Rigid Heddle Looms

kchriste wrote

on May 20, 2009 3:56 PM

I was at Bath Bed and Beyond today and found a 23.5 inch wide TV tray/table.  It is wide enough for the 20 inch Beka RH loom, so I will be able to weave on it in the living room. 

 Yeah!

Denise Jackson wrote

on May 21, 2009 8:37 AM

I bought a RH loom and just finished weaving my first project. Memory was coming back as to the finer graces of how to do it right..or creatively. Lets just say the end of my project is prettier than the beginning.

I learned several things. My daughter loved sitting on my lap and helping me move the shed, throwing the shuttle, and picking threads. I think she'll be a good weaver in time, after all she's only 3.

I can change my mind on how to weave my project after I started. I wanted placemats so I changed to one long strip, nothing fancy, just strips of color. I can cut later.

I have my eye out for used floor looms.

PattyAnneC wrote

on Nov 1, 2009 11:12 AM

Ohhhhh....good idea!

I sit and watch tv with my cute little Cricket (Schacht) on my lap.  It works great with my handspun too!

PattyAnne

Matula wrote

on Dec 8, 2009 11:41 AM

Hi, new to Spinoff, not sure I'm in the right spot, but I am looking to buy a rigid table loom, live in Brooklyn so space is an issue, have twins, so time is an issue, I was wondering if you have any recommendations, I was looking at the Ashford and the Kromski Harp, any thoughts?  I want it for more experimental work...Thanks!

Gardenspinner wrote

on Dec 8, 2009 12:23 PM

They sell the Kromski Harp at The Yarn Tree in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  You could look at them there.   School Products, NYC, carries Beka rigid heddle looms, as well as table and floor looms.

I have the 12" Ashford Knitters Loom, bought it second hand on Ravelry, and I'm very happy with it.  You could buy the KL off the internet from an ebay store, prices are good and usually include free shipping.  If you want to see it in person before buying it, you could try Woolbearers in Mt. Holly, NJ. 

The Spinnery in Frenchtown carries Schact looms, they may carry the Flip RH.  If you want to compare many types of looms, you might try The Mannings, near Gettysburg, PA.  I hear they have many different looms you can play with in their showroom.

Good luck!

Tulcess2 wrote

on Feb 20, 2010 12:25 PM

I have two rigid heddle looms that I bought just after Christmas. One is a Kromski Harp 24" and the other a 13" Ashford Knitter's Loom. I realized right away that the amount of handspun I had spun on a drop spindle was not enough to use the full 24" width of the Kromski, so I felt I had too much loom for my needs. I then bought the Ashford, which is small and I can make full narrow projects from the yarn I have, and if I get an inspiration I can spin my needs in a few evenings. The Kromski is very well made, folds away when not in use, and nice to touch as it is all finished. You must assemble it from the box-- follow the directions carefully. The knitter loom is mostly assembled from the box. It also folds away. Both seem very well made. The scarf above was woven on the knitter loom, the one below is on the Kromski. I am currently using the book Textures and Patterns for the Rigid Heddle Loom by Betty Linn Davenport so I feel the rigid heddle loom is enough for my needs.

Matrinka wrote

on Feb 20, 2010 1:41 PM

The great thing about a wider loom is that you CAN warp it for a narrower project, while a narrow loom limits you to only that width.

Because of the things I want to weave, I wouldn't be happy with anything narrower than 32".  I want to weave tartan and rugs, and piecing together narrow strips seems a bit silly when, for barely any more money, I can get a loom wide enough to weave them as single pieces, and if I'm doing narrow work, such as scarves and belts, I can warp only what I need to warp for the piece I'm doing.

I learned to weave on a 45" floor loom, warped for a 6" wide scarf.  Talk about having LOTS more loom than the project really called for, but my godmother used it to weave massive rugs, too.

Denise Jackson wrote

on Feb 27, 2010 8:57 PM

I have a 24" Kromski rigid heddle that I have a huck lace pattern going for a shawl. I have hanspun superwash singles. I also have a 36" LeClerk floor loom with some modified point twill cloth on it. 

I bought my kids some pot holder looms mainly because I noticed that my RH had a few extra shots thrown that weren't in my huck lace pattern. I'm guessing it was my son. He did a good job.  I waited till he wasn't around to take it out. With 7", they can make teddy bears, butterflies, pumpkins...the list goes on. Go to crone-findlay.com to see her patterns.

His toys make more noise, mine make cooler stuff.