Velvet on my mind, velvet on my loom : velvet weaving past and present /

For over one thousand years, velvet textiles were woven by hand with great ingenuity and artistry. This book recounts a transcontinental story of their development into one of the most beautiful, luxurious, and economically important products of the medieval and Renaissance periods, in constant demand at courts throughout Europe and Asia. Velvet expert Landry offers a consistent theory of the origin and spread of this weaving technique and the technological innovations that accompanied it. She draws from her lengthy personal expertise as a practicing weaver and scholar, examining, analyzing, and engaging in the techniques and technologies in order to excavate the intrinsic ideas and knowledge embedded in the craft of velvet weaving. The instructions feature techniques and equipment accessible to ordinary handweavers and introduce ways to attain complex results without complex equipment. This will be a valuable resource for weavers, textile scholars, and curators for years to come.Includes bibliographical references (pages 271-277) and index.Pile before velvet -- Velvet weaving in late Antiquity -- Medieval velvet weaving -- The golden age of velvet weaving -- Modern velvet weaving -- Designing velvet -- Principles of velvet weaving -- Equipment and loom modifications -- Materials -- Weaving velvet -- Polychrome velvet -- After-treatments and finishing for velvets -- Appendix 1. Chronology of velvet references -- Appendix 2. Basic drafts and design templates.For over one thousand years, velvet textiles were woven by hand with great ingenuity and artistry. This book recounts a transcontinental story of their development into one of the most beautiful, luxurious, and economically important products of the medieval and Renaissance periods, in constant demand at courts throughout Europe and Asia. Velvet expert Landry offers a consistent theory of the origin and spread of this weaving technique and the technological innovations that accompanied it. She draws from her lengthy personal expertise as a practicing weaver and scholar, examining, analyzing, and engaging in the techniques and technologies in order to excavate the intrinsic ideas and knowledge embedded in the craft of velvet weaving. The instructions feature techniques and equipment accessible to ordinary handweavers and introduce ways to attain complex results without complex equipment. This will be a valuable resource for weavers, textile scholars, and curators for years to come