I'm planning to buy a table loom for workshops and have narrowed my choice to either the Jane or the Ashford. Has anyone woven on both looms? Can you tell me your likes/dislikes?
I have narrowed my choice between the two because of portability and the overhead beater. I'm leaning toward the Ashford because of the optional stand/treadle kit as I think the weaving would be faster.
I can't find any comparisons online. People love the Jane and the Ashford but I'm not sure they've tried both to compare. I won't have the opportunity to try both before buying as I don't have a dealer nearby.
Any help in deciding would be most appreciated!
I've owned a Kombo and an Ashford - the Ashford is my favorite. The front levers are large and easy to use - allowing the weaver to develop a nice rhythm and the looms just makes nice cloth.
Thank you Sara. Have you ever used the stand/treadle kit with the Ashford?
Hi Sam,
I have used both. I borrowed the Ashford from a friend for several months before I got an rh loom and, like Sara, I liked the size of the treadles and it was easy to find a rhythm. I also did quite a bit of weaving on the Jane and overall liked it a lot. For a workshop loom, either is probably fine. I never used the table/treadle system so cannot comment on it. The Jane is larger and heavier than the Ashford by quite a bit. I used the 8s in the Ashford and the 4s in the Jane. Weight would be important to me, you might want to consider that.
You have a tough choice in front of you. I agree, the table/treadle arrangement on the Ashford is tempting. I wonder if it would become time consuming to put up and take down when using for a workshop. All depends on how cumbersome assembly is.
Claudia
Thank you Claudia. I'm definitely leaning towards the Ashford now. Price wise the Ashford with the treadle stand is a bit cheaper than the Jane and stand.
Has anyone used the treadle system with the Ashford? Wondering if it's more of a hindrance than a help.
Sam
I had an Ashford with the treadle system and I thought it was fine. Once I got used to it I really liked it. Perfect for demos. And I love the shelves on the stand. Perfect for tools. Using it as a table loom was great. Levers work well and easy to manage. Folds quite easily.
For the price you really can't beat the Ashford.
Thank you ALittlebird.
Can you tell me what the setup time is for the stand/treadles? Is it easy and a quick connect or quite finicky?
Sam
It was easy. I think it took 5 mins tops the first time about 1 minute after that. I did a demo with a rather complex overshot pattern on and it worked really well. Popped it all apart and threw it in the car to go home.
Thank you everyone for your help. I've decided to get the ashford with the treadle/stand. I think I love the equipment as much as I love weaving.
I thought the Ashford treadle kit only worked on the first 4 shafts? Is that not the case? I've just ordered a Louet Jane instead of the Ashford because the lever action is easier for me (I'm missing a few muscles in my arm/shoulder, so the castle height and ease of use is relevant to me). The Louet is a little bulkier, but there's also more space to warp up in :).
Although the Louet Jane is a development of the Louet Kombo, it's different in a few ways. Firstly, it only comes in an 8 shaft version, not 4. Secondly, it's approximately 4 kg lighter than than the Kombo was. Thirdly, when it's folded down, everything screws into place - you had to tie the beater down on the Kombo. And fourthly, the 40cm version has a handle to make it really easy to carry, and little rubber "legs" on the side so you can stand it on its side without damaging it.
The Ashford is very slightly deeper when folded, but it's fractional. It's a little heavier than the Jane and doesn't have a carry handle. Padma is right, the stand with treadles is four treadles only, on a direct tie-up, one treadle to one shaft, so it only operates four shafts and certainly doesn't make it anything like a floor loom.
At the Handweavers Studio in London we use both, and find that student preferences are very evenly balanced. The Ashford is slightly more robust, the Jane is a more polished finish. The lever action is nice on both; the lever size is very much a matter of personal preference - because they're smaller, you can operate four levers simultaneously on the Jane, but some people find them too fiddly for words. The shaft cords tend to jump off the pulley wheels on the Jane from time to time, but they're easily popped back on again and amazingly it doesn't seem to affect the weaving anyway.
They're both really good looms for workshop and sampling use.
Reading these posts, which are now a bit old. The Ashford Katie has come out since they were written. If one were to compare the Ashford table looms, the Katie and the Jane...
I'm looking for a small table loom for sampling and workshop, maybe an occasional small project when my floor loom (110 Glimåkra) is busy, but not as a primary loom. I like the Ashfords, and I would really like a loom with Texsolv heddles. I'm primarily concerned with how well they hold tension, especially when working with linen. I posted earlier about the plastic knobs on the Ashfords, and Sara among others assured me that they were ok in that regard. I'm also concerned with warping ease (back to front, scandinavian method) and portability. I'm looking at the 8 shaft versions.
Thanks! marie
I'm excited to find these reviews. I just purchased an Ashford 24" 8s table loom, (literally JUST purchased, I'm still waiting for the order confirmation!) and I can't wait to get started with it.
