books \\ fall reading

Fall is upon us and that often means more time spent indoors. Here in Portland, the rain makes it possible for me to get further down on my ‘to-do’ list, and half of the ‘to-do’ list is actually exploring ideas I have been sketching through all year. I look forward to this time of year to reset and I find myself reaching for more of my books to seek inspiration.

Reading about patterns, textiles, and creativity opens up my mind to endless possibilities of future projects and endeavors. I’ve recently been reaching for a few books in particular from my library and thought I’d share. These are not sponsored- I just love them enough and want to share that love!

1.

Palette Perfect by Lauren Wager

Lauren is the founder and creative behind Color Collective. If you haven’t been to her website, GO NOW. Don’t wait! I first became obsessed with Lauren’s work years ago and when she announced the release of her book, Palette Perfect. I immediately pre-ordered. I religiously use this book for inspiration. Beautiful images, colors, and textures are everywhere but she weaves them together into gorgeous palettes that then the rest of us can enjoy. This resource can be used as a guide or to spark inspiration- but I guarantee you’ll use it for everything.

2.

Natural Color by Sasha Duerr

Sasha is an artist and designer who has a vast array of insight and experience with natural dyes, place-based recipes, and plant-based palettes. Natural Color is just one of her amazing accomplishments. This book, organized by season, has served as a beautiful guide to better understand natural dyes and how to apply them to everyday projects for yourself and your home. This book has endless possibilities for dye and color exploration and I know you’ll find it just as inspiring as I have.

3.

Weaving: Contemporary Makers on the Loom by Katie Treggiden

This was a book I had on my ‘need’ list for months! It contains a curated selection of contemporary weavers and gives a peek into their everyday lives as makers. Everything shared, from the scale to the materials, is a direct reflection of each artist and inspires originality as much as it does creativity and exploration. This is a book I turn to to realize my craziest ideas are my most original (and have the most potential)!

4.

Modern Rug Hooking by Rose Pearlman

Shortly after I began weaving, I discovered Rose Pearlman’s work and became obsessed with her style and use of texture. This book is the best guide for materials, how-to’s, and projects! Perfect for beginners (like myself… needing a lot of guidance), but also perfect for those wanting to push their refined craft further. The range of projects are fun and allow for so much play between traditional and more modern methods of rug hooking.

5.

Weaving Within Reach by Anne Weil

One of the best parts of weaving is that it can be done by hand or with tools. Anne’s book is one of the best out there- it opens up so many possibilities to weave with no loom, with a ‘made-loom’, or with a frame-loom. This book illustrates the ability to weave with found objects, meaning you can get started… right now! Enjoy.