We wanted Bower to be both easy to start with and as powerful as you need it to be. We've compiled a full list of Bower's features, and we are working on creating more tutorials. All features are completely available to both free and licensed users. Features are not locked behind tiers.

We regularly update Bower with new capabilities so stay tuned! Use all these features in Bower now →

Basic

  • Drawing tools (Pen, Repeat Pen, Line) for drafting threading, tie-up, treadling with live drawdown updates
  • Selection tools (Select, Copy, Stamp/Paste, Clear)
  • Yarn colors and a 1000+ color catalogue
  • Presets for common threading and treadling patterns
  • Insert and Delete tools for ends and picks
  • Tromp as writ to copy between threading and treadling
  • Save your weaving project as a WIF, PNG, PDF, or BOWER file
  • Import WIF project files (e.g. from Handweaving.net)
  • Threading tracker to assist during loom dressing
  • Treadling tracker to assist during loom handweaving
  • Use Bower in the browser, Mac, and iPad. Windows and Android coming soon!

Intermediate

  • Profile drafting and block substitution with sixteen preset weave structures
  • Reorder shaft and treadles
  • Optimization operations, reduce extra shaft and treadles when possible
  • Turn and rotate draft operations
  • Front face and back face fabric viewing
  • Float analysis to catch long floats on both fabric sides
  • Multi-treadle, draft with multiple treadles activated per pick (e.g. in taquete)
  • Yardage calculator
  • Yarn color formulas, quickly set up color patterns (e.g. tabby vs pattern color blocks for summer & winter picks)

Advanced

  • Multi-shaft threading, draft with multiple shafts activated per pick (e.g. drawloom and damask weaving)
  • Display customization with LtR and RtL threading and TtB and BtT treadling
  • Threading and treadling formulas, program complex sequences quickly
  • Direct drawdown editing (compute shaft and treadle assignments from a desired drawdown and deeply understand pixel tradeoffs when designing under constraints)
  • Physically accurate yarn simulation to view yarn-yarn effects (e.g. huck lace)