The Boss is never going to replace a production loom, and we’re ok with that. Rigid heddle and multi-shaft looms are complex on purpose — you can program them with virtually infinite possibilities and weave reams of fabric. But smaller size and simpler design doesn’t mean limited creative possibility. We’ve embedded each of our pattern bars with a highly generative weave structure. Each row they make is the same as a row on a four-shaft loom. The pattern is an endless loop built into the bar, so it’s easy to tinker and play.

We’ve found that it actually creates more possibility, not less. It’s similar to a keyboard that plays a few octaves — it’s not a concert organ, but you can play chords, noodle fruitfully, and write a million songs. The Boss makes weave structures accessible in a similar way, giving you the power to explore patterns directly and intuitively.

So, yardage—no. But a new, dynamic way to understand patternmaking? A low-pressure, low-investment way to be creative? A springboard to bigger and better things on your full-sized loom? We think so.