if not great, maybe helpful and there are some interesting patterns here.
Weaving is a wonderful art/craft/skill to have, so hang in there, do your research to find good teachers and better books.
(yeah, I realize this is a BOOK blog, lol, but hey, real life!)
Best of Luck on your journey to learning a new skill; it's worth it!
May 22, 2007
this book is wicked awesome.
its very small, but the directions are easy to follow and the projects (requiring no loom) are always portable and very inexpensive to create...
i made several belts after reading the book and literally used them to pay a shaman for his services.. he was *very* appreciative.
this book is definitely a must-have if you are involved with home-projects for sale, or even if you have kids at home that you would love to teach a bit about primitive textile artistry and let them learn a craft that they can put to use for themselves, i.e. making belts, leashes, hair-ties, etc.
its very small, but the directions are easy to follow and the projects (requiring no loom) are always portable and very inexpensive to create...
i made several belts after reading the book and literally used them to pay a shaman for his services.. he was *very* appreciative.
this book is definitely a must-have if you are involved with home-projects for sale, or even if you have kids at home that you would love to teach a bit about primitive textile artistry and let them learn a craft that they can put to use for themselves, i.e. making belts, leashes, hair-ties, etc.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews