A lovely solid book, the hardback is pleasant to handle, with glossy pages in the style of a coffee-table book, ideal for a book which invites frequent, regular reference. This is so much more than a coffee-table book!
The fascination and enthusiasm of the authors is apparent and engaging throughout the eight chapters. Their combined years of experience in weaving and teaching are evident in the detailed and systematic presentation of each type of illusion, including history, some scientific and mathematical background, and plenty of woven samples, including samples from the authors’ own practice as well as from other textile artists. It seems that many familiar weave structures can be harnessed to create illusions.
How to use the structure of the weaves is covered in detail with drafts and drawdowns, many in colour, demonstrating the influence of colour choices on the illusive effects. A very helpful final chapter on Technical Weaving Notes that is referred to throughout the book, allows the reader to learn, or remind themselves of, the weave structures described.
The patterns, designs and illustrations offer an enthralling source of inspiration for many a happy hour of weaving exploration – an exciting addition to the weaver’s bookshelf.
Woven Optical Illusions explores a variety of optical effects through the medium of weaving. Suitable for weavers of all experience levels, it explains the basic principles behind the illusions, and shows how to create the effects in selected weave structures to give a wide range of examples and possibilities. Projects are taken from concept through weave design and development to a woven result. With over 500 illustrations, including detailed drafts and images, this fascinating book is designed to whet the appetite of anyone who is interested in optical play.
WOW: Weaving Optical Wonders!! I’ve only spot-read the text, but pored over all the pictures and illustrations – what a marvel! Can’t wait to sit down and really read it, switching back and forth between the first 7 chapters and the last one, cuz I know me – I will keep asking ‘how did she do that?”
IT’S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! Mind-blowing the vast amount of research and work that went into it! This is one book I must own!
…. a comprehensive and important new book about how to weave optical illusions. – Long Thread Media
“You don’t read Woven Optical Illusions as much as you experience it. From beginning to end, the reader is actively engaged in “seeing” the illusions… the text explains the techniques and weave structures used in each design process…. This book is so visually appealing that you might want to devour it all at once. … Woven Optical Illusions is a feast, and a fun work-out, for the eyes.” Karen Donde
Full review available from Long Thread Media, Handwoven Spring 2025
It arrived yesterday. Spend my evening browsing through this wonderful book. I need more weaving time. An extra two lives or more.
I have been poring over your wonderful book ever since it arrived on Friday.
My son is also fascinated by it from a purely scientific angle.
What a beautiful book you two have created! Wonderfully detailed, using the examples described here and there, with good explanations about how the brain works when seeing these phenomena. I’m very happy with it.
It must also be special to do this in a co-authorship. What strikes me is that I cannot see who wove which samples.
This thick book of no less than 207 pages is packed with optical illusions for the real enthusiast. The five substantive chapters successively discuss optical effects caused by color, 3D depth perspective, phantom effects, tilt illusions and ‘jitter’; or the restless eye effect. Although there are more optical effects, these five work best in the texture of woven fabric, according to the authors. The basic principles behind the illusion of each effect are explained and the
authors show how you can create the effects with different weaving techniques. With more than 500 illustrations, including photos, block designs and complete binding drawings, you can get started right away.
But even if you like to play with optical effects in your own designs and enjoy a technical challenge, the book is very interesting. Most designs are for eight shafts and up, but the book also includes some for four (and even two) shafts.
The substantive chapters are followed by a portfolio with photos of woven optical illusions by sixteen other weavers including three Dutch ones. The book concludes with a chapter of technical weaving notes in which the weaving techniques including the binding drawings and technical terms from the substantive chapters are explained.
All in all, I can highly recommend this book.
This book has stolen my sleep!!! I cannot put it down. Loving every word.
The book is here. It is wonderful! It’s like attending the best party ever – meeting old friends and new people you can’t wait to make friends with. I am so glad that Crowood picked it up, because your material deserves their high production standards.
I think you made an excellent choice to focus on 8-shaft designs. Four is too limiting technically and [more then eight] is too specialised.
And of course I am super excited that a piece of my own found its way into your gallery!
Congratulations…. for all the work you put into a beautiful, useful, and inspiring book. I think the book really breaks new ground combining research on visual perception with weaving.