Hello! I have just finished a weaving class and my second scarf. I am thinking of asking for a Rigid Heddle loom for Christmas but am torn between the Ashford 24" and the Ashford Knitters Loom 20" as it folds in half for portability. I cannot find the dimensions of either loom on line to compare but wonder if the portable loom is a feature worth considering due to extra cost and smaller width? I also wonder if the loom stands for the knitters loom is stable as it has 2 legs as opposed to 4 legs for the stand of the rigid heddle loom. I am hoping to weave scarves, wraps, maybe tea towels and rugs. Ideas? Thank you!!

Comments

Fri, 10/30/2015 - 01:33

Sara von Tresckow

The fixed frame rigid heddle looms from Ashford are as good as it gets. The folding part of the Knitters loom can be annoying as it can slip and wiggle when you don't want it to and it can be difficult to get your tension readjusted after folding it. The 16" or 24" models store easily and are a joy to weave on.

Fri, 10/30/2015 - 01:47

James Carroll

Weavinupnorth (Is that up north in GB?)

The first rigid heddle loom I made was built round an ashford sampleit heddle. I bought the heddle and figured out the rest from pictures. It is great for short projects but using a longer warp poses problems. Because it works directly from the rollers, the height of the warps passing through the heddle changes as the cloth winds on and the warp winds off. This produces much thinner sheds.

For my second rigid heddle loom at 24" I added a beam front and back above the rollers so that the warp remains a constant height in relation to the heddle. This is much better. The loom is just over 24" square and 6" high not including the heddle which will ly flat for transport.

Schacht looms have this feature but are more expensive but it would not be difficult to modify an Ashford.

As for the stand. I don't think it is worth the price. I clamp my loom to a folding table.

Hope this helps

24" loom on table

Fri, 10/30/2015 - 14:57

weavinupnorth

Thank you Sara! I went to a weavers meeting last night. They meet once per month so my friend Linda and I went together. What an informative and lovely group of women and men! One lady had the Ashford Knitters loom in a 28" and loved it but I didnt think to ask about tension issues after folding. Thank you for your insight! Laura    

 

Fri, 10/30/2015 - 15:03

weavinupnorth

Hello James! Thank you for your very informative response! I will check on line for the other brand of looms. You are very creative indeed! Love the picture!! Thank you again. Oh I live in Manitoba, Canada just outside the capital city which is Winnipeg. 

Sincerely laura 

Fri, 10/30/2015 - 21:20

noviceweaver

Hi Laura,

Well, I have another point of view as to the best loom to own.  Every weaver has their own personal likes and dislikes and for me, my preference is for the Schacht Flip which comes in 20, 25 and 30 inch widths and the Crickets by Schacht which come in 10 and 15 inch widths.  The advantage of the larger Flips is that you can add a second heddle and do many different weaves.  Like, I said, it is a personal preference.  I also would recommend a stand.

Sincerely, Joan

Fri, 10/30/2015 - 23:41

endorph

noviceweaver. I have had  Flip for about 3 years and I love it. I have all the extra heddles, the variable heddle kits, and do all sorts of wonderful projects on it, including 4 and 8 shaft patterns, pickup designs, etc., etc., etc. You are only limited by your imagination. I have the 25" size. It folds easily, I do not have tension issues with folding and unfolding. Even on the stand, folded up it fits in the back seat of my car. I Definitely would recommend a stand.

Sat, 10/31/2015 - 05:32

Chrysalis (not verified)

Our guild has as Rigid Heddle Study Group and we've gotten to try a number of different handbuilt and manufactured looms.  I settled on flip 20" WITH a stand and have enjoyed it for a a couple of years now.   It travels beautifully and the stand brings the work up close and personal supporting good shoulder/arm ergonomics.  My only regret.... is I didn't get a 25".

I have two floor looms but truly there is something special about weaving together.  Rigid Heddles are the bomb!

 

 

####Apprentely I'm a chatty one.   My reply posted 4 times and there's no clear way to delete them.  Can someone help?

 

 

  

Sat, 10/31/2015 - 05:27

Chrysalis (not verified)

Our guild has as Rigid Heddle Study Group and we've gotten to try a number of different handbuilt and manufactured looms.  I settled on flip 20" WITH a stand and have enjoyed it for a a couple of years now.   It travels beautifully and the stand brings the work up close and personal supporting good shoulder/arm ergonomics.  My only regret.... is I didn't get a 25".

I have two floor looms but truly there is something special about weaving together.  Rigid Heddles are the bomb!

 

  

Sat, 10/31/2015 - 05:27

Chrysalis (not verified)

Our guild has as Rigid Heddle Study Group and we've gotten to try a number of different handbuilt and manufactured looms.  I settled on flip 20" WITH a stand and have enjoyed it for a a couple of years now.   It travels beautifully and the stand brings the work up close and personal supporting good shoulder/arm ergonomics.  My only regret.... is I didn't get a 25".

I have two floor looms but truly there is something special about weaving together.  Rigid Heddles are the bomb!

 

  

Sat, 10/31/2015 - 15:31

weavinupnorth

Hello Noviceweaver!

Too funny, from Manitoba, Canada I phoned the Woolery yesterday and spoke with a weaving instructor. I had not heard of this loom but it is their number 1 best seller! I found on line that you can also use different heddle sizes on the same project with the variable dent heddle, i think that opens up a whole lot of possibilites for creativity! Now...I need to try and find a Canadian Distributor for this loom! Thanks so much and happy weaving!

Sat, 10/31/2015 - 15:35

weavinupnorth

Dear Chrysalis:

You answered another question-the ol which size do i get? I don't want to bite off more than I can chew but on the other hand don't want to limit furture possibilites because I thought the 20" sounded big enough for now! What type of weaving would you have liked to do but needed the 25" width for if you don't mind guiding me a bit more? Many thanks!

Sat, 10/31/2015 - 18:37

noviceweaver

In regards to why I bought the 25" Schacht Flip as opposed to the 20", I wanted to weave rag rugs and the 20" would, for me, be too limiting.  I would have bought the 30" but at the time I bought mine, they didn't have the 30".  I do somewhat regret that I did not purchase the 15" Cricket instead of the 10", but I can do what I want with the 25" instead.  It is just that the foot print of the 15" would have been smaller.  Hope this helps.  By the way, I believe Schacht is manufactured in Washington State.

 

Joan

 

 

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 01:53

weavinupnorth

Hello Endorph!

i love your answer. I just peeked through your projects and see some are done on a floor loom. Can I ask if the tea towels are done on the Flip loom? Are they projects there that can't be done on your Flip loom? When you say you can do 4/8 shaft patterns on a rigid heddle how is that done? I rented a 4 shaft table loom from our guild 2 days ago and have rather spooked myself. It looks so overwhelming compared to the rigid heddle. We have a weaving day next Saturday so till then I don't think I'll touch it-it just might bite! Lastly if I do decide to go with a rigid heddle loom would you recommend the 25"? I wonder if lifting a 30" wide heddle may be a bit challenging as compared to the 25". I've only used a 8" wide heddle on the student loom. Thanks so much!

Mon, 11/09/2015 - 02:04

endorph

tea towels on my Flip. Using two heddles you can do up to a true 24epi so can get some nice weight towels using 8/2 or 10/2 cotton. I have also used cottolin on the Flip. To do 4 and 8 shaft patterns you have to use pick up techniques but its not too bad once you get into a rhythm. I have also done double weave on the Flip using two heddles so you can go up to about 48". I have looked at the wider rigid heddle looms but frankly I am not that interested in doing many wide projects so I find the 25" width very workable for me. And I love the variable heddles that are now available.

I also love my floor loom and I have access to larger width looms as well as looms with up to 12 shafts so I don't feel a need at this point to move beyond my RH and Mighty Wolf. If I ever have room for and money for a Swedish loom I would like to add one of those to my herd but for now. . . 

 

Sun, 04/10/2016 - 15:19

Spinnertoo

Hi...I am completely new with weaving. ..my loom has not been delivered yet...what I would like to ask is has anyone heard of the little quick weaver loom? I know it is a heddle loom.....15 "...it comes with all the accessories  and instructions. ?it is hand made in michigan.  If you know about it, is it a good beginners loom?  I am getting it with a big discount. ..It has never been used. Thank you in advance for any comments...advice...I appreciate your opinions.

Fri, 04/15/2016 - 16:07

Lunargent

Really nice work, James. It seems to me that, with the addition of a purchased  heddle, an RH would be pretty easy to constrcut. But finding the gear and pawl seems almost impossible. I found some parts for Lecler, but they seemed pretty heavy duty. What did you use?

Fri, 04/15/2016 - 16:07

Lunargent

Really nice work, James. It seems to me that, with the addition of a purchased  heddle, an RH would be pretty easy to constrcut. But finding the gear and pawl seems almost impossible. I found some parts for Lecler, but they seemed pretty heavy duty. What did you use?

Fri, 04/15/2016 - 21:45

10ashus

I purchased the 16" width rigid heddle. I decided comfort would be my #1 criteria.

  1. I can easily reach the distance when using the shuttle, pick up sticks, or manipulated thread techniques. My arms are short.
  2. When weaving and one end rests in my lap, the loom fits between the arm rests of my favorite chair.
  3. I can weave most of the items that I like. Those that I cannot, it is fun to plan the design so that the pieces may be sewn together to make the proper width. (I have not tried it yet.)
  4. At the time, I thought that I would tote my loom to long waits at the doctors. While it folds and would be portable for a workshop, it is too bulky for me to handle for a 2 hour weaving session and moving abut frequently. Plus, I'm a messy hobbyist, no matter what I am doing. My tools are scattered all about me.
Mon, 04/18/2016 - 08:08

Angela1001

Hi. In reply to loom sizes. I was going to get the Ashford 40cm Rigid Heddle, but borrowed a 60cm one from my local Guild. When i said to my husband i was thinking of getting the 40, he said to get the larger one as I could do morw on it. I have now got the larger one and am loving it (I have only had it for 2 weeks :) )

Mon, 04/18/2016 - 14:59

noviceweaver

Hi Angela,

So glad you got the bigger loom.  I am sure that you will enjoy it more than a smaller one, although, I also have a smaller one, the 10" Cricket, which now, I wish I had bought the 15".  The reason being that almost everything either shrinks or draws in and if you want a 10" scarf or dish cloth for example, after it is washed is almost surely to come out smaller.  I realize it has a lot to do with the composition of the yarn but sometimes, you just want to use a yarn that you just know will shrink and use it anyway. Have fun and enjoy it, which is the main thing.

Joan in over 80 degree Florida.