Why You Absolutely, Definitely, Need Another Loom
Let’s begin with full disclosure…I love weaving. I weave for work and I weave for pleasure. I have 4 rigid heddle looms, all bought for very good reasons.
The first was because I was buying a spinning wheel and my daughter thought she might, maybe, possibly, be interested in weaving, so I bought an Ashford 32”, ostensibly for her. She never used it, I use(d) it all the time.
Then I got a FREE 36” four shaft loom. How does one say no to a free loom? (Is it even legal??) But, 36” wasn’t really big enough, so I started looking for a 60”. (Go big or go home right?) A free 45” came up…but when it arrived there was no back beam. So I bought a 48” rigid heddle as a consolation.
Now I’m up to three looms.
Then I was selected to teach in Alberta and I “needed” a loom I could travel with, so I got a 20” Ashford Knitters loom. Loom number 4.
All was going well, looms were being used but I still had a desire for that 60” four shaft. And wouldn’t you know, one came up on Marketplace for a great price and delivery included! Can’t say no to that! I gave my 36” four shaft to a new weaver and brought in the 60”. With a sectional beam…always get a sectional beam, trust me!
So that kept me to 4 looms. Not so bad, all were being used so clearly, I needed them. Then I started designing for Webs…and they carry Schacht looms, which have different reed sizes, so, obviously, I needed a Schacht loom, it was just good business sense right?
The story continues…I started getting pretty serious about writing patterns, and people started asking for 4 shaft patterns. Now, towels on a 60” loom seems like a waste and I live in an apartment now so there really isn’t room for a 60” (it is currently in storage waiting for a studio). So I was sort of searching for a table loom. But it was going to need to be a really good deal and I didn’t want to drive far to get it (because I don’t like driving and did I really need another loom anyway?) However, if you look long enough, you will eventually find a sweet deal, which I did, and my final (for now) loom was added to the herd, an older Schacht 4 shaft 25” table loom.
That brings my total number of looms to 6 (If you ignore the inkle loom and pin loom!)
It’s pretty clear I am pro-loom. So, here’s my list of why you should get a(nother) loom in case you need help getting off the fence!
Single looms get lonely. They thrive in company.
If you have one loom you weave alone, if you have 2 you can weave with a friend, who will learn to love weaving, who will then buy a loom and you will have a weaving buddy!
Different looms do different things: small looms travel in your suitcase, or RV. You can set them up in a hotel room or spare bedroom so you have an escape if needed during long visits. Big looms look great in living rooms filled with pretty-colour warps.
If you get frustrated with one project, you can put it in time out and move to an easier, more well-behaved loom. (Maybe the one in timeout will think about its behavior and regret its bad choices?)
If you need to weave up a quick gift and the “main” loom is full you still have a loom!
