…is not the only lalalaloom that I adore,
But adore her, I do. She is the new workshop/travel loom just launched by Ashford this summer during Convergence. I had a chance to chat with the human Katie, who had designed the loom to address the needs of “all these ladies I’ve seen through the years, struggling to lug their heavy looms to workshops” (not a verbatim quote, but close enough).
In fact, weighing in at only a little over 14 pounds, and fitting into a carry case that’s only slightly less compact than a laptop case, this adorable little loom provides (additional) strong motivation to dash around to workshops and study group meetings. Not made for heavy-duty work like rug weaving, the Katie is nonetheless a fun loom for exploring eight-harness weaves and for weaving off narrow (12” or smaller) items that I don’t care to put on my other love (my 50 inch floor loom). The shed is excellent, the overhead beater easy to operate, and the heddles nicely shaped for fast finger-action.
My biggest hesitation in making this purchase, was that I didn’t have access to user feedback, since the Katie hadn’t been in circulation yet. But I had played on other Ashford table looms, and loved the feel of them. Definitely a keeper, and worthy of placing inside the s-s-s-studio door…
Written by Bonnie aka BonniePearl (not an Ashford dealer, an enthusiastic owner with a loom she loves)
This loom review was posted by weavolution member BonniePearl. If you click on the "more" link from the homepage, you will see her name and a link to her profile underneath the pictures. However, if you happen to come at this from the weavolution news and announcements link on the forums page, you don't see her name. Just a technical glitch, folks, not stealth marketing or an official weavolution product endorsement.
Yes, I have no interest other than my own weaving pleasure.
Katie makes a terrific companion for the 12 inch Knitters Loom. She was so simple to warp up, I hope she is just as simple to use. And as much fun to weave with as the KL!
I have this loom and I am very unhappy with it.
I am an experienced weaver who has woven on many types of loom.
In my opinion this loom is almost useless.
Have emailed Ashford for their opinion and asked for help, had no reply.
Very dissapointed.
Appalled at the lack of customer care from Ashford, New Zealand.
Not worth the money, very expensive in my opinion.
Also have Knitters looms and very happy with these, excellent to use, can highly recommend.
Makes my disappointment with the Katie even worse.
Minty
Minty,
You might want to fill out more of your profile here, so we know what kind of weaving you do, what kinds of looms you have, and what kind of experience level you have with weaving.
I'd be interested to know what you don't like about it in particular. Shafts stick? Collapses while weaving?
(I don't have any affiliation with Ashford. Mostly just curious.)
I saw this loom in use at a local weaving store and was totally unimpressed. Cheap parts, shallow shed, difficult to thread due to infrastructure. There are much better table looms on the market. Perhaps a beginner weaver might be happy with it as they won't know any better but I think the manufacturer missed their mark on the execution of this vision. I do hate to post a negative "me too" post but this is a weak product.
Weaving since 1985, Rigid Heddle to Draw looms, only loom not woven on yet is a Jacquard.
Do you work for Ashford?
Minty
I had to laugh! No, I don't work for Ashford (or any other loom company!) I'd love to go to New Zealand, though.
My inquiry had to do with the fact this was the second post I read in a single day by you, and both were strongly worded opinions, but did not include much in the way of specifics. (I see someone followed up with that question, too.) So I went to your profile to learn more about you and your level of experience, to know how much weight to give your comments.
I'm sure if you spend time on any social network, you'll realize participants who use screen names don't have as much credibility as someone who is willing to use their real name. Also, when a profile contains no information, no project uploads, and only a plain weave draft with no details, it makes me think the participant is a very newbie weaver.
Seeing a variety of opinions is a valuable reason I belong to forums and this weaving community, and a weaver with experience is always an appreciated addition to the conversation! I also recognize we are like a small neighborhood, so I don't want to rain on my fellow weaver's parade. And I am appreciative of the loom manufacturers, even if they don't always get it right with every product for every weaver.
Sally
As you probably read, I find this site slow and cumbersome to use! Which is why there is very little posted here. I find Rav much easier to use. I did receive a very helpful response from one of the owners to my post, even though my reply to her email has not been answered. I was trying to be constructive and give feedback.
Why do I not receive notifications of new posts? I have the box ticked, so I can give a timely reply.
I find it very difficult to find my old posts here.
To me you are just a name too, are you famous, should I know you and therefore give added value to your opinion?
I try to consider all opinions when I do research.
As to the Katie, I stand by my opinion. I have used many looms, this is the worst, there are so many ways it could be made better.
You should always do your own research, try it and see what you think. opinions are only opinions, what may not suit me, may suit you.
My avatar was woven by me, find me on Rav if you want to learn more, posting photo's here requires me to learn more computing skills than I have time for. Shame really, I think this site has great potential, just not user friendly enough yet for me. Just my opinion!
Re manufacturers, they make a product, it should be fit for purpose, this one isn't, in my opinion. Looms are expensive and not easy to try before you buy, Ashford have a good reputation, I recommend their rigid hedle looms, but not this one, a great opportunity missed as there is definitly a need for something like the Katie.
I only posted to offer my opinion, all the reviews read like advertising blurb to me, just wanted to offer a users experience.
Have you used this loom? Or are you against anything said, that is not positive?
Even posting this reply is a pain, don't think I will be back for a while and as I receive no notifications, I won't know if you reply, sorry.
Minty (my name!)
Are you the same on Rav?
PM me if you like, I don't want to get into specifics in public.
Still haven't had a reply from Ashford, so not very happy about going public before they have a chance to respond, will email them for the third time, then I will feel free to speak out.
Happy to help in private.
Minty
In the eight months that I've had this loom, I have in fact encountered a few problems with it, but they have all been resolved. The value in a loom is how it meets the particular needs of the particular weaver. I have been weaving for 1/4 century (yikes!), and have owned a Macomber, a LeClerc, and my primary loom, a Norwood. I have tried a variety of looms at workshops too, of course.
Katie is very lightweight, which is both its advantage and its disadvantage. It is no workhorse. But it's great for small projects, trying out pattern design samplers, and shlepping around easily. I am disinclined to pack/carry heavy looms or looms that are difficult or impossible to fold. That's where Katie excels.
Different strokes!
I bought this loom for designing and exhibitions, not as a "workhorse" I have other looms for that. For me it does not function for either of those purposes.
Maybe you would be willing to help me get this loom working?
Would you please explain what problems you have had with this loom and how you resolved them, I would find this very useful.
How do you weave weft faced fabrics?
How does a floating selvage work with this loom?
Being only able to weave less than an inch before winding on is a real pain, it disrupts the rhythm of weaving and feels like I'm constantly winding on, even when weaving at 30 epi! Also the ratchets, which appear to be the same as on the AKLs, are very difficult to release on this loom. I don't have the same problem with the AKL, where they function well.
Has the elastic to pull back the beater, frayed on your loom? I hate the way it drops bits of white stuff on my weaving.
For its size, I find the Katie very heavy. The castle especially does not need so much heavy wood. Aesthetically I particularily dislike the plywood beater arms, to me they look cheap and nasty, they also add unnecessary weight.
These are only some of the comments I have about this loom, I feel I'm being very fair to Ashford, waiting so long for their response, before expressing myself more clearly.
I am very disappointed with Ashford customer service, which in my case has been non-existent!
Sally Orgren says we should appreciate loom manufacturers, I do! I buy many of their products!! However Asford is a multi-million doller internationally selling company. If they aren't willing to listen to a customer, they have the problem not me. There are plenty of good loom manufactuers around these days. Were they a small local producer, my attitude would be different, but then I expect so would be theirs.
I have to agree with the points made by Deb Mcclintock about the Katie, I also hate posting a negative review. Just wanted to add some balance to all the ra ra ra advertorial being fed into the internet!
I would like to have this loom function, it cost me over £500. Is that over $800 in the US? A lot of money for most people! For this I would expect a well functioning loom!
If you feel able to help me with sorting out the Katie, I would be very, very grateful.
If I can't get it to function as it is, I am planning to rebuild it into a functioning loom, what a waste of money! I can't in all honesty re-sell the Katie as I don't believe it to be a functioning loom, please help me to know otherwise!
I would really appreciate any help you are able to offer, you are the only person I have been able to find, who actually has this loom to weave as opposed to trying to sell one to me.
Thank you very much for reading this rather long post, for once I'm not having "scroll judders" and other tech problems with this site, so became a bit enthusiastic to post!!
Many thanks,
Minty
PS Do you, like me, have no projects here because of problems uploading photo's for projects? I would love to see what you weave on the Katie.
I have a Katie loom, which I bought for specifically to bring to workshops. Lugging around heavy looms is not my thing! There is much I love about the loom -- easy to warp, great shed, and easy to weave on, a full-featured 8-shaft loom in a wonderfully small package, incredibly easy to transport. Needing to advance the warp often is the price paid for the size of the loom. But I have encountered a serious problem that renders the loom useless for workshops: There is so little space between the front beam and the cloth beam that -- unless you are using very fine yarn -- you can only weave a short piece before having to cut off. There is plenty of room for the warp beam, but not the cloth beam. And you can't exchange the two. I just had to cut off a 5/2 warp midway through a 3-day workshop. I was only able to weave a little over 1.25 yards. I'm taking another workshop this week, again 3-day and 5/2 warp, and I know I can't take the Katie. I'm upset with this purchase, in that it cannot be used for the purpose I intended -- and for which it's marketed. I'll use the loom for samples, but it's too expensive an item for just samples. I would strongly discourage anyone from buying this loom as a workshop loom.
HI
This has been a lengthy discussion already, but much has been comparing the Katie to the knitter's loom. I'm trying to compare it to the regular table loom (8 shaft) that Ashford makes. I'm looking for a small loom for sampling and workshops, maybe the occassional small project, when my 110 cm Glimåkra is 'busy'. It would not be my primary loom. I'm wondering how well they hold tension, how easy they are to warp (b2f), and how portable they are. Arer there other portable (ie folding) table looms that I should consider instead of the Ashfords?
It has been my experience in my few attempts at contacting Ashford that customer service is a foriegn concept to Ashford and I've tried to deal with both the importer in the US and the company in New Zealand.
Regards, Charles
Wow! Katie sure does evoke a lot of emotion! The only emotion I feel over the loom is longing. I really want one to add to my collection.
I have several Ashford products (Looms and Spinning wheels) and have always considered them to be reasonably priced. However, Katie costs almost as much as my 32" Ashford 8H table loom did, not that long ago.
