
Tapestry Design Basics and Beyond
Planning and Weaving with Confidence
Tommye McClure Scanlin(Author)
Schiffer Craft (Publisher)
Published on 29. August 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-0-7643-6156-2 (ISBN)
Description
Renowned master weaver Tommye McClure Scanlin offers more than 60 step-by-step "explorations" that lead you from understanding design concepts to using them on your loom.
"I wish Tommye's book had been available when I was first struggling with creating my own designs . . . There is no person more qualified to teach these ideas than Tommye Scanlin."
-Rebecca Mezoff, foreword
Once ideas and images come to mind, the next step in weaving your tapestry-interpreting these into effective compositions-may be challenging. Learn here, in ways that relate specifically to tapestry art, the design basics you need to make your best work.
A master weaver offers more than 60 step-by-step "explorations" that lead you from understanding design concepts in your head to using them on your loom.
Be inspired to explore "weavable" ways to manage line, shape, color, texture, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and more for results that bring your tapestries to a new level.
In Part 1, dive into the fundamentals of design.
Parts 2 and 3 hold explorations-exercises with a tapestry twist.
Part 4 teaches ways to turn designs into cartoons.
A resource treasure trove offers ideas for finishing tapestries (essential to the design's completeness), helpful templates, glossaries, and other core information to carry forward on your creative path.
"Clear explanations . . . scores of inspiring tapestries . . . Suggestions for finding design ideas, as well as developing, and assessing them, will be of value to all. Bravo!"
-Mary Lane, former executive director, American Tapestry Alliance
"I wish Tommye's book had been available when I was first struggling with creating my own designs . . . There is no person more qualified to teach these ideas than Tommye Scanlin."
-Rebecca Mezoff, foreword
Once ideas and images come to mind, the next step in weaving your tapestry-interpreting these into effective compositions-may be challenging. Learn here, in ways that relate specifically to tapestry art, the design basics you need to make your best work.
A master weaver offers more than 60 step-by-step "explorations" that lead you from understanding design concepts in your head to using them on your loom.
Be inspired to explore "weavable" ways to manage line, shape, color, texture, emphasis, balance, rhythm, and more for results that bring your tapestries to a new level.
In Part 1, dive into the fundamentals of design.
Parts 2 and 3 hold explorations-exercises with a tapestry twist.
Part 4 teaches ways to turn designs into cartoons.
A resource treasure trove offers ideas for finishing tapestries (essential to the design's completeness), helpful templates, glossaries, and other core information to carry forward on your creative path.
"Clear explanations . . . scores of inspiring tapestries . . . Suggestions for finding design ideas, as well as developing, and assessing them, will be of value to all. Bravo!"
-Mary Lane, former executive director, American Tapestry Alliance
Reviews / Votes
"I wish Tommye's book had been available when I was first struggling with creating my own designs . . . There is no person more qualified to teach these ideas than Tommye Scanlin." -- -Rebecca Mezoff, from the foreword "This beautiful and inspiring new book should be on every weaver's bookshelf . . . With substantial information on the process of building an idea into a finished tapestry, will inspire weavers of all levels to push their ideas further and make their art more visually interesting." -- -Handwoven Magazine, review by Susan Iverson, former president, American Tapestry Alliance "Clear explanations . . . scores of inspiring tapestries . . . Suggestions for finding design ideas, as well as developing, and assessing them, will be of value to all. Bravo!" -- Mary Lane, former executive director, American Tapestry Alliance "Illustrated with stunning and varied examples . . . leaving the aspiring tapestry weaver to believe that anything is possible." -- -Catharine Ellis, textile artist, coauthor of The Art and Science of Natural Dyes: Principles, Experiments, and Results "Terrific . . . full of examples, images, exercises, techniques, resources, quotes. And, perhaps its greatest strength--her trust that readers can make their own choices." -- -Micala Sidore, tapestry artist, author of The Art Is the Cloth: How to Look at and Understand TapestriesMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Schiffer Publishing Ltd
Illustrations
250 color images
Dimensions
Height: 277 mm
Width: 257 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
1246 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7643-6156-2 (9780764361562)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
08/2025
Schiffer
€18.18
Available for download
Persons
Renowned tapestry weaver and art educator Tommye McClure Scanlin has dedicated over four decades to teaching, including at the University of North Georgia and at craft schools including Arrowmont, John C. Campbell Folk School, and Penland School of Craft. www.scanlintapestry.com