author
T. F. Bell
Best known for a classic 1895 guide to Jacquard weaving, this little-known textile writer brought together the artistic and mechanical sides of the craft in a practical, readable way.
1 Audiobook
Jacquard Weaving and Designing
by T. F. Bell
About the author
T. F. Bell is known for Jacquard Weaving and Designing, a technical book first published in 1895. The book was written as a practical guide for people working with or studying Jacquard weaving, and it has remained accessible through public-domain archives.
The surviving front matter describes Bell as a National Scholar in Design from 1875 to 1878, a certificated art master, and a teacher recognized by the City and Guilds of London Institute in linen manufacturing, weaving, and pattern designing. Those credentials suggest a writer with one foot in workshop practice and the other in design education.
Very little biographical information about Bell appears to be widely available today, so the person remains somewhat obscure. What does come through clearly is a strong command of textile design and loom technique, and a wish to explain a specialized subject in a form that working readers could actually use.