Newsstand

Start off your summertime weaving with rich colors that fill you with joy. From articles that will help you stop struggling with color, to ten projects to weave, this issue shows ways to integrate a rainbow of colors, hues, and shades into your handwovens. 

You’ll weave towels that explore the intriguing intersection of contrast and motif, and others that are inspired by sunflowers and cosmos in the garden. There’s a design that has colors based on a month of high temperatures, and striking towels you can easily make while leading a live weaving demo at the fair. One scarf shows how to weave a glowing effect, while another uses clasped weft to create a subdued (and very elegant) piece. A brilliant runner sparkles like jewels, a set of napkins shows the colors of a sunrise, and a summery top invites you to weave—and sew!—without fear. The collection wraps up with a pair of charming day bags just large enough to hold your wallet and phone.

Projects explore a range of structures—including color-and-weave, turned taqueté, basketweave, crackle, and lots of twills—using summery cotton, cottolin, and silk.

You’ll also find articles about seeing and using color in your work, and more: 

• Véronique Perrot wants to help you stop struggling with color.
• Tien Chiu explains how to create a glowing effect in your designs.
• Tom Knisely weaves with variegated yarn and shows the results.
• Linda Ligon writes about a weaving lesson that left her pondering the meaning of color.
• Media Picks reviews a new book about weaving with clasped weft.
• Nancy Taylor shares her story: “I love the satisfaction that comes from focus and from learning to do hard things well.”

We invite you to try out new ways to use color with the ideas you’ll find in Handwoven Summer 2026. 

Articles

• Notes from the Fell—Weaving with Variegated Threads, by Tom Knisely
• Learning to See the Andean Way, by Linda Ligon
• Let’s Get Real with Colors! by Véronique Perrot
• How to Make Your Weaving Simply Glow, by Tien Chiu
• Media Picks—Weaving with Clasped Weft, by Tom Knisely; reviewed by Robin Lynde
• Humans Who Weave, by Nancy Taylor
• Endnotes—A Wedding Throw for Molly, by Sue Van Cleve

Projects

• ON THE COVER: Color Nuggets Towels, by Véronique Perrot (8-shaft)
• Summer Day Bags, by Katzy Luhring (4-shaft)
•  Inner Glow Scarf, by Tien Chiu (2-shaft)
• Gemstone Table Runner, by Sheila O’Hara (16-shaft)
• Sunny Garden Towels, by Robin Lynde (8-shaft)
• Tropical Waters Top, by Rebecca Fox (4-shaft)
• Midnight Reflection Scarf, Sedona Rigsby (4-shaft)
• Blue Horizons Towels, Susan E. Horton (4-shaft)
• Sunrise Bloom Napkins, by Lauren Erickson (4-shaft)
• Summer Sorbet Towels, by Barbara Mitchell (4-shaft)

Dive into the Summer 2026 issue of Spin Off and ignite your passion for spinning, with stash-busting projects, fascinating experiments, and inspiring stories.

Whether you have lots of little bits of fiber or piles of short lengths of already-spun yarn, you’ll get ingenious stash-busting techniques that make the most of what you have on hand. Discover expert tips for maximizing your fiber, and stretch your skills with fun projects like the Color Splash Brioche Beanie and the Deloa Granny-Square Bag. 

This vibrant edition is also packed with hands-on experiments in elasticity. You’ll find out why skeins made on the same niddy-noddy look like they’re different lengths, whether different colors of wool from the same fleece have different characteristics, and how to make inelastic fibers such as Angora behave like the bounciest wools.

Plus, don’t miss inspiring stories about spinning fibers that grow in your own backyard and tips for making your handspun skeins stand out in spinning competitions.

Join us as we stretch our stash, skills, and tools in this issue of Spin Off magazine.

Articles:

• How Should I Spin My Braid?: Creating a Roadmap by Kate Larson
• Stone Soup Carding by Jennifer Miller Comstock
• Bounce Back: Can Opposing Plies Add Elasticity to Inelastic Fibers? by Melanie Shelton
• Can You Spin Cosmetic Cotton? by Naomi Paskin-Parsons
• Spin to Win by Joan Sheridan
• Spin What Grows in Your Neighborhood by Mieke Harinck
• Making Skeins: Stretch Notes from a Plus-Size Spinner on a Budget by Laura McLean
• Elasticity in Jacob Wool: A Micro Experiment by Holly Callahan-Kasmala
• Hooke’s Law and Stretching Wool by Amy Tyler

Projects:

• S and Z Studies: A Shaker Twisted-Weft Runner by Tom Knisely
• Color Splash Brioche Beanie by Sarah Rothwell
• Deloa Granny-Square Bag by Rachel Lamb

Tutorials:

• Carding Clouds to Make the Most of Colorful, Hand-Dyed Locks by Deborah Held

Redefine your connection to color through playful exploration and creative discovery!

For spinners who want to dip into dyeing, Stefanie Johnson adapts hapazome techniques to create unique speckled yarns and spinning fiber, while Andrea Deck and Theresa Hornstein explore new and unusual sources for natural dye materials. Katherine Augustine shares easy ways to dye with food-safe dyes—no special equipment needed! 

If already-dyed fiber is more your style, Ladianne Henderson walks you through foolproof ways to identify your favorite color relationships, and Deborah Held revisits the combo spin with new tips for a successful spin.

Travel through time and across the world with projects and articles that are sure to inspire you. Elise Young helps you show off precious handspun yarn with a pattern for micro-crochet earrings inspired by sericulture and natural dyeing traditions in Oaxaca. Tom Knisely uses a twist on a centuries-old technique for making simple woven cloth look complex, and Irene Waggener delves into an intriguing archaeological find.

Join us as we embrace color with joy and confidence with this issue of Spin Off magazine.

Articles

• Before the Lazy Kate: A Six-Spouted Plying Vessel from Germany by Irene Waggner
  
• Yagaa: Reviving Sericulture in Southern Mexico by Elise Young
  
• Telling Your Color Story: Find Color Inspiration in Your Photo Album by Ladianne Henderson
  
• Primary Shift: A Simple Method to Make Complex Color by Pamela K. Schultz
  
• Dyeing in the Baking Aisle by Katherine Augustine
  
• Spinning the Right Way—and the Left by Linda Ligon
  
• The Woodworker’s Daughter by Andrea Deck
  
• Using Invasive Plants as Natural Dyes by Theresa Hornstein
  
• Revisiting the Combo Spin by Deborah Held
  
• Mock Fractal: Controlling Color with Drafting Choices by Stephanie Daugherty

Projects

• Crocheted Silk Drop Earrings by Elise Young 
• Color-Block Socks by Summer Lee

Tutorials:

• Exploring S- and Z-Twist by Tom Knisely
• Speckles and Tonals: Hapazome Dyeing Techniques on Fiber & Yarn by Stefanie Johnson

Whether they come from plants such as flax and cotton, or from animals such as sheep and llamas, natural fibers are at the heart of a sustainable spinning practice. Discover new ways to connect with the natural world in this issue and find fresh ideas for putting your handspun yarn to use. Learn from experiments in natural dyeing, twined knitting, and dehairing llama fiber to inspire your next spin.

You’ll also:

• Get Andrea Mowry’s best pointers for starting your supported spindle spinning journey.
• Hone your spinning skills with Kate Larson’s expert advice on park and draft.
• Find patterns for classic and innovative knitted accessories.
• Spin and weave a linen bread bag inspired by antique grain bags.
• Discover what happened to the Coast Salish Wooly Dog with an excerpt from The Teachings of Mutton.

With the Winter 2026 issue, you’ll find new ways to add the magic of natural fiber into your spinning practice. Then, put your handspun to use with four new projects and plenty of inspiration to create your own natural fiber masterpiece.

Articles

• Park and Draft: A Beginning Spindler’s Best Friend by Kate Larson
• The Grain Bag by Tom Knisely
• Small-Space Natural-Dye Experiments by Andrea Deck
• Knitting Nature and Technology Together: Plant-Dyed Tops, Knitted Afghans, and Digital Mosaics by Brian McCarthy
• An Interview with Andrea Mowry
• Bringing Nature into View: An Endangered Species Challenge for Spinners and Weavers by Dr. Annamarie Hatcher
• Twist in Twining: How to Spin for Two-End Knitting by Joan Goldstein
• The Teachings of Mutton by Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa
• Should You Dehair Llama Fiber? by Nancy Wilson
• Rug Hooking with Handspun Yarn by Betsy Alspach

Projects

• Farmer’s Doubleweave Bread Bag by Tom Knisely
• Growth Pattern Shawl by Jennifer Miller Comstock
• The Nova Scotia Tam: Spinning a Story by Barbara Kelly-Landry
• Versatile Twined Headband by Joan Goldstein

Step into a world of color, pattern, and shimmering effects inspired by the tiny creatures all around us.

The ten projects in this issue celebrate the details that make insects so captivating. You’ll weave a table runner that echoes a distinctive butterfly’s coloration and another that draws on a beetle’s hues and shape. Two scarves use different techniques to create shimmering effects, while a third suggests a drifting flight of dragonflies. There are cheerful ladybug towels, garden-inspired moth towels, butterfly pillow covers woven with a special pick-up technique, and cocoon-like zipper bags shaped on the loom for simple finishing. The collection wraps up with a versatile shawl that can even become a set of playful wings for a child.

Projects explore a range of structures—including plain weave, boundweave, shadow weave, summer and winter, and lots of twills—using cotton, cottolin, bamboo, silk, Tencel, and wool.

You’ll also find articles about drafting and weaving techniques, textile history, and even pest control, including:

• Tom Knisely writes about how to keep bugs and other tiny creatures out of your stash.
• Media Picks reviews a new book about the power of profile drafting.
• Read about the history of two insects and the brilliant reds they give us.
• Learn dozens of ways you can achieve shimmer in your weaving.
• Yarn Lab takes a closer look at Yarn Barn of Kansas’s new Big Dipper and Little Dipper Tencel.

Let your weaving take flight with the ideas you’ll find in Handwoven Spring 2026. 

 

Articles

• Notes from the Fell—A Tale of Moths and Mice, by Tom Knisely
• Two Insects and Their Brilliant Reds, by Sara Temme
• A Bounty of Ways to Weave Shimmer, by Bobbie Irwin
• Media Picks—Profile Drafting for Handweavers, by Deb Essen; reviewed by Lynn Rognsvoog
• Yarn Lab—A Pair of New Tencels for Effortless Weaving, by Samantha Haring
• Endnotes—Weaving with Aloha, by Rebecca Fox

 

Projects

• ON THE COVER: Hawk Moth Dish Towels, by Tina Glassenbury (8-shaft)
• Flight of Dragonflies Scarf, by Shelby Moravec (8-shaft)
• Lucky Ladybug Towels, by Sue Anne Sullivan (7-shaft)
• Woolly Cocoon Bags, by Emily Barth (4-shaft)
• Flights of Fancy, by Malynda Allen (4-shaft)
• Blue Morpho Runner, by Sydney Sogol (8-shaft)
• Shimmering Wings Scarf, by Linda Riley (8-shaft)
• Shimmering Water Scarf, by Annette Swan Schipf (4-shaft)
• Jeweled Beetle Runner, by Rahul Kiran (5-shaft)
• Elusive Butterfly Pillows, by Penny Hajdu (4-shaft)

Strike up the band and get ready to weave something that sings with Easy Weaving with Little Looms Fall 2026. You'll explore the ways weaving and music intersect, with projects inspired by favorite songs and beloved musicians. Whether you're a skilled musician, or the only stringed instrument you play is your loom, you'll find something to love among the issue's 17 gorgeous designs.

Head out to the symphony in style with a lovely black and silver lace shawl inspired by Stevie Nicks, or keep cozy during fall music festivals with a gorgeous gradient pin-loom cowl. Weave a plush pillow and learn a clever method for using two colors of pile in the same pick—no clasping required. You'll also find a golden-hued pin loom submarine, perfect for Beatles fans of any age, a colorful pin-loom scarf made from mini-skeins, and a showstopping tablet-woven mandolin strap.

But that's not all—you'll also:

• Learn how to weave Andean-style pebble weave with a step-by-step tutorial designed for absolute beginners, then put it into practice with a set of sweet heart bracelets.
• Discover how easy it is to weave no-sew tubular doubleweave pouches on flat frame looms, including tips and tricks for warping, weaving, and designing your own variations.
• Turn your favorite song or lyric into a weaving pattern using the name-drafting technique.
• Take your weaving to the next level with easy embellishments: beaded fringe, tasteful tassels, and near-effortless inlay.
• Find out how to use swivels to keep twist build-up at bay in tablet weaving.

Features:

• Composing on the Loom by Yvonne Ellsworth
• How to Weave a No-Sew Pouch by Inci Koker
• A Pebble Weave Primer by Julie Beers

Projects:

• I’m with the Band Bracelets by Julie Beers (inkle/band)
• Laser Light Show Scarf by Gala McCurdy (rigid heddle)
• Silver Springs Shawl by Sedona Rigsby (rigid heddle)
• Night on the Town Scarf by Robin Wilton (rigid heddle)
• Decatonic Scarf by Gabi van Tassell (pin loom)
• True Colors Infinity Scarf by Kelly Sessions (pin loom)
• Singing in the Sun Scarf Stephanie Ford (rigid heddle)
• Sunny Submersible Deborah Bagley (pin loom)
• No-Sew Pick Pocket Inci Koker (frame loom)
• Jam Session Mandolin Strap Angela K. Schneider (inkle/tablet)
• Sight-Reading Spectacle Cases Joan Sheridan (rigid heddle)
• Go for Baroque Pillow Rebecca Fox (rigid heddle)
• Silver Notes Trinket Box Elise Mann (pin loom)
• Ode to Joy Cocktail Napkins Yvonne Ellsworth (rigid heddle)
• Ain’t No Sunshine Towels Carolyn Heacock (rigid heddle)
• Rhapsody in Blue Rug Gabi van Tassell (pin loom)
• Blue Turns to Gray Scarf Kate Kilgus (rigid heddle)

 

Design Outtakes from Noro Magazine 27
A softcover featuring designs using Noro yarn including Saiun, Malvinas, Silk Garden Sock, Silk Garden Sock Solo, Ito, and Kureyon

Design Outtakes from Noro Magazine 26
A softcover featuring designs using Noro yarn including Sonata Shima, Kureyon, Rikka, Bachi, and Sonata

Bring the great outdoors inside with you this winter with new ideas and inspiration from rolling landscapes.

The ten enticing projects in this issue provide a variety of ways for you to experiment with ups and downs. You’ll find a runner in overshot that uses an exuberant yarn for patterning, and another runner with fabric strips outlining honeycomb cells. One scarf has ruffles created by differential shrinkage, and another has a secret passage! We have dish towels with waffles, dish towels with tumbling dice, and dish towels that reward tie-up and treadling explorations. To wrap things up, this issue has a Shetland fringe to weave and dip-dye, and a Shaggy-Bag Story that shows you how to make an actual shaggy bag.

What structures do they use? You’ll find honeycomb, monk’s belt, plain weave (with rya knots), waffle weave, basketweave, doubleweave, overshot, and twill. With projects woven in wool, cotton, Tencel, bamboo, and fabric strips, there’s a lot of variety to experiment with.

You’ll also read about weaving structures and techniques, and much more, including:

• Tom Knisely samples a group of structures that rely on color-and-weave.
• Media Picks considers a pair of books about weaving passementerie.
• Handwoven creator Linda Ligon’s journey from dining room table to publishing powerhouse.
• A weaver and the art prompt that led her to share her creative skills online.
• Yarn Lab’s first look at how the new yarn Zephira compares to the beloved Zephyr.

Plan your wintertime projects with the ideas you’ll find in Handwoven Winter 2025.

Articles

• Notes from the Fell — Sampling Close Color-and-Weave Relations, by Tom Knisely
• 50 Years of Weaving in the House That Linda Built, by Anne Merrow
• 100 Days of Shadow Weave, by Rebecca Winter
• Media Picks — Passementerie, by Jessica Light, and Passementerie, by Elizabeth Ashdown; reviewed by Christina Garton
• Yarn Lab — Still Mourning Zephyr? Please Meet Zephira!, by Denise Bolger Kovnat

Projects

• ON THE COVER: Misty Mountains Runner, by Dana Lutz (8-shaft)
• A Shaggy-Bag Story, by Linda Ligon (2-shaft)
• Magic Ruffles Scarf, by Jennifer Sargent (8-shaft)
• Garden Path Towels, by Malynda Allen (4-shaft)
• Secret Passage Scarf, by Marcia Toms (8- or 4-shaft)
• Blueberry Waffle Towels, by Claudia Tokola (7-shaft)
• Making Waves Runner, by Andrea Williams (4-shaft)
• Dicey Dish Towels, by Sheila O’Hara (16-shaft)
• Birds of a Feather Scarf, by Alison Stewart-Guinee (6- or 4-shaft)
• Book Excerpt — Dip-Dyed Shetland Fringe, by Elizabeth Ashdown (RH or 2-shaft)

As spinners, we rely on a range of tools to make our yarns. From fiber-prep to the spinning itself, having a good tool can make or break your spinning experience. In this issue, expert spinners give their best advice for choosing and using tools to help customize your spinner’s toolbox. Then, explore how spinners repurpose everyday and found objects to prepare their fiber, proving that a tool is what you make it!

You’ll also:

• Uncover the secret of how the tip of your spindle affects your supported spin.
• Discover the surprising connection between handspun yarn and knitting machines.
• Journey to 14,000 feet to learn about spinners and their sheep in the Himalayas.
• Get the most from your drumcarder with four different preparations—all from the same tool!
• Dip your toes into processing a whole fleece in an easy, manageable way.
• Find a pattern to knit a classic stranded colorwork yoke sweater.
• Learn about the challenges—and rewards—of spinning lambswool, and what defines this precious fiber.

Articles:

• Spinning in the Himalayas by Karen Elting Brock
• Handknits Versus Machine: A 400-Year-Old Argument by Pamela K. Schultz
• Curbside Bast: Processing Milkweed Using Thrift-Store Tools by Rowena Zuercher
• Choosing Tools for Fiber Preparation
• Anatomy of Hand Combs by Amy Tyler
• Ready to Buy a Blending Board? Read This First. by Deborah Held
• Find Your Flicker by Riley Kleve
• Why Give a Flick? It Might Be the Pre-Preparation Tool You Need by Gail McCaskill
• Getting the Most from Your Drumcarder: Create Four Fiber Preps with the Same Fiber by Roy Clemes
• Dogwood Scarf: Handcarding a Blend for Warp by Stephanie Ford
• The Tipping Point: Supported-Spindle Tips by Heavenly Bresser
• What is Lambswool? by A. Sabine Schröder-Gravendyck
• Crossbred Combing: Preparing and Spinning a CVM/Wensleydale Fleece by Amy Tyler
• Zero-Waste Spinning: Creating Textured Yarns from Combing Waste and More by Sylvia Smith
• Cut & Sew Handspun Jersey, Revisited by Micki Hair
• My Crewel and Unusual Adventure by Ladianne Henderson

Projects:

• Millefiori Pullover by Sandi Rosner
• Retro Botanical Crewelwork Tote by Ladianne Henderson

 

Now that autumn is on its way, we’re looking at our surroundings with fresh eyes—it’s time to put the beach towels and easy, breezy scarves away for now.

The eleven tempting projects in this issue are tailor-made to freshen up your home for the cooler weather and indoor adventures that lie ahead. We have pillows for extra couch time, rugs to protect your toes from chilly floors, runners to brighten your tables, dinner napkins to customize for family members, a pair of cozy throw projects for curling up with a good book (with ideas for making them your own), towels for your dishes or your guests (one towel project even has a matching wrap!), and a woolly basket to weave for your cold-weather knitting projects.

Wondering about the structures they use? You’ll find krokbragd, shadow weave, doubleweave, rep weave, huck and more huck, canvas weave, and multiple takes on twill, all woven in wool, cotton, linen, cottolin, silk, and old pillowcases.

You’ll also learn about the weaving community and ways we share our skills and knowledge, as well as tools and techniques for draft design, you’ll read about a wool yarn put through its paces, and you might even reconsider how you store your stash:

• Tom Knisely writes about the pleasures of demonstrating weaving in public.
• Read about the next Weave Together with Handwoven retreat.
• Accompany Véronique Perrot as she adjusts her weaving to use the bounty of shafts on her new loom.
• Learn how to use the tools on Handweaving.net to adjust drafts to your particular equipment.
• Yarn Lab takes a closer look at Brown Sheep Company’s Harborside Aran.
• Deb Essen writes about an old fridge and her garage—and what they have to do with her stash.

Get ready for cooler weather with the project ideas you’ll find in Handwoven Fall 2025.

Articles

• Notes from the Fell—The Pleasures of Demonstrating in Public, by Tom Knisely
• Weave Together 2026—You’re Invited to Join Us!, by Lynn Rognsvoog
• Find a Draft, Then Grab a Tool, by Kris Bruland
• Turned Twill on Three Blocks, by Véronique Perrot
• Yarn Lab—Supersized Wool for Cozy (and Speedy) Weaving, by Peggy Hart
• Endnotes—How a New Refrigerator Organized My Stash, by Deb Essen

Projects

• ON THE COVER: Autumn Berries Cushion Cover by Jeremy Uden (8-shaft)
• Zigzag Basket by Annette Swan Schipf (3-shaft)
• Plaid About You Throw by Kathy Broughton (4-shaft)
• Shadow Play Dish Towels by Dorothy Tuthill (4-shaft)
• Stormy Skies Towels by Rebecca Logan (4-shaft)
• Stormy Skies Wrap by Rebecca Logan (4-shaft)
• Prairie School Rug by Debra K. Sharpee (2-shaft)
• Ribbons and Blocks Runner by Véronique Perrot (12-shaft)
• Choose a Path Pillows by Angela K. Schneider (4-shaft)
• Family Dinner Napkins by Susan E. Horton (8-shaft)
• Falling Leaves Runner by Sue Anne Sullivan (8-shaft)

There’s just something about the colors and textures of the forest: fuzzy mosses and lichens cling to rough, brown bark while birds and other animals go about their day. In this Fall 2025 issue of Easy Weaving with Little Looms, we invite you to take a walk in the woods as we explore projects inspired by time spent in the forests we love.

You’ll find projects to enhance your nature walks, including a bottle holder and a coordinating hatband and walking stick leash set. There are also plenty of cozy wraps and scarves to keep you warm on cold, fall days. If spending time in a cabin is more your thing, we’ve got you covered there, too, with a delightful plaid throw, a set of towels in the beautiful browns and grays of the woods, and a cheerful table set with colors inspired by cranberry bogs.

Then, dive into the articles for a different kind of weaving adventure. Check out Alison Irwin’s tutorial to learn how to weave tiny paper baskets and join Wendy Arnott for a journey to the orchard (and the dye pot). Finally, take a trip back in time with Annie MacHale in her article on weaving inkle bands at historical reenactments.

There’s nothing like time spent in the woods and outdoors to stir up creativity—and this issue of Easy Weaving with Little Looms is full of things to discover and learn!

Features:

• Tiny-Treasure Baskets by Alison Irwin
• Natural Dyes from the Orchard by Wendy Arnott
• Backstrap Weaving in the Himalayas by Karen Elting Brock
• Weaving for the Mountain Men by Annie MacHale
• A Deep Dive into Pick-Up and Color in Bands by Annie MacHale

Projects:

• Tiny-Treasure Baskets by Alison Irwin (paper weaving)
• Walkabout Band Set by Joan Sheridan (inkle)
• Lichen Wrap by Rachel Simmons (rigid heddle)
• Hooded Forest Cowl by Susannah Day (rigid heddle)
• Nature Hike Bottle Bag by Angela K. Schneider (rigid heddle and inkle)
• Bed-and-Breakfast Jacket by Wendy Arnott (rigid heddle)
• Katsura Scarf by Yvonne Ellsworth (rigid heddle)
• Timberland Townies Deborah Bagley (pin loom)
• Mountain Memories Cuff by Felicitas Sloves (tapestry)
• Juniper Moss Scarf by Jennifer E. Kwong (rigid heddle)
• Fall Breeze Scarf by Gala McCurdy (rigid heddle)
• Patchwork Baby Blanket by Angela Tong (pin loom)
• Cranberry Bog Table Set by Gabi van Tassell (pin loom)
• Nature Path Towels by Jodi Ybarra (rigid heddle)
• Golden Hour Towels by Michele Marshall (rigid heddle)
• Willow Grove Wrap by Sedona Rigsby (rigid heddle)
• Cabin Kitchen Pot Holder Set by Michele Marshall (rigid heddle)
• Gathering of Plaids Throw by Kelly Sessions (pin loom)

The Spring/Summer 2025 issue is packed full of Knitting and Crochet projects to keep you busy during these summer months. Order your copy today of this incredible magazine featuring over 31 designs using Noro's yarns including Akari Solo, Ohajiki, Akari, Sonata Shima, Sonata, Kompeito, Yukata, Kakigori, Natsumeki, and Kureyon

Features:

Design 01 - Scallop: 3 balls of Akari Solo #21

Design 02 - Cerith: 2-3 balls of Ohajiki #06

Design 03 - Cockle: 2-3 balls of Akari #17, 1 ball of Akari Solo #1

Design 04 - Whelk: 2 hanks of Sonata Shima, 2 hanks of Sonata #38

Design 05 - Tere: 3-4 balls of Ohajiki #02

Design 06 - Sundial 2-4 balls of Kompeito #04

Design 07 - Conch: 3-5 hanks of Sonata #31

Design 08 - Abalone 3-4 balls of Kompeito #06

Design 09 - First Flowers: 3 hanks of Sonata #01, 1 hank of Sonata #16, 1 hank of Sonata #17, 1 hank of Sonata #34, 1 hank of Sonata #25

Design 10 - Mornington: 2 hanks of Sonata #01, 1 hank of Sonata #21

Design 11 - Zarel: 2 hanks of Sonata #02, 1 hank of Sonata #04, 1 hank of Sonata #22, 1 hank of Sonata #16, 1 hank of Sonata #17, 1 hank of Sonata #19, 1 hank of Sonata #20

Design 12 - Maxhill: 2 hanks of Sonata #16

Design 13 - Aster: 1 ball of Yukata #30

Design 14 - Structure: 3-4 balls of Akari #05

Design 15 - Cruise: 3 hanks of Sonata #40

Design 16 - Java: 2 balls of Kakigori #13, 1 ball of Kakigori #34

Design 17 - Trellis 3-4 balls of Kakigori #01

Design 18 - Lattice: 8-11 hanks of Sonata #01

Design 19 - Filigree: 2-4 balls of Ohajiki #12

Design 20 - Wicker: 2-4 balls of Akari #38

Design 21 - Yayoi 2-3 balls of Akari #49

Design 22 - Uzuki 2-3 balls of Akari Solo #31

Design 23 - Satsuki 3-4 balls of Natsumeki #18

Design 24 - Minazuki 2-3 balls of Kompeito #10

Design 25 - Fumizuki 2-3 balls of Kakigori #44

Design 26 - Hazuki 3 balls of Ohajiki #02

Design 27 - Sunny 2 balls of Ohajiki #13

Design 28 - Fruity 1 hank of Sonata #23 1 hank of Sonata #43 1 hank of Sonata #45 1 hank of Sonata #19

Design 29 - Happy 2 balls of Natsumeki #04

Design 30 - Pretty Pig 1 skein of Kureyon #102

Design 31 - Roly Poly 1 skein of Kureyon #102

Bonus Design: Colorful Cuddles 2 balls of Natsumeki #03

Softcover 
96 Pages
Published by SoHo Publishing

Balance in spinning is intensely personal, so to help you find your balance, this issue is full of tips from spinners who have found ways to spin balanced yarns of all kinds—and even some that are intentionally unbalanced! Join us as we dive into the rich history of antique flax and the vibrant global spinning community that has grown around it. Find helpful articles that will help you balance your yarn, no matter what you want to spin, plus a comprehensive guide on how to troubleshoot your twist when things don’t go quite as expected.

You’ll also:

• Learn ways to spin beyond the braid.
• Find out why nepps happen, how to prevent them, and what to do when you find them in your fiber.
• Discover the spinning measurements that really matter when it comes to spinning a balanced yarn.
• Use up leftover handspun yarns with quick and easy rigid heddle overshot and kumihimo braiding projects.
• Spin the perfect yarn for a drapey lace cowl.

 

Articles

• Balance Basics: A Troubleshooting Guide by Kate Larson
• Plying Your Craft by Alden Amos
• More than WPI: Using Yarn Measurements to Become a More Balanced Spinner by Vanessa Bjerreskov
• Never Say Never: Learning to Love Wool, Silk & Flax Blends by Pamela K. Schultz
• Gathering Flax, Sharing Stories: How Antique Flax Can Connect Us to the Past by Christiane Seufferlein
• “Ugly” Braid, Beautiful Skein by Ladianne Henderson
• From Braid to Blend by Greta Cornejo
• Overplying, That’s the Point by Amelia Garripoli
• Nepps and Milling Breakage: A Lesson on Imperfection by Lisa Mitchell

 

Projects

• Pearl Lace Cowl by Inna Voltchkova and Vanessa Bjerreskov
• Blue Diamond Braid by Angela K. Schneider
• Even Your Odds: A Rigid-Heddle Overshot Project for Handspun Odds and Ends by Andrea Deck
• Energized Singles: Texture, Shape & Woven Cloth by Christina Chisholm

Master color with the projects and articles in Easy Weaving with Little Looms Summer 2025, featuring asymmetrical checks and stripes, slow color shifts, vibrant variegated yarns, and more color explorations.

With 18 projects to choose from, you’ll discover new ways to color your world. Weave a color-changing pin-loom chameleon and rigid-heddle towels with colors that melt into one another. You’ll also find a tartan scarf woven using pin-loom squares, a twisted rainbow inkle cord, and a supplemental warp runner with a pattern that absolutely pops! 

Along with the colorful collection of projects, you’ll find articles designed to help you take your designs to a new level. Learn to use different types of variegated yarns in both the warp and weft, explore color gradients in bandweaving, and discover a technique for color blending in pin-loom weaving. 

Whether you prefer your projects to be subtle and sophisticated or bright and bold, you’ll find something to love in this issue.

-- 

Features:

Never Say Never Again by Tom Knisely
Brilliant Bands with Gradients by Julie Beers
Why and How to Weave Pin-Loom Color Gamps by Gabi van Tassell
Weaving and Designing with Variegated Yarns by Tammy Bast
Pooled Warping for Color Blending by Kelly Sessions
 

Projects:

Color Me Happy Baby Blanket by Margaret Stump (pin loom)
Tidepool Towels by Christine Jablonski (rigid heddle)
Confetti Towels by Eloise DeHaan (rigid heddle)
Triveni Pillow by Shilpa Nagarkar (rigid heddle)
Infinite Lace Cowl by Angela Tong (pin loom)
Planned Random Runner by Susan E. Horton (rigid heddle)
Bonny Tartan Scarf by Hazel Spencer (pin loom)
Chromatic Chameleon by Deborah Bagley (pin loom)
Dots and Dashes Runner by Dana Lutz (rigid heddle)
Bermuda Blue Triangle Scarf by Kelly Sessions (pin loom)
Waterfall Towels by Malynda Allen (rigid heddle)
Peacock Scarf and Wrap by Annabelle Johnstone (rigid heddle)
Purple Rain Scarf by Angela Tong (rigid heddle)
Stepping Stones Scarf by Tammy Bast (rigid heddle)
Paint-Box Poncho by Sara C. Bixler (rigid heddle)
Tropical Sunrise Towels by Michele Marshall (rigid heddle)
Colorful Clasped Scarves by Robin Lynde (rigid heddle)
Spectrum Spectacles Cord by Alison Irwin (inkle)
Author/Designer: Little Looms Editors

Join us as we celebrate color in all its beautiful forms in our fifth annual color issue. Whether you prefer naturally colored sheep’s wool or rainbow hues created by indie dyers, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your next spin.

Discover ways to manipulate colors in your braid or blend for the perfect results every time—and learn a natural-dye technique that adds shade and depth to your skeins using ingredients you probably already have at home.

You’ll also:

Find resources to help you learn about color theory the easy way. 
Learn how to make a custom fractal striped yarn using primary colors and discover why some blends stay brilliant while others turn into mud.
Take your color blending a step further with gradients that don’t mix!
Travel to Île d’Ouessant to discover a flock of tiny sheep that have deep black fleeces and sweet faces.
Put your handspun to use! With a classic knit beanie, a beautiful and useful woven tote, and a cuddly crochet pillow, you’re sure to find inspiration for your next project.
We hope you’ll play with these techniques and ideas and discover a new favorite spin on color.

 

Articles

Wearable Marls: Exploring Color in a Narrow Value Range by Amanda Buckley
Three’s Company: Try Adding Neutrals to Your Gradient Color Transitions by Meagan Condon
Fractal Stripes from Blended Tops by Becks of Tiny Fibre Studio
The Black Sheep of Île d’Ouessant by Holly Callahan-Kasmala
Tannin and Iron: The Art and Science of Deeper Shades by Kenya Miles
Color Alchemy: Modifying Dyed Fibers with Tannin and Iron by Magan Wilson 
Stone and Stitch: Designer Lalitha Alwan’s Jasper-Inspired Handspun Collection by Lalitha Alwan
 

Projects

Evergreen Marls Hat by Amanda Buckley
Twilight Fade Crochet Pillow by Connie Lee Lynch
Blooming Twill Tote by Malynda Allen

We invite you to welcome springtime along with Handwoven. From airy scarves to lacy table linens, and a painterly wall-hanging to a light jacket for breezy days—the ten enticing projects in this issue will help lighten up your weaving as the days lengthen.

Are you intrigued by lace, drawn to doubleweave, or curious about sashiko? In the mood for inlay, or obsessed with stripes? Whatever your preference, there’s a project here to spark your creative spirit. And in keeping with the season’s gentler weather, you’ll find scarves and towels using silk, mohair, or linen, as well as cotton and Tencel.

Then, expand your weaving skills and understanding with the articles and features in this issue.

• Tom Knisely writes about the value of textiles, from how to set a price for your weaving to how much you’ll pay for the work of others—and the surprising reasons those prices can vary widely. 
• Karen Donde reviews a comprehensive and important new book about how to weave optical illusions.
• Feeling confused about color? Tien Chiu explains how and why you can weave dramatically different pieces on the same warp—simply by changing your tie-up.
• Learn to use a handful of beads (or short pieces of drinking straws!) to create leno lace without doups or pick-up sticks.
• Meet a web tool meant for embroidery patterns, and learn about using it to easily create your own sashiko weaving drafts.

Moving around the world, Karen Brock gives us a glimpse of a remote Nepalese village where weavers are hanging on to their traditions in the wake of the pandemic. And you’ll learn about eri and how it is produced in a brief excerpt from Karen Selk’s recent book about wild silk.   

Embrace the season with the easy breezy, light and lacy ideas you’ll find in Handwoven Spring 2025.

 

Articles:

• Notes from the Fell—Thoughts About the Nature of Value, by Tom Knisely
• Knotted-Pile Weaving Tradition Endures, for Now, by Karen Elting Brock
• Color Lab—Magic in the Tie-Up, by Tien Chiu
• Create Sashiko Weaving Drafts with Ease, by Mary McConnell
• Eri Silk Runs Deep in Assam, by Karen Selk
• Weaving Leno? Let Beads Do the Work! by Annette Swan Schipf
• Endnotes—A Gift of Yarn, by Eloise DeHaan

 

Projects:

• Sweet Linen and Lace Towels by Malynda Allen (4-shaft)
• Lighter than Air Shawl by Véronique Perrot (2- or 4-shaft)
• Sunset Reflections wall hanging by Rebecca Smith (2- or 4-shaft)
• Cherry Blossom Scarf by Yvonne Ellsworth (4-shaft)
• Sashiko Trails Table Linens by Mary McConnell (8-shaft)
• Sugar Plum Lace Scarf by Susan Du Bois and Robin Wilton (4-shaft)
• Shades of Flax Towels by Dana Lutz (4-shaft)
• Mosaic Tiles Scarf by Eileen Lee (8-shaft)
• Spring Breeze Jacket by Annette Swan Schipf (4-shaft)
• City Circuits Scarf by Kate Lange McKibben (8-shaft)

Natural fibers—wool, silk, cotton, alpaca, flax—have traveled along with us through human history. They provide us with warmth and protection and so much creative exploration. Despite the antiquity of these fibers, they are constantly changing in our modern hands. In this issue, we dive into the history of natural fibers, see how makers in other parts of the world use the fibers in their landscapes, and learn innovative ways to blend colors to get the palettes and textures you want. With two different tutorials and three different projects, you’ll put your handspun to good use. 

• Learn how to make a textured yarn by plying with curly locks the easy way. Then, knit Sivia Harding’s cozy Equinox Cowl.
• Travel to India with Karen Selk as she explores wild eri silk in the fertile river valleys of Assam.
• Find out the difference between wool and hair, and why it matters. Spin and knit a pair of Icelandic socks to see it in action.
• Discover how Cusco’s spinners reinvent the sheep-to-shawl idea by spinning an entire alpaca blanket in one day.
• We hope this issue inspires you to join us in celebrating the perfect blend of tradition and innovation.

Articles

• A Cusco Spin-In: From Alpaca to Yarn in a Day by Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez and Linda Ligon
• Time Traveling with Swiss Valais Blacknose Sheep by Rowena Zuercher
• In Search of Wild Silk: Eri—Samia ricini by Karen Selk
• An Artist’s Approach to Carding Color: Build Palettes with Value Keys by Kim McKenna
• Wool or Hair: Should Handspinners Care? By Dr. Annamarie Hatcher
• Eph Jensen Livestock: Maintaining a Family Tradition of Sheep Ranching in Utah by Sandi Rosner
  

Projects

• Equinox Cowl by Sivia Harding
• Textured Yarn Tutorial: Adding Locks as an Intermittent Third Ply by Amy Tyler
• Woven Shadows with Naturally Colored Cotton by Rebecca Winter
• En Plein Air Half-Mitts by Diana Twiss

The Fall/Winter 2025 issue is packed full of Knitting and Crochet projects to keep you busy during these winter months. Order your copy today of this incredible magazine featuring over 31 designs using Noro's yarns including Malvinas, Ito, Saiun, Rikka, Kureyon, Haunui Silk, Rittou, Silk Garden, Silk Garden Sock Tweed, Silk Garden Sock, Silky Kid, Madara, Silk Garden Sock Solo, Tasogare, and Silk Garden Solo.

Features:

Design 01 - Beatrix  Cardigan: 3-5 balls of Malvinas #18; 2-3 balls of Ito #48
Design 02 - Alexia: Transeasonal Wide Scarf: 1 ball of Saiun #11; 1 ball of Saiun #08
Design 03 - Rosamund: Patterned Lapghan: 3 balls of Rikka #08
6 skeins of Kureyon #211
Design 04 - Philippa Pullover: 3-5 hanks of Haunui Silk #119; 1-2 balls of Rittou #07
Design 05 - Zaria Vest: 2-3 balls of Rittou #01; 1-2 balls of Rittou #07
Design 06 - Baba au Rhum Hat: 1-2 skeins of Kureyon #263; 1 skein of Kureyon #211
Design 07 - Millefeuille Hat: 1-2 skeins of Kureyon #466; 1-2 skeins of Kureyon #211
Design 08 - Macaron Hat: 1-2 skeins of Kureyon #463; 1-2 skeins of Kureyon #211
Design 09 - Aurea Pullover: 7-11 skeins of Silk Garden #269; 2-4 skeins of Silk Garden #341
Design 10 - Cabochons Cowl and Fingerless Mitts: 1 skein of Silk Garden Sock Tweed #T16; 1 skein of Silk Garden Sock #S530
Design 11 - Twin Peaks Oversized Tunic: 3-4 balls of Malvinas #19; 1-2 balls of Malvinas #05; 1-2 balls of Malvinas #04; 1-2 balls of Malvinas #03; 1-2 balls of Malvinas #07; 1-2 balls of Malvinas #28
Design 12 - Squared Pullover: 3-4 skeins of Kureyon #40; 3-4 skeins of Kureyon #344; 3-4 skeins of Kureyon #359; 3-4 skeins of Kureyon #124
Design 13 - Water Lilies Blanket: 8 skeins of Kureyon #359; 7 skeins of Kureyon #40
Design 14 - Star Shawl: 7 sekins of Kureyon #359; 5 skeins of Kureyon #211
Design 15 - Neptune Vest: 8-12 skeins of Kureyon #40
Design 16 - Ruby Rose Tunic: 12-15 skeins of Silk Garden #84; 5-7 balls of Silky Kid #23
Design 17 - Medley Pullover: 1 ball of Malvinas #07; 2-3 balls of Malvinas #04; 4-5 hanks of Madara #13; 1 hank of Madara #16
Design 18 - Merge Vest: 1-2 balls of Saiun #08; 2-3 skeins of Silk Garden Sock Solo #S87
Design 19 - Melange V-Neck Pullover: 1-2 hanks of Haunui Silk #119; 2-3 balls of Tasogare #08; 2-3 balls of Tasogare #07
Design 20 - Gilmer Top: 1-2 skeins of Silk Garden Sock Tweed #T20; 1-2 skeins of Silk Garden Sock Tweed #T15; 1-2 skeins of Silk Garden Sock Solo #S85; 1-2 skeins of Silk Garden Sock Solo #S84
Design 21 - Crissy Granny Square Pullover: 4-5 balls of Saiun #11
Design 22 - Dionne Cardigan: 2 balls of Rittou #01; 2-3 balls of Rittou #07
Design 23 - Cassie Pullover: 4-5 hanks of Haunui Silk #119; 2 hanks of Haunui Silk #124; 1 hank of Haunui Silk #121; 1 hank of Haunui Silk #120
Design 24 - Hanawa Pullover: 3-4 balls of Rikka #20
Design 25 - Sumida Pullover: 2-5 skeins of Silk Garden Sock Solo #S100
Design 26 - Seigaiha Pullover: 3-4 balls of Saiun #08
Design 27 - Koyo Pullover: 4-6 skeins of Kureyon #481
Design 28 - Kamakura Vest: 7-11 skeins of Silk Garden Solo #101
Design 29 - Ipomoea Pullover: 3-4 balls of Ito #86
Design 30 - Short Story Topper: 4-6 skeins of Silk Garden Solo #61
Design 31 - Knit-along Blanket An Alchemy of Stitches: 8 skeins of Silk Garden Solo #61; 14 skeins of Silk Garden #87; 8 skeins of Silk Garden Solo #43

Bonus Design: Color Wheel Cowl: 1 skein of Silk Garden Solo #82; 1 skein of Silk Garden Solo #43; 1 skein of Silk Garden Solo #80; 1 skein of Silk Garden Solo #61

Softcover 
96 Pages
Published by SoHo Publishing

Take a journey through the best art museums in the world with the Winter 2024 issue of Easy Weaving with Little Looms, dedicated to weaving inspired by works of art. Within these pages, you’ll find some pin-loom sunflowers inspired by Vincent van Gogh, a clever cubist landscape tapestry, and mug rugs modeled after Anni Albers’ weaving. Bring the gallery to your loom with projects inspired by Pointillism, Expressionism, Cubism, Americana, Surrealism, and more.

The issue is also chock full of articles designed to get your own creative juices flowing. Learn to turn snapshots into small tapestries by focusing on color and simple shapes. Follow the creative process of three designers as they share how they went from an inspiring piece of art to a finished woven project. You’ll also learn the basics of color psychology and how to apply it in your own weaving. On the more technical side, you’ll find an article on how to warp your rigid-heddle loom front to back—perfect for handpainted warps.

We hope this issue will inspire you to create your own woven work of art, whether it’s one of the many beautiful projects or something completely unique.

 
-- 

Features:

The Emotional Palette: Weaving with the Power of Color Pyscology by Jocelyn Warren
The Loom as Artistic Tool by Lauren Puchowski
Inspired by Fabergé Eggs by Greta Holmstrom
A Motif in Honor of Matisse Andrea Deck
Look, Listen, and Learn: Tumble Cubes by Regina McInnes
Weaving to Wear: Adding Knitting by Judith Shangold
Why and When to Warp a Rigid-Heddle Loom Front to Back by Michele Marshall
 
Projects:

Waterfall Scarf by Michele Marshall (rigid heddle)
Coffee with Anni by Yvonne Ellsworth (rigid heddle)
Draped in Danaë by Michele Marshall (rigid heddle)
Water Lilies Runner by Margaret Stump (pin loom)
Vincent’s Sunflowers by Deborah Bagley (pin loom)
The Strawberry Thieves by Gabi van Tassell (pin loom)
Intersecting Light Placemats by Jodi Ybarra (rigid heddle)
Rags to Riches Clutch by Jennifer B. Williams (inkle)
Cubist Landscape Tapestry by Sheleigh Peers (tapestry)
Amaranth Stole by Gabi van Tassell (pin loom)
Sweet Americana Linens by Malynda Allen (rigid heddle)
Vatika Pillow Cover by Shilpa Nagarkar (rigid heddle)
Bauhaus Pillow by Jennifer Chapman (pin loom)
Windowpane Wrap by Christine Jablonski (rigid heddle)
Infinity Loop Shrug by Sara C. Bixler (rigid heddle)
Mondrian on the Go by Deborah Bagley (pin loom)
Author/Designer: Little Looms Editors

Get your creativity flowing, and weave something out of the ordinary! This issue features ten tempting projects in corduroy, summer and winter, barleycorn, honeycomb, and more, to energize and delight you. 

Whether you live for bright (or subtle) colors, are intrigued by curves, find yourself drawn to a particular texture (we’ve got smooth, fluffy, and satiny), or have a knitting stash to deploy, there’s a project here for you. (Psst! If you’re wondering what a twill is, Madelyn van der Hoogt lays it all out for you.)

Beyond the projects, the articles and features in this issue will help you create new weaving connections. You can catch up on Handwoven’s robust new life with owner Anne Merrow. In Notes from the Fell, Tom Knisely writes about old-fashioned laundry tools—and the one he still uses while finishing handwovens. Yarn Lab tests a silk that weaves into cloth with incredible drape and hand.

Are you a big sports fan? Read the article that explains how to make a custom scarf with your team’s logo or graphics. Follow one weaver’s journey from the most complex loom to a simple rigid heddle, and another’s experience teaching adults with disabilities.

Explore weaves beyond twill and try something new with Handwoven Fall 2024!

 

Articles:

With New Ownership, Handwoven Flourishes by Anne Merrow
Notes from the Fell—Scrub-a-Dub-Dub by Tom Knisely
Show Your Team Spirit by Claudia Tokola
From Jacquard to Rigid Heddle by Yvonne Ellsworth
Weaving a Fabric of Connection by Lory Widmer Hess
The Draft: What Is a Twill? by Madelyn van der Hoogt
Yarn Lab—The Silk May Not Be Smooth, but the Weaving Sure Is by Christine Jablonski
Endnotes—How Did I Get Here? by Lynn Rognsvoog
 
Projects:

Vis-à-Vis Runner by Sheila O’Hara (16-shaft)
Autumn Jewel Scarf by Véronique Perrot (4-shaft)
Rainbow Sherbet Towels by Malynda Allen (2-shaft)
Dizzy Drones Honeycomb Pillows by Rebecca Fox (4-shaft)
A Taste of Sonoma Scarf by Robin Monogue (4-shaft)
Blue Willow Towels by Susie Hodges (4-shaft)
Corduroy Patch Pillow by Sue Anne Sullivan (6-shaft)
Taqueté All Day Tote by Annette Swan Schipf (8-shaft)
Gilded Amethyst Scarf by Laurie Brown (8-shaft)
Mod Block Towels by Tracy Kaestner (6-shaft)

Explore the best of fiber combinations with the Fall 2024 issue of Easy Weaving with Little Looms. From projects woven out of beautiful blends to cloth that combines yarn types for spectacular effects, this issue is all about how weavers mix and match fibers. 

Further your fiber education with the Fiber 101 article, and then take a deep dive into the world of Angora rabbits. Frequent Little Looms designer and Angora rabbit breeder Greta Holmstrom shares what makes these rabbits so special—and why their fiber is usually blended. One of the best ways to understand yarn is to make it yourself, so we’ve got an article by Debbie Held on how her experience as a handspinner has made her a better weaver—even when using store bought yarn. Also, in this issue, learn how easy it can be to design and weave yardage for your own no-sew vest from Judith Shangold and get the details on how to use pick and pick and wavy lines in tapestries in the last installment of Tapestry Weaving.
 
The projects offer hands-on lessons for using blends and combining fibers. In this issue, you’ll find some twilight inspired towels woven in cottolin, a set of elegant baskets woven out of a paper-linen blend, a runner that mixes cottons with a thick wool for a hint of differential shrinkage, and two inkle-woven bracelets that show how adding a bit of rayon to cottolin can really up the shine.
 
Weavers of all skill levels are sure to love these fiber duos (and trios!). Sometimes blends are just better.
-- 

Features:

String Theory: Fiber 101—The Basics by Amy Tyler
How Learning to Spin can Make you a Better Weaver by Debbie Held 
Behind the Yarn: Angora Rabbits by Greta Holmstrom
The Rebel Loom: A Rigid Heddle History by Michele Marshall 
Excerpt: Rustic Linen Placemats by Anita Osterhaug 
Tapestry Weaving: Pick and Pick and Wavy Lines by Elena Kawachi and Claudia Chase 
Weaving to Wear: Using Your Stash by Judith Shangold
 
Projects:

Harvest Festival Runner by Jennifer Kwong (rigid heddle)
The Queenslander Scarf by Annabelle Johnstone (rigid heddle)
Orchard Harvest Mittens by Dana Rebmann (pin loom)
Orchard Harvest Cowl by Dana Rebmann (pin loom)
Red Brick Road Towels by Regina McInnes (rigid heddle)
Pin-Loom Pumpkin Patch by Deb Bagley (pin loom)
Desert Twilight Towels by Malynda Allen (rigid heddle)
Shifting Light Placemats by Brittany Wells (rigid heddle)
Lotus Flower Baskets by Gabi van Tassell (pin loom)
Take-Along Journal Covers by Meg Stump (pin loom)
Autumn Bouquet Scarf by Charles Davis (rigid heddle)
Jaunty Angora Tam by Greta Holmstrom (pin loom)
Snuggly Skip-Dent Scarf by Sedona Rigsby (rigid heddle)
Pretty in Plum Purse by Jennifer Chapman (pin loom)
Ocean Sunrise Scarf by Gala McCurdy (rigid heddle)
A Touch of Turquoise by Alison Irwin (inkle)
Author/Designer: Little Looms Editors

The Medieval period was one of astounding artistry and dazzling designs. Incredible art, architecture, literature, and, of course, textiles came from this time period. For Easy Weaving with Little Looms Summer 2024, we’re taking a trip back to the Middle Ages with an issue full of Medieval-inspired cloth with a modern twist.

In this issue, you’ll find a pin-loom pillow inspired by an Incan tunic, a rigid-heddle runner with weft floats meant to evoke gothic stained glass, and a set of towels fit for a king. There’s also a gorgeous inkle head adornment based on a Persian hair bead. Of course, you can’t have a medieval issue without dragons. In this issue, you’ll find both a sweet pin-loom dragon and a tablet-woven band with dragon motifs.

As wonderful as the projects are, the articles are equally as exciting. Find out how to braid like a Viking as you read about the mysterious history of the lucet, and then follow a tutorial on how to use one to create braids. Learn two different methods for setting up your rigid-heddle loom for weaving krokbragd (it’s easier than you think!). For those wanting a history lesson, Michele Marshall writes about the long history of reusing and repurposing cloth in medieval Europe, while Sun Kim explains how the history of Korea inspired her scarf design for this issue. There’s so much more to this Summer 2024 issue of Easy Weaving with Little Looms—we hope you enjoy this blast from the past!

--

Features:

Elusive Lucetby Catarina Ferreira
How to Braid with a Lucetby Catarina Ferreira
String Theory: Krokbragd on a Rigid-Heddle Loomby Kelly Cassanova
Reclaiming Fashion: Lessons Learned from Historyby Michele Marshall
Excerpt: Domino Scarf from Crazyshot! Wearables by Myra Wood
Tapestry Weaving: Irregular Hatchingby Elena Kawachi and Claudia Chase
Cotton, Hanbok, and the Inspiration for a Scarfby Sun Kim
Projects:

Estonian Folk Bandsby Laia Robichaux (inkle)
Peruvian Pillow by Anthony Thompson(pin loom)
Bookmarks of Kells by Susan J. Foulkes(inkle)
Dragon Flight by Deborah Bagley(pin loom)
Here Be Dragons! by Julie Beers(card/tablet)
Tasseled Mead Cozy by Deborah Bagley(pin loom)
Gemstone Nightstand Runners by Christine Jablonski(rigid heddle)
Camelot Towels by Malynda Allen(rigid heddle)
Gothic Glass Table Runner by Jennifer E. Kwong(rigid heddle)
Lotus Mosaic Runner by Greta Holmstrom(pin loom)
Silk Diamonds Table Runner by Michele Marshall(rigid heddle)
Illumination Scarf by Gala McCurdy(rigid heddle)
Bronson Lace Capelet by Margaret Stump(pin loom)
Timeless Shore Temple Vest by Aarthi Neelakrishnan(rigid heddle)
Bayeux Tapestry Bag by Gabi van Tassell(pin loom)
Bejeweled Headband by Jennifer B. Williams(inkle)
Song of Spinning Wheel Scarf by Sun Kim(rigid heddle)
Author/Designer: Handwoven Editors

 

Bast fibers like linen, hemp, and bamboo have been used for thousands of years. Recently, however, they have gained popularity in the weaving world in part due to their eco-friendliness—many bast fibers require fewer resources to produce, and they often come from renewable plant sources. Fabrics woven with bast yarns have a rustic yet refined beauty, and the yarns are known for their strength.

This issue features 11 projects that showcase bast fibers in various ways. In addition to the expected linen towels and curtains, there are surprises such as a hemp runner, a runner woven using a combination of cotton and raffia, pineapple yarn placemats, and baby blankets with hemp and bamboo wefts. The Yarn Lab explores weaving balanced cloth with a new hemp yarn.

Many of the articles in the issue have a reflective aspect. There are pieces on how to continue weaving as you age, the intrinsic value of handmade items, and journaling your weaving and your life. Tom Knisely takes readers on a tour of a production weaver’s studio, and Rebecca Fox invites you to a special island with a unique indigo dye studio.

If bast isn’t yet in your stash, this may be the time to add it! Enjoy this beautiful issue that celebrates the wonder of plant-based bast.

 

Articles:

• What’s Happening – Over/Under at the Mingei by Christina Garton
• Notes from the Fell –Production Weaving by Tom Knisely
• A Covid Journal by Toby Smith
• What’s Happening – Weave Together With Handwoven Retreat by Christina Garton
• Island Indigo: A Visit to the Daufuskie Blues Studio by Rebecca Fox
• Vintage Weavers: Staying Connected and Upbeat by Cynthia Evetts and Tina Fletcher
• Yarn Lab – Going Boldly in a Hemp Exploration by Robin Lynde
• Endnotes – The Intangible Value of Handmade by Regina McInnes

Projects:

• Indigo Windows by Rebecca Fox (6-shaft)
• Ribbons of Rosepath Blankets by Malynda Allen (4-shaft)
• Bamboo Panda by Deborah Bagley (pin loom)
• Versatile Cowl in Twill by Christine Jablonski (4-shaft)
• Freeform Shawl by Dawn Hummer (4-shaft)
• Elegant Hemp Runner by Robin Monogue (4-shaft)
• Rosepath and Raffia Runner by Kate Lange-McKibben (4-shaft)
• Rustic Pineapple Placemats by Jacquie Crema (RH or 2-shaft)
• Top Banana Table Topper by Sue Anne Sullivan (4-shaft)
• Linen Towel for Margaret by Karen Leach (8-shaft)
• Bespoke Wedding Towels by Susan E. Horton (4-shaft)