Little Loom Weaving: Quick and Clever Projects for Creating Adorable Stuff

There are a bunch of new books out on tapestry weaving, and this is one of the good ones! Its well written and the explanations are clear and easy to follow, and while it serves to introduce the craft of weaving, it also gives a good grounding by introducing weaving terms, the rules of tapestry weaving and the basic stitches used so that if you want to learn more, you will know what to call things and how to ask the right questions.The book is divided into 4 sections covering tools, yarns, basic tapestry techniques and 15 projects. The author is thorough in the first three sections and shows how to create a tapestry from go to whoa, starting with a basic store bought loom and including colour theory, the yarns to use and a handy chart so you can work their size out, several different stitches to create variety in your work, and how you finish off properly with hemstitching.There is a good selection of projects, starting with making your own loom, if you want to start off that way. Each project builds on the previous one, with plenty of room for adapting them to your own tastes. These include simple wall tapestries, which are great for experimenting with and practicing new stitches, a circular wall hanging, working with different yarns, threads and tops, and there are bracelets and a necklace, a plant hanger, and a cushion. These are all modern designs and show the variety that exists in contemporary weaving.If you want to learn to weave for the sheer pleasure of seeing what yarn stretched out on a frame can do, then this book gives you the techniques to do just that, and you will get a lot of ideas from here that you can adapt, and enough skills to take inspiration from the world around you to create your own individual pieces. If you want to go on to more formal tapestry weaving what you have learned from this book will stand you in good stead so you will go into further study knowing the basics and understanding what tapestry weaving involves. If you decide to graduate to a rigid heddle loom, generally the next step, you can use that loom as well when you want to weave a small tapestry, and again what you learn from this book will help you make the transition.All in all, its a good book to get you started, one of the better ones, and should give hours of pleasure as you work your way through it. It also help you understand just how cloth is made and that the only purpose a loom serves is to hold the warp in place and under tension while you weave, which is why a twig or a piece of driftwood can make the perfect loom if you want it to be part of your design.

I should have noticed that Big Ideas on the back cover probably meant more wall hangings than anything else… it has a perplexing branch weaving project that I’m not sure what I would do with- maybe decorate a yard? Anyway, there are bracelets, a necklace made of yarn, a keychain and there is a pillow called Boho but I think really you could make it look like anything you wanted in the end. Overall this was a little more, um, southwestern than I anticipated in it's design. Or maybe I’m way off. I did like seeing a project to make your own loom, and I do appreciate that a lot because some of the smaller looms are still very expensive! I had also bought another weaving book, and while that has more projects I like, this one had a more simple beginners section that was easier for me to follow along.***** Update- after using this a little longer I realized this had more to offer than I originally thought!! And I made one of the pillows for my mother in law and she really liked it, loved showing it off that I had made it. ***

I love this book! I've been getting into weaving lately and picked this up because of the beautiful images in the book and the easy to follow directions! If you're looking for weaving jewelry this isn't the book for you but this is a great book for someone just getting into weaving, like me, and would like to make gifts for loved ones and aroud the house! The patterns in this book are fun, trendy and things that I actually want to gift people and put in our own home. This book is really great for people at any skill set, I can see if you're an experienced weaver you might not be a fan, but honestly, I love the easy to follow directions and imagery, it's what sold me on the book and it's what makes it easy to pick it up and work on a new project. I just started working on the woven necklace for a friend! It is coming along great thus far. This book has been making it easy to make progress. Highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to switch up what they're making but doesn't have the experience to dream it up themselves yet.

This is a great book for anyone wanting to learn loom weaving. Projects are quick and clever, perfect for a beginner. Illustrations are beautiful. All tools and supplies needed for weaving are explained and pictured. I especially like the instructions on making your own loom. The author does an excellent job of explaining and showing weaving techniques with step by step instructions. About half of the projects are wall hangings, a pillow, a keychain, coaster, necklace and a hanging planter. This is basic weaving and learning to use the tools and terms for weaving. I do that like that there are step by step pictures and instructions how to create basic shapes like triangles and blocks. This will be a great gift for any crafter.

The beauty of Little Loom Weaving is it benefits the new weaver and the experienced weaver – both will learn and be inspired by this book, as it is much more than a “how to weave” book. My daughter is a new weaver and read the information regarding weaving looms and tools and she got clear understanding of yarns and all that is needed to get started with weaving. The illustrations are excellent, allowing the reader to actually see the weaving techniques. I am an experienced weaver and appreciated many of the new weaving techniques and weaving color theory, illustrated with a color wheel, and the benefits of the warp for weaving. But the real benefit of Little Loom Weaving comes with the projects. Weaving is not an art until something is actually made, and the variety of projects (with clear directions) is amazing. The difficulty level is helpful and motivating. The ideas are endless!

I'm so happy i found this book!! I was looking to learn about weaving for a long time and this book is perfect for any beginner. Also a good source for all levels of weaving with great tips throughout the book to get you beyond the basics. Written with a simple and approachable language, clear step-by-step instructions and beautiful photos that really help understanding the instructions. The author also gives an overview on tools, types of yarn and some tips on color choices. In the last chapter you will find 15 inspirational projects including wall hangings, pillows, plant hanger, wearable art and other fun projects. It covers a variety of looms from small to big and even has a project on a round loom (that i never saw in any other weaving book!). If you're like me, you will want to start right away and try every single project! (see photos of my favorite projects)

Clear and easy understandable text and drawings. Great for a beginner. Really nice book.

Clear and good instructions

Book arrived very quickly. I have not tried any of projects yet, but they all look interesting

Too folksy for what I wanted. Returned it still waiting for a refund!

As an introduction to weaving, this book impresses. The first part of the book covers the loom and weaving terms, which are correct and not made up as occurs in some other guides, and she discusses the variety of yarns that can be used and what the differences are in content and size/thickness of the yarn. Warp yarns are discussed and how to warp a tapestry loom. The book also touches on colour theory and how to use a colour wheel. Then basic tapestry techniques are discussed and are well covered by photos.The second part of the book has the projects, the first one being how to make your own tapestry loom using an artists stretcher frame, because once you learn how to make one, the temptation is to make several in different sizes. The projects range in size from coasters, a bracelet, a key fob, and the necklace on the front cover, to wall hangings, including a circular one made on an embroidery frame, a hanging planter (without a macrame knot in sight) and how to use a V-shaped tree branch and a piece of driftwood to hold the warp threads and become part of the finished piece, which is where the author's background in interior design comes to the fore.I was sufficiently impressed with this book to buy the hard copy after buying it for Kindle. Its a good introduction to weaving tapestries, the author's stye of writing is very clear, and the photos are great, no background clutter to distract from the finished pieces. The projects are graded for difficulty and do not use any exotic or branded yarns, so you can use what you have to hand, or what you can get locally without having to worry about not being able to do the project. The steps involved are clearly explained as more techniques are introduced. This is a good book for a beginner as its not overwhelming and does not require you to remember loads of different things at once; Ms Gomes' experience as a teacher shows here!Its not a large book; there are 112 pages with 15 projects, and its a handy size for going in a bag with a loom and your yarns if you want to take a smaller project with you, because you can take up and put down a small tapestry project without the major dramas involved in dealing with larger looms. If you already weave on a rigid heddle or floor loom, you will appreciate having smaller projects that can be finished quickly, and the opportunity to keep your hands busy while creating something without having to count rows; these projects are also ideal for finishing up thrums and other oddments of yarn left over from other weaving or knitting. At this price you cannot go wrong, and it will help a newbie prepare for the more serious tapestry or other weaving books if you want to investigate this craft further. Others will find enough here to keep them busy for years as they explore the interaction of warp and weft and how each project develops its own character.Happy weaving!

Mostly wall hangings