New Pattern Available in Little Looms Magazine - Dots and Dashes Runner!

New Pattern Release: Dots and Dashes Runner in Little Looms Magazine

Photo by Matt Graves, courtesy of Long Thread Media

I'm excited to share the release of a fresh, contemporary pattern in the latest issue of Little Looms Magazine: the Dots and Dashes Runner. I designed this vibrant and elegant table runner to explore color, light, and texture - while also incorporating a mathematical twist using the Fibonacci sequence as a foundation in both warp and weft design.

What’s the Fibonacci Sequence, and Why Use It in Weaving?

The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers where each number is the sum of the two preceding ones: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on. This sequence appears frequently in nature - from the spirals of sunflower seeds to the branching of trees - and has long inspired artists and designers for its sense of natural balance and visual harmony.

In this runner, the Fibonacci sequence is more than inspiration - it’s an organizing principle. In the supplemental warp, yarn groupings follow a Fibonacci-based rhythm: 5-8-13-8-5. Similarly, the weft pattern is structured using 5/1 floats separated by plain weave, which creates a rhythmic interplay of dots and dashes, reminiscent of Morse code and giving the piece its name.

Design Details That Shine—Literally

The Dots and Dashes Runner brings together carefully selected yarns to elevate its structure with texture and sheen. The warp is grounded in Brassard 8/4 cotton in the color flax, offering a neutral base that lets the design elements shine. The star of the show is the Tahki Tandem yarn in color 019 lava - a beautiful multicolored blend with a subtle matte-sheen finish that catches the light just enough to add dimension without overwhelming the composition. Using your own handspun as the supplemental warp would be really amazing too!

The supplemental warp weaves up into subtle diamond motifs across the runner. These diamonds add yet another layer of visual interest, providing gentle movement and elegance that enhances, rather than distracts from, the overall design.

For the weft, I used Brassard 8/2 cotton slub in ivorie, which brings a slightly textured contrast to the smoother warp and makes the float pattern even more pronounced.

Perfect for Little Loom Weavers

The Dots and Dashes Runner is designed specifically for use on a rigid heddle loom, requiring:

• A 12.5 dent reed

• A pick-up stick

• A weaving width of at least 15”

This makes it an excellent project for small loom enthusiasts looking to explore techniques like supplementary warps and pick-up patterns without needing a large floor loom.

The Dots and Dashes Runner can be found in the Summer 2025 issue of Little Looms Magazine that focuses on shifting colors, so the runner sits beautifully among other inspiring projects that push the boundaries of color play on small looms.

I hope you will add this to your "to-weave" list this summer! Please be sure to share it with me on Instagram @otterwoven_byDana and Happy Weaving!