Back in 2016, Anne Merrow, then the editor of SpinOff, asked me if I wanted to help her with a new specialty one-off magazine she was putting together, a magazine devoted to weaving on small looms. I said, “Of course—absolutely!” And so Easy Weaving with Little Looms was born, and as the magazine went out into the world, we crossed our fingers that people would love it as much as we did and we’d have a second issue. Little did I know then that someday I would be editor of the now 4-times-a-year Easy Weaving with Little Looms. I’m so proud of how much Easy Weaving with Little Looms has grown over the years, and I’m also excited to welcome you all to the new Little Looms website.
One of the (many) joys of working on Easy Weaving with Little Looms has been publishing so many beautiful, useful, and sometimes downright whimsical projects that might not find homes elsewhere. I love publishing projects such as Margaret Stump’s (Not So) Big Bad Wolf Scarf from the Summer 2019 issue, that are designed to fill the weaver with delight.
Margaret Stump's (Not So) Big Bad Wolf Scarf. Photo credit: George Boe
Part of my goal with every issue of Easy Weaving with Little Looms has always been to provide projects for weavers of just about every level. Ideally brand-new weavers should be able to find something to weave in each issue and build their skills with each new project they try within that same issue. I hope this website serves the same purpose: I’m hoping to make this website the home of everything Little Looms and little looms–related for weavers of all levels.
Sara Bixler’s Rainbow Connection Shawl from the Summer 2017 issue. Photo credit: George Boe
Here you’ll find bonus articles not found in the magazine, subscriber exclusives, tutorials, free projects, and so much more. We’re also making it easier than ever to find information on the type or types of small-loom weaving that most interest you. If you scroll to the top of the homepage, you’ll see icons for each of the primary types of weaving covered in every issue of Easy Weaving with Little Looms—rigid heddle, pin loom, tapestry, tablet, and inkle. Clicking those icons will take you to articles, tutorials, and other posts related to that particular type of weaving, and you’ll also see those icons on articles, so you’ll know at a glance what we’re writing about.
If you scroll down to the very bottom of the page, you’ll find links to our index, calls for submission, and editorial calendars as well as a sign-up for the new Little Looms newsletter so you can keep up to date with the latest Little Looms happenings and offering on this new website.
Of course, we couldn’t do this without you, our readers and small-loom weavers, so if you have ideas for content you’d like to see on the website, let me know. I’ve already got a short list of tutorials I want to share and designers and authors I plan to ask to write for us.
The Fiddler on the Beach camera strap by Laia Robichaux from the Spring 2022 issue. Photo credit: Matt Graves
I don’t think I can ever adequately put into words what Little Looms has meant to me over the years. As a parent of 2 small children (both of whom were born while I was frantically trying to put the finishing touches on issues of Little Looms), I know small-loom weaving has helped me reclaim and retain my identity as a weaver because I’m able to set up and weave on my looms just about anywhere in my house and yard.
Whether you were with us from that very first issue in 2016 or are only joining the Little Looms party now, I’m so glad you’re here.
Christina Garton