On January 28th 2025, I officially became the published author of KROKBRAGD -Contemporary Weaving With Colour. A niche book about weaving this Scandinavian boundweave technique.

I am writing this, on 10 February – the first real opportunity to let it sink in.

Any romantic childhood notions of what ‘being an author’ might entail were instantly bulldozed by a fabulously real and rather frantic few days. Whilst I might once have imaged the writers’ life to be sipping on Kir Royales, nibbling canapes, whilst wearing marabou kitten heel slippers and a silk dressing gown, in a Barbara Cartland fashion, I did instead spend 17 hours a day packing and carting books to the DPD drop-off at the corner shop.

On the day my book was released I got a congratulatory email from my publishers inquiring if I’d be celebrating the occasion with a glass of something fizzy (they were all for the romantic version too, it seems).

No, publishers, I didn’t do that on release day. Not because I don’t think it’s worth celebrating; I do. But because I was delighted to have pre-sold almost 250 before the publication date. Almost 250 copies needed to be packed and posted to the eager recipients who had been patiently waiting. Ideally, before I had to teach a two-day weaving workshop that weekend.

I’d estimated that it would take 5 minutes each to process and print the labels and to pack each parcel. Approximately 20 hours of work. I misjudged that massively….

There are around 34 steps to process each order, including filling in customs forms and the new country-specific GPSR labels, though luckily my teen-elves got on board with the packaging when they weren’t in school. There is also a lot of cross-checking order details to help to prevent any mistakes and I must have seen the name of everyone who ordered a dozen times during the process. Each name feels like a familiar old friend (which some are, admittedly!).

To keep my feet on the ground during this rather busy few days, my wing man/husband had just had hernia surgery and was on total bed rest (I was the worst nurse ever), the builders continued to work on the new home extension, the seam textile collective were on the final week of our Crowdfunder, and the eldest Parkerette had a driving theory test which somehow managed to involve a three-hour round trip in the middle of my busiest work day.

Despite the everyday hurdles, I did manage to post 85% of the pre-orders within 36 hours, and 100% in less than 3 days. I can’t remember the last time I felt so tired, and I will be eternally grateful to our domestic printer for not playing up and rising to the challenge of approximately 700 print-outs!

So what is the book that has been winging its way around the country and globe all about? It’s a niche exploration into krokbragd, the traditional Scandinavian weaving technique which I’ve been obsessed with for over 30 years and which has been at the heart of my weaving business.

In the book I share everything I know on the subject with over 400 photographs and numerous patterns and examples for inspiration.

One advantage of life and work being particularly busy is that I didn’t have a second to dwell on the jitters that go hand in hand with launching such a book into the world. By the time I had a moment to catch my breath, the feedback from recipients had started to filter through, and thankfully they were reassuring.

Here’s what readers are saying:

I just received your beautiful book.
What a pleasure to initially skim through it and see all the photos and detail.
This book is so much more than I expected. 
There was obviously a lot of hard work to produce this book and I thank you that.
I’m sure I will be using this book enormously to guide me through my rug weaving.
Janet, Santa Fe

Mine arrived today – so lovely!
A wonderful mix of technical instructions and inspirational photos.
Clare, UK

Your book is spectacular Angie. It was a late Xmas present from my wonderful OH, as requested! The photographs of your brilliant weavings are truly inspiring, and to share your knowledge and tips with us is a very honorable step in helping us to improve our weaving skills on Krokbragd and rug making. So thank you!
Sandy, USA

Your beautiful book arrived today. It’s really gorgeous and full of so much wonderful information. The images and colour are stunning.
Adah, USA

Got my copy today. This book is a wonderful work of art itself, before I’ve even sat at my loom to try my first krokbragd weave! Congratulations on this beauty. I’ve been waiting for this kind of book for a long time.
Gillian, UK

In all the busy-ness of life and work I’ve yet to formulate a slick marketing plan or launch party for the book, but I’m ready to start now the book is out in the world. An exhibition is the diary at MAKE Southwest in August-Sept but the online course, workshops and book promo/demonstrations are still very much in the planning stages and making their way to the top of my list of things to do.

All the new workshop dates will be shared to my newsletter subscribers, so make sure you’re signed up to be the first to hear.

For now though, i think it really is time to drink something fizzy, and maybe weave some contemporary krokbragd… Know any books about this?

KROKBRAGD – Contemporary Weaving With Colour is available now from all UK booksellers and signed copies from www.angieparkertextiles.com.

Angie Parker