Weaving Innovations from the Bateman Collection

This full-color look at the patterns that Dr. William Bateman developed over 60 years ago helps intermediate to advanced-level weavers think more innovatively about their craft. 

Its 408 color photos of Bateman's sample weaves and draft diagrams create a treasure trove that allows today's weavers to experiment on their own looms with his out-of-the-box thinking.

Bateman, a chemistry professor turned weaver, analyzed traditional patterns and extended them in completely new directions.

After she completed her monographs on the Bateman weaves, Virginia Harvey donated his nearly 1,500 samples to the Seattle Weavers' Guild. Guild members Spady, Tracey, and Fiddler curated this selection, giving today's weavers an easy to use (and to be inspired by!) guide to the ways Bateman manipulated more traditional weaves, as well as to his new structures.

• The 160 samples included are Dr. Bateman's originals, and detail the yarns and setts he outlined in his documentation.

• With 408 color photos and draft diagrams of Bateman's sample weaves, weavers can experiment with his innovations on their own looms.

• The drafts are organized into weave groups, ranging from those with their origins in traditional structures like twill or overshot, to the one-of-a-kind new weaves Bateman invented.​

• Includes many Bateman weave drafts and samples never before seen or published.

Robyn Spady, Nancy A. Tracy, and Marjorie Fiddler are weavers and members of the Seattle Weavers' Guild, one of the largest guilds in the US. Their experience spans many decades. Spady began weaving in 1969. She is a master weaver and travels extensively teaching a wide variety of programs and workshops. Tracy is active in several local guilds, as well as the international Complex Weavers organization. She has over 35 years of experience and her particular interest is in the structures of woven cloth and the looms that create them. She was fortunate to have been a friend of Virginia Harvey, who did the original work on publishing Dr. William Bateman's material. Fiddler is an award-winning weaver and dyer known for her striking use of color and exceptional craftsmanship. Madelyn van der Hoogt (foreword) is former editor of Handwoven magazine.