To paraphrase Simon Sinek, sometimes the hardest part of any endeavor is getting started, especially if you don’t know where to begin. And in the world of craft there’s no place where that statement rings more truly than when you’re a beginning weaver. Or rather, an aspiring beginning weaver. Weaving requires equipment – a loom, for instance. And when you start reading about heddles and shedding and tensioners and EPIs, the simple task of acquiring a beginner loom can all become extremely overwhelming all at once! Then there’s size to consider: we have met so many lovely people over the years who would love to take up weaving, but say, “one of those looms will definitely not fit in my home,” while pointing to the Rio Grande style floor looms that we have in the studio at Tierra Wools. The truth is that looms are available in a variety of sizes and styles – with the right loom, you don’t have to sacrifice floor space or the scope of your projects. At Tierra Wools, we have a few favorite small looms that are perfect for beginners and can still handle the advanced techniques an experienced weaver will enjoy. Let’s get you started on your first home weaving project!
Schacht’s Cricket Loom
The Cricket Loom by Schacht is the perfect choice for first-time at-home weavers. The loom is made with high-quality unfinished maple and is available in a 10” or 15” weaving width – perfect for scarves or placemats. The Cricket has a rigid heddle through which the warp yarns are threaded: this makes easy work of alternating which warp yarns are lifted so you can pass your shuttle through as you create your first weaving. With your Cricket, you can weave on a tabletop or in your lap, but this loom also has an optional floor stand for free-standing support.
Schacht’s Flip Rigid Heddle Loom
If you’ve had a little experience with weaving and are looking for something that can handle a few more advanced techniques, consider Schacht’s Flip Rigid Heddle Loom. This loom allows you to weave with one or two heddle frames, increasing the number of techniques this loom is equipped to handle, and you can choose to weave in 4 weaving widths from 15” to 30” – that’s 2 ½ feet wide! (Pillows and hand towels – even shawls – are calling to you!) Best of all, you can use this loom in a variety of positions: lean it up against a flat surface, use it flat on a table, or attach it to a trestle stand (sold separately) for a freestanding loom that’s easy to move about your space. And when you’re ready to take your weaving on an adventure, you can pack it all up neatly in the Flip Bag to take on your next trip.
Schacht’s Arras Tapestry Loom
If you’re a serious tapestry weaver who’s short on space, the Arras Tapestry Loom may be the most exciting find in your crafting career. Extremely portable but with all the amenities a tapestry weaver desires: the Arras comes with a shedding device (that you can set up for left-hand or right-hand use!), a tensioning beam, 4 sett springs, 100 Texsolv heddles, and has optional attachments like a loom beam kit that allows you to wind a longer warp for larger pieces. The weaving angle can be adjusted, and with foldable legs that come with no-skid rubber feet, you’ll be able to get comfortable with this loom in any space. And with the Arras’ 20” weaving width and scope for a 45” continuous warp length (without attachment), you’ll be able to make all your tapestry dreams come true with this sturdy but mighty little tapestry loom!
If these home looms make your weaving heart skip a beat but you’re still looking for a little bit more help with your first at-home loom, look no further than Syne Mitchell’s book, Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom. This delightful, easy-to-read book will give you all you need to know to get started weaving on a rigid heddle loom and is Tierra Wools’ top pick for new at-home weavers.
Hopefully this walk-through of some of our favorite small looms leaves you feeling empowered to begin your own at-home weaving projects this winter. Now, let’s get to weaving!