Hello all. I knit and spin, so I'm thinking I'd like to add weaving to my fiber pursuits in a small but expandable way. Why small? I am 5ft nothing, retired and live in a townhouse with limited space and two inquisitive cats (other inhabitants include a toy poodle who owns my lap, a golf-loving husband, and a college grad [hooray!] daughter busy working as she tries to get a paying job in her career field). Why expandable? So I acquire a loom I can do more with as I become experienced- different dent heddles, a second heddle, variable dents, different weaves.

So while it's really cute, I don't want a Cricket. I'm not planning to weave blankets- just scarves, table runners, tea towels, fingertip towels, and maybe strips to sew together for baby blankets. S I wrote, I knit and spin, and have a stash beyond life expectancy of fingering, sport, dk and worsted, both commercial, handspun, and as yet unspun (my craft room contains four fleeces I've scoured and am in process of combing and spinning). So for me, weaving will be a way to create beautiful (I hope) things with yarn, not the way.

Suggestions? Advice? I ordered Syne Mitchell's book to read, though I haven't chosen a loom yet.

If I have offended anyone by the remarks in this message, I apologize!

Comments

Wed, 01/20/2016 - 18:45

gal511

Hi Sophy,

I am new to RH weaving also.  I love the book you have--I think it covers everything--I bought others and none match up to this one.  I looked into all kinds of looms and I went with the Glimakra Emilia--love it.  It's not fancy, but it's sturdy and it tilts up which is a plus to me.  I don't have to set it on the edge of a table.  It also has the metal ratchets which really makes your work tight.  I also looked into the Kromski, but I got a good deal on the Emilia. 

I have since bought a 36" Kromski and the Ashford SampleIt.  Funny thing is that I tend to use the SampleIt the most since I do mainly scarves.  It's light enough to carry around and put on my lap while I am watching tv. 

I believe that these are all good looms and you should listen to the reviews and get the size that works best for you. I feel the size, style, and addition of another heddle for the Glimakra Emilia is worth the extra money--watch for specials at the yarn companies.

Good luck!

Susie

Wed, 01/20/2016 - 18:46

lindayork

I have an Ashford Knitter's Loom and I really like it.  I happened to be browsing the Ashford website the other day and I see they are making something called a "Freedom Roller" that allows you to weave longer fabrics and have room to roll them on the cloth beam.  It's a problem I have encountered when I wove some placemats for a gift--I almost couldn't fit them on the cloth beam.  I will admit a bias for Schacht products, but I don't know anything about the Flip (I also have a Cricket).  Having extra room on the cloth beam is a real plus for me and as I said, I do like my knitter's loom.

I just got Syne Mitchell's book for Christmas and I'm taking a class from her at Madrona Fiber Arts Festival next month on the Theo Moorman technique.  I'm really excited!

I really don't think you can go wrong with either choice, but the extra room on the cloth beam is a consideration that would tip the scales for me.

Mon, 01/25/2016 - 00:15

1775

I recently bought a Kromski 32" loom and the optional floor stand. We live in a small house and there really was never any room for a floor loom which I have thought about for years. We were at a Quilt Show in PA and one of the vendors there was demonstrating the Kromski. Kromski RH looms fold in half - with the weaving still on them for storage. The stand comes apart and is easily put together. All of it can be stored under a bed or in a corner if you need to clear the room for other uses. I decided on the 32" so that I would not be limited to what I can weave right up to a shawl. There is also a 24", 16", 8". Optional blocks added can increase to two or three heddles. The gears and pawls are metal. The loom comes with an 8 dent heddle and there are heddles from 5 to 12 dent available. The best thing is that this loom comes complete. You are getting everything that you need to start and it has a built in warping board on the bottom of the loom. You get the pegs for the warping board and also an additional warping peg and stand to direct warp to the loom. The optional stand can be set to various angles to match how you want to  sit while weaving. There is also an optional storage bag that everything plus the stand goes into if you want to take the whole thing somewhere with weaving on it or without (or put it in the bag to store).

When I saw the demonstration, I could not believe how easy it was - and now that I have it, it really is that easy - and convenient. The width is something that you need to decide on. What I am learning is that the width of the project on the loom gets narrower once you start weaving and also with many fibers shrinks even more. There is no way to extend the loom - the width is the width. The length is only limited by how much you can roll on the beams and I don't ever see that being a problem with the Kromski. It is also well made of a very fine Alder hardwood and finished nicely to a furniture quality finish. We did not buy the loom at the Quilt Show in September and I kept thinking that I really wanted it. We drove to PA to the shop that had been at the Show and bought the loom in December. She assembled it for me and the price was no more than having ordered it from any of the dealers with no shipping (and we got a nice day to spend in PA). I have not seen any discounts on this loom or any of its accessories. My suggestion is see what you are buying before you buy it if you can.

There are many videos that will show just about all of the looms in action. Several of the companies that make the looms have full sets of videos that show how to use them including Kromski. Basically, how you use one is how you use them all - so YouTube becomes a great resource for learning. I also have Mitchell's book. I first bought Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving by Davenport but found it very hard to follow and the illustrations are mostly drawings. Mitchell's book has large clear photos and very detailed directions. It is probably the best book for a beginner to Rigid Heddle weaving.

Mon, 01/25/2016 - 01:31

Sara von Tresckow

The Ashford fixed frame RH looms in 16" and 24" widths are a great bargain and wonderful looms. They are compact and fit under furniture to store - and because they do not fold, cannot wiggle around or fold when you do not want them to. The ratchets are the best out there for RH looms. All of the accessories that fit the knitters loom work with them and they are less expensive as well.

I have had customers plan to hang them on the wall when not in use as a "wall hanging". The 16" sounds small, but makes scarves, placemats, runners and more - while portable enough to use in your lap or outside on a picnic table.

Sun, 02/14/2016 - 21:02

lindayork

While I really like my AKL, I just took a class from Syne Mitchell on the Theo Moorman technique.  It was a great way to be introduced to using 2 heddles on the rigid heddle.  The Flip loom has a slot cut in the frame to hold the second heddle for you and is really great for 2 heddle weaving.  Having that flexibility built-in is a plus and it's a great way to expand your weaving on a rigid heddle.

Tue, 03/22/2016 - 21:56

Havingfun

I own an AKL and wish I had purchased a normal rigid heddle loom instead. I have found it to be rather unsturdy and the knobs don't hold it securely in position. Since I don't take it anywhere I don't need the folding up feature. If you aren't going to be taking your loom anywhere I would recommend a regular rigged heddle loom instead. 

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 11:55

shepherdess

I agree with Havingfun. I bought a Knitter's Loom and wish I had bought the non-folding Ashford Rigid Heddle. I never take it anywhere, so I really don't need the folding option, and it just doesn't seem as sturdy as my little Sampleit. If doing it all over again, I would buy the Ashford Rigid Heddle (non-folding). (The Ashford RH loom stand also also looks great! I'm not fond of the Knitter's Loom stand)

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 11:56

shepherdess

I agree with Havingfun. I bought a Knitter's Loom and wish I had bought the non-folding Ashford Rigid Heddle. I never take it anywhere, so I really don't need the folding option, and it just doesn't seem as sturdy as my little Sampleit. If doing it all over again, I would buy the Ashford Rigid Heddle (non-folding). (The Ashford RH loom stand also also looks great! I'm not fond of the Knitter's Loom stand)

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 13:08

ricatlga

I've been very satisfied with my Kromski Harp 15" model.  At home I use it on a stand.  But just came back from a short trip where my wife was at a conference.  I was able to unfold the loom and work on a project while sitting around sipping coffee.  The folding mechanism is secured with a metal flange.  Ratchets for both beams are also metal with magnets to keep the pawl in place.  Yes, I opted for the carry case and it was nice to have everything secured in one place.  Probably not as economical, but a beautiful little loom.

Wed, 03/23/2016 - 15:00

Joanne Hall

I have found no difference in loom performance between the folding and non-folding rigid heddle looms.  In fact, on very small looms, the folding of the loom makes it more portable and easy for carrying for taking to classes.  I teach a lot of beginning rigid heddle classes and I provide the looms. I can fit a lot of the 13 inch looms in my little car.  And they perform beautifully for the students.

Joanne

Thu, 03/24/2016 - 15:39

dmahlert

I have been using mine for 5 1/2 years and can truely say I "hate" it! It is so unsturdy and flops around all the time. Last week I bought the extra support braces for $35 and they also do not stay in place!

Last night I was so upset with it, I literally threw it across the room!!!

Thu, 03/24/2016 - 21:43

Havingfun

Dmalert, I also recently purchased the braces and agree, they really aren't very much help. I just got a litte 10" Cricket and the quality is markedly better. I totally understand why the AKL is so annoying to you. 

Thu, 03/24/2016 - 21:43

Havingfun

Dmalert, I also recently purchased the braces and agree, they really aren't very much help. I just got a litte 10" Cricket and the quality is markedly better. I totally understand why the AKL is so annoying to you.