Hi all,

I am not a weaver, but my 8 yo son wants to be. :)  He makes potholders and rainbow loom bracelets at every opportunity.  I'd like to get him a small loom for somewhat more "traditional" weaving, but I'm not sure what to get.  The Harrisville Lap Loom looks promising, but as I said, I have no experience.  I just want it to be enjoyable for him, so I am open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks in advance,

Sunny

Comments

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 18:41

Sara von Tresckow

A small rigid heddle loom such as the Lap Loom would be the next step.

You might want to consider one of the standard fixed frame rigid heddle looms - like the 16" from Ashford. It is sturdy, has a good heddle block for upshed, downshed AND neutral, and the price is close if now lower than the Lap Loom (which can be frustrating because there is no firm place to rest the heddle).

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 21:07

kerstinfroberg

If he is patient (or should that be "passionate"?) enough, get him a 4-shaft table loom. The "over/under" of a 2-shatft or a RH could easily bore him (or maybe I should say "me", and thus most childrens near to me) (and the pickup/multi-heddle options are, I think, too complicated to be entertaining)

With a 4-shaft he can do everything that can be done on a 2-shaft/RH - PLUS everything that can be done on any 4-shaft loom... makes for more years of entertainment :-)

Mon, 11/10/2014 - 22:40

sarahnopp (not verified)

I will second the motion for a 4-shaft table loom. I demonstrate every year at our county fair and the kids eyes absolutely light up when they are offered the chance to weave on it. They love the complexity of patterning available and they really get into how the mechanisms operate. Check Craigslist near you for an inexpensive one, or check with a local weaving guild to see if anyone there can give lessons. Or has one for sale. If you can get lessons together, that would be a big help so you understand what the issues are when things go sideways. Have fun!

Tue, 11/11/2014 - 14:26

Artistry

Well, not to be contrary, but my experiences have been thus. My own son expressed tremendous interest in the looms, in fact he was very good at math and could do simple drawdowns which he thought were the best puzzles around. He loved working on my looms but when it came to set up , forget it! Those 4 shafts of heddles were just too much for him ! I think starting him on a rigid Heddle would have been better, eyes and slots, we've could have set up the loom together. Eventually he could probably set it up himself. If you look at the dashboard you will see a topic thread of what you can weave on a rigid heddle loom. There are several books with projects. It is true, that the young boys and girls go crazy over the 4 shaft looms. I have set them up and have Boy Scout groups and Girl Scout groups over on many occasions to weave a scarf for a merit badge. They love it. But unless you'll willing to set the loom up for several years to come, i'd go with a rigid heddle.
Tue, 11/11/2014 - 16:47

sunriseiz

Thanks everyone. This is all great information!  It sounds like the lap loom or rigid heddle might be the best for right now. He is 8 and pretty patient, but he'll want (need!) to be independent for now. 

His eyes DO light up at the county fair which is where he made his first potholder, by they way. :) 

 

Wed, 11/12/2014 - 00:40

sandra.eberhar…

One thing you may want to think about is that a table loom allows you to set the shed in place and use both hands to pass the weft back and forth.  As Sara mentioned, some rigid heddles have a resting place for the heddle, some don't.  If it doesn't, you have to hold that heddle in place while passing weft, which takes some dexterity.  For a child, I would pick the table loom for that reason; it requires less dexterity.  It is a much more stable platform to work on.  You don't have to use all 4 shafts of a 4 shaft table loom to start, you can start using only two, but it gives you much more growth that than a RH.

Wed, 11/12/2014 - 17:37

sunriseiz

Thanks big dog. More to think about!