overshot on rigid heddle loom brands

Crazyshot - creative overshot weaving - introduces anyone who uses a rigid heddle loom to a whole world of creative weaving. Using just one heddle and one pick-up stick, you’ll explore color, design, and texture, taking your weaving to the next level.

Complete step-by-step instructions are included for weaving all 14 of the designs in this book. Also provided are how-tos for the single heddle overshot technique, reading charts for the rigid heddle loom, and finishing techniques, along with lots of tips and tricks for successful and

Complex patterning is easier than it looks with this simple charted technique. All you need are basic rigid heddle warping and weaving skills to start your next weaving adventure!

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Supplementary-weft weaving has been around for a very long time. There’s evidence of it in some of the earliest weavings from India and Egypt including in the tomb of Tutankhamun. The idea of creating a decorative fabric by weaving a simple tabby cloth simultaneously with a contrasting, superimposed pattern has shown up in cultures worldwide; Latin American brocades, Branoe or branded folk weaving from Russia, Smalandsvav in Sweden and Skillbragd in Norway inlay/overshot techniques, Sanga and Songket from Southeast Asia, Saga Nashiki from Japan, traditional Slavic weaves often used for belts, and American overshot coverlets from the 18th century all create a similar fabric structure using variations of decorative supplementary weft over a plain, tabby background. Many of these techniques even have motifs in common, despite being separated by great distance and time, most likely due to human migration. As is the tradition with many crafts, each province, prefecture, county and clan typically used a specific weaving designs to distinguish the area where it was made.

There are techniques that use a more freeform approach, like the figurative works from Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala, as well as many from India called weft-float patterns. These fabrics usually include individual figures or animals and are woven with a discontinuous supplementary weft. A distinction can be made for color changes across a row, between continuous supplementary wefts, where the pattern weft continues from selvedge to selvedge, and discontinuous supplementary wefts, where the pattern weft only travels across a portion of the row. Most discontinuous styles use different colors traveling partially across the same rows similar to tapestry weaving, to create different figures.

One night, while browsing weaving videos on Youtube, as I often do, I stumbled on the little known technique called Branoe weaving from Russia. I love the rigid heddle for it’s ease and portability and especially for the small commitment with speedy dressing that gets me weaving in a very short time. I quickly realized while watching all of Kelly Casanova’s fascinating videos on Branoe weaving that something about it was very familiar. I also love to do Fair Isle, stranded and mosaic knitting. Each is done by following a simple gridded chart and working one stitch at a time across a row to create a beautifully patterned fabric. I tried the Branoe technique from the video and ventured off into a rabbit hole that I still haven’t emerged from that resulted in a book called “Crazyshot!- Creative Overshot Weaving for the Rigid Heddle Loom," - a deep dive into combining traditional charts from various fiber arts and the Branoe/overshot styles of weaving.

Simply put the cloth is woven by alternating picks of tabby weave that match the warp in weight and color with a heavier yarn that follows a chart for a patterned relief that sits on the surface of the fabric. One of the coolest things about this method is that the fabric is entirely reversible since the pattern sits over both the front and the back. While it’s definitely a labor of love to sit and pick every other row individually, I find it very meditative and rewarding. Most forms of overshot weaving on the rigid heddle loom, where the fabric and decoration are woven together with different thicknesses of thread or yarn, usually entail a laborious preset of multiple warps and or heddle rods with string heddles mimicking a four shaft loom. Because rigid heddle looms typically only accommodate one or two heddles, additional pick-up sticks or heddle rods with string heddles are often employed. There are even some methods where three heddles are employed and used in various combinations to duplicate all four shafts. In this case the overall design is predetermined and warping through each heddle follows a very specific route based on the pattern chosen. One mistake in warping can cost you the entire outcome of the fabric.

What makes Branoe and the simple supplementary-weft techniques so exciting and accessible to anyone who can weave a plain cloth is that it uses only one heddle and one pick-up stick to create complex-looking patterns with endless variations. A multitude of patterns can be created including some which would be impossible to weave on a multi shaft loom. It’s also very easy to correct mistakes by watching each row as you weave, much like knitting, and unweaving incorrect rows before you progress.

Because fabrics made with a supplementary-weft techniques tend to be thicker and firmer than plain weaves, most are used for decorative home goods and accessories. These fabrics may not be suitable for clothing, where drape is a concern, but can be used as beautiful borders. I’m currently experimenting with weaving different weights of thread and yarn to see if I can produce a more wearable fabric. The adventure continues! More info about Crazyshot with lots of photos can be seen at: myrawood.com/crazyshot

Elegant patterns on your rigid heddle loom are easier than you can imagine! Here author and expert weaver Myra Wood introduces makers to a world of creative weaving that uses one heddle and one pick-up stick to  explore color, design, and texture. Crazyshot! includes complete step-by-step instructions for weaving 14 eye-catching designs, along with how-tos for the single heddle overshot technique, an overview of how to read charts for the rigid heddle loom, finishing techniques, and tips and tricks for successful and satisfying results

Crazyshot - creative overshot weaving - introduces anyone who uses a rigid heddle loom to a whole world of creative weaving. Using just one heddle and one pick-up stick, you"ll explore color, design, and texture, taking your weaving to the next level. Complete step-by-step instructions are included for weaving all 14 designs in this book. Also provided are how-tos for the single heddle overshot technique, reading charts for the rigid heddle loom, and finishing techniques, along with lots of tips and tricks for successful and satisfying results. Complex patterning is easier than it looks with this simple charted technique. All you need are basic rigid heddle warping and weaving skills to start your next weaving adventure!

With one heddle and one stick, Myra Wood explores the art of working with ground and pattern wefts in this creative approach to rigid-heddle weaving. Known for her for colorwork across many mediums, Myra beautifully illustrates that complex does not have to be complicated. --Liz Gipson, Author of A Weaver"s Guide to Yarn and other books for rigid-heddle weaving and the host of the Yarnworker School

Language: English. Brand new Book. Elegant patterns on a Rigid Heddle Loom are easier than you can imagine!Crazyshot - creative overshot weaving - introduces anyone who uses a rigid heddle loom to a whole world of creative weaving. Using just one heddle and one pick-up stick, you"ll explore color, design, and texture, taking your weaving to the next level. Complete step-by-step instructions are included for weaving all 14 designs in this book. Also provided are how-tos for the single heddle overshot technique, reading charts for the rigid heddle loom, and finishing techniques, along with lots of tips and tricks for successful and satisfying results. Complex patterning is easier than it looks with this simple charted technique. All you need are basic rigid heddle warping and weaving skills to start your next weaving adventure!With one heddle and one stick, Myra Wood explores the art of working with ground and pattern wefts in this creative approach to rigid-heddle weaving. Known for her for colorwork across many mediums, Myra beautifully illustrates that complex does not have to be complicated. --Liz Gipson, Author of A Weaver"s Guide to Yarn and other books for rigid-heddle weaving and the host of the Yarnworker School. Seller Inventory # AAV9780980018271

Weaving is experiencing a renaissance of sorts in the western world, with various looms available for beginners and professionals alike. Owning a loom allows weavers to create complex weave structures, which was initially done on floor looms that took two people to operate.

Luckily today, there is a variety of rigid heddle looms, and table looms that are smaller and more economical than their larger counterparts. Before choosing a rigid heddle loom, it’s essential to know what to look for, such as weaving width, if it’s foldable for portability, price, and type of wood it’s made out of, which will determine how much upkeep it might need.

Rigid heddle looms are excellent for those just entering the world of weaving due to their ease of use. The main difference between a rigid heddle loom and a table or harness loom is that the rigid heddle completes two primary functions, the first is to create the opening or eye for each warp yarn strand to pass through and to control the shed to ensure even warp tension and an even warping process.

A rigid heddle loom is supported by a heddle block that guides the heddle in an up and down motion within the rigid heddle reed. The heddle reed functions to secure the cloth and store it. While not as fast as a harness loom, a rigid loom can still create beautiful weaving patterns, especially if using a second heddle.

A table loom has separate variable dent reeds that are not combined on a rigid heddle loom. This small detail limits the types of designs created on a heddle loom.

For those new to weaving, there are specific terms that are commonly used in weaving that are important to understand. The first is that weaving involves warp threads that run east to west on the loo; the second is the weft that is woven into the warp. Weaving happens when one of the following actions are completed:

Sometimes called either shuttling or picking due to the parts of the loom used, picking is using a pick or stick shuttles to pass the weft through the warp. Some stick shuttles have one or two threads held by a bobbin or woven around the shuttle, releasing the weft yarn as the stick passes through the warp threads.

The cloth beam ensures an even warp, similar to the warping peg, by tightening the woven fabric. The cloth beam is usually located at the base of the loom.

The reed has two functions, similar to a rigid heddle. The first is to keep the dents even, and the second is to feed the pick to the base of the cloth.

The rigid heddle weaving width ranges from 10–48-inches wide. The smaller the size loom, the easier it is to learn weaving. Although, a wide loom provides more options to weave broader projects.

Weavers also can purchase two stick shuttles, a loom stand, or a heddle option for the different types of weaving patterns. Most larger looms come with threading hooks, warping pegs, table clamps, yarn, and weaving instructions.

A general rule for using bulky yarns is to use a five dent rigid heddle. A rigid heddle with a lower number is designed for thicker yarns. Weavers can go a bit higher for worsted yarns, between eight and a 10 rigid heddle. When purchasing additional heddles, be sure to order the correct one as the knitter’s loom is different than a standard rigid heddle loom.

Ashford looms are the industry standard for rigid heddle looms. An Ashford loom is known for its quality, durability, and ease of use, depending on the model. This rigid heddle loom is economical and made of all-natural silver Beechwood to be stained or left unfinished. This loom comes with reed nylon, two shuttles, a threading hook, a warping peg, and one clamp.

It’s important to note that an Ashford knitters loom isn’t the same as a regular rigid heddle loom. Some differences are that the cog and pawl ensure there’s always tension with or without warp. What’s more, a knitters loom folds, whereas this rigid heddle loom does not. Another essential feature is that the warp runs from the warp beam to the cloth beam with all Ashford looms, which provides an angle while weaving. As the warp gets larger, the angle is reduced.

This Schacht Cricket loom is the right rigid heddle loom for a beginner. Anyone investing in their first rigid heddle loom will appreciate the compact size, smaller weaving width, and weaving capabilities of this Schacht Cricket loom. Note that this loom does not fold for those looking for portable looms, but the Schacht flip loom does.

Schacht looms, similar to Ashford looms, have an excellent reputation for quality in the weaving world. Beginners can start weaving plain weaves after about 15 minutes of a quick assembly. This loom comes with stick shuttles, a threading hook, a warping peg, a reed, and yarn.

Beginners or experienced weavers alike looking for an affordable loom will like the portability of this Ashford Sampleit loom. This loom comes with an already built-in second heddle kit that allows weavers to double the width, thickness, or inches of fabric. This rigid heddle loom includes a threading hook, warping peg, and two shuttles. Note, the second heddle must be purchased separately.

Weavers can quickly use up their yarn stash with this easy-to-use rigid heddle loom. Even though they are both Ashford rigid heddle looms, there are slight differences in the extra parts. When purchasing additional parts, be sure to buy for the Sampleit loom and not the Ashford knitters loom.

Ashford rigid heddle looms at this size are for weavers who have a lot of space to work on their weaving. This piece comes with a loom stand, a trestle stand to be clear, that due to its design helps make weaving on a loom this size more manageable and more stable.

Experienced weavers can create rugs, scarves, wall hangings, or even large throws for a bed or sofa. This rigid heddle loom can also accommodate double heddle blocks, with each heddle block available for purchase as part of a rigid heddle kit. In addition, this loom comes in different loom sizes, including 16, 24, and 32 inches.

As far as folding rigid heddle looms go, this Kromski is an excellent choice. This loom is small enough to be folded, similar to a knitters loom, for greater portability. Weavers can purchase a second heddle kit to warp yarns into more complex patterns.

This wraps up our guide to the best rigid heddle looms. Not only have we discussed how you could identify different kinds of rigid heddle looms, but we’ve also shared our recommendations in various contexts.

We’ve discussed how you can choose the best rigid heddles and why these critical deciding factors are essential, including weaving size, foldability, price, and type of wood. We’ve outlined them thoroughly to help you understand them easily.

Lastly, we’ve combined our recommendations in different situations. So whether buying the best rigid heddle loom for beginners, looking for a large loom, or even an affordable option, we’ve discussed it all.

Lauraine is a freelance writer with a strong background in the arts. Lauraine is currently finishing her novel and has been exploring different art mediums for over two decades. Her favorite art activities include drawing, painting (especially watercolor painting), designing haute couture clothes, photography, and designing and creating gifts for family and friends.

In addition to Lauraine"s expertise in art, she has experience in commerce content, grant writing, and health and wellness. Before becoming a freelancer, Lauraine held various positions in large and grassroots organizations locally and abroad.

If you are lucky enough to have a local shop nearby that supports weaving, please support them.  They can give you personal handholding when you need it, and they offer you the invaluable service of allowing you to get hands-on experience when picking your yarn, fiber, and equipment. Consider your loom, book, and other materials support of this service.

This page includes affiliate links from Amazon. I encourage you to support your local retailer, although I fully recognize not everyone is lucky enough to have a local book or weaving store nearby. The small income from these links help fund this site.

Craftsy/BluPrint was recently purchased by TN Marketing. There were a number of rigid-heddle classes available under the Craftsy brand. Keep an eye on their website for updates.

Below are manufacturers that currently manufacture rigid heddle looms. You may find other discontinued looms at a garage sale or online. Although they may seem like a bargain, many of the current loom manufactures have redesigned or reissued their looms with today’s weaver in mind. Buying a good tool is always worth the price!

*These manufactures have updated their loom designs. If you first experienced the rigid-heddle loom more than a decade ago, these are not the looms you remember.  Advanced manufacturing technology has made more features possible. There is a good loom comparison chart posted in the Rigid Heddle Loom group on Ravelry that was compiled by triplr95 and Stella8523 and updated by Climberknits in October of 2017. This blog post I wrote on beams may also help you think about your loom choice.

Hello, friends. What a busy week we’ve had here in Harrisville. I’ve made a new acquisition to my home studio: a trestle stand for my rigid heddle loom! I’m really excited about it. The stand allows one to position the loom at an angle appropriate for her and keeps the loom off of the floor when not in use. Assembly of the stand was not difficult. I’m really excited about the possibility of taking my loom outside on the patio on a nice day and working outdoors!

I designed this rigid heddle scarf to introduce color and weave effects to newer weavers. The warping of the pattern is a bit fiddly, so it helps to have a solid understanding of warping a rigid heddle; it is not a good “first” project. The pattern is available for instant download in my Etsy shop. You may also purchase the pattern right here with Paypal and I will email the file to you.

Also related to rigid heddle weaving, the workshop at Harrisville Designs went well. My goal as workshop leader was to help new weavers gain the background and confidence needed to warp and to weave on the rigid heddle loom on their own, at home, and be excited about it! Here are just a couple of photos of the lovely creations woven by class participants:

We were even able to touch on a couple of techniques beyond plain weave, including basket weave (a plain weave variation) and Brooks bouquet, which adds a lacy touch to handwoven plain weave fabric with no pick-up stick or crochet hook or extra heddle required.

Using more than one color in the warp (I’ve used 3 here) is an interesting exercise. To my eye, the texture of the weaving structure really seems to shine. Of course, after the cloth is off of the loom and finished, we might be looking at an entirely different kettle of fish. But that’s what makes this whole gig so fun, right?

Elegant patterns on a Rigid Heddle Loom are easier than you can imagine! Crazyshot - creative overshot weaving - introduces anyone who uses a rigid heddle loom to a whole world of creative weaving. Using just one heddle and one pick-up stick, you"ll explore color, design, and texture, taking your weaving to the next level. Complete step-by-step instructions are included for weaving all 14 designs in this book. Also provided are how-tos for the single heddle overshot technique, reading charts for the rigid heddle loom, and finishing techniques, along with lots of tips and tricks for successful and satisfying results. Complex patterning is easier than it looks with this simple charted technique. All you need are basic rigid heddle warping and weaving skills to start your next weaving adventure! With one heddle and one stick, Myra Wood explores the art of working with ground and pattern wefts in this creative approach to rigid-heddle weaving. Known for her for colorwork across many mediums, Myra beautifully illustrates that complex does not have to be complicated. --Liz Gipson, Author of A Weaver"s Guide to Yarn and other books for rigid-heddle weaving and the host of the Yarnworker School

The “humble” rigid heddle loom can do so much, as I hope the pictures above show. A beginner is most definitely what I am at the time of writing, as I have been weaving for only over six months on the rigid heddle. Hence there may be a lot missing from the info below.

However, with my bewilderment with terminology still very fresh in my mind, I thought I might save other beginners some grief by collecting what I know below. I dived into three heddle weaving almost straightaway, from my very second project (pictured above), so the list below also includes resources for weaving with three heddles, as well as four shaft drafts.

We’ve got to start from the beginning, right? I got my 16″/40cm SampleIt as part of the “Ashford complete weaving kit“, which was issued around Christmas but seems to be available throughout the year. On the plus side: it is a bargain, and it comes with absolutely everything you need to get going, including two extra reeds, even 200g yarn for your first project, two pickup sticks, Rowena Hart’s “The Ashford Book of Rigid Heddle Weaving” – check the full details in the link. I think it is VERY good value for money. On the downside: it is shorter than other looms, so at the very least you have to advance the warp more frequently, and fitting three heddles is more finnicky than on a full sized loom; although smaller than standard rigid heddle looms, it does not fold, so if you travel you need a full size luggage (dimensions are not compatible with hand luggage if you fly). Unlike several other brands, the bottom does not double as warping board. Still, it is very cheap as a bundle, and works perfectly if you are not sure whether you’ll enjoy weaving, since it sets you up to get the most out of it.

The most common brands and anyhow those I researched are Ashford (SampleIt as entry level, Rigid Heddle Loom as standard, Knitters’ loom folds), Kromski(Presto as entry level, and Harp Forte, which folds, as standard size) and Shacht (Cricket as entry level, Flip as standard. Both fold), all available in the UK.

When researching what loom to buy, I found this blog post very clear and useful. For your first loom you’d be probably shooting in the dark: you won’t know until you start what is that you like, and what catches your fancy – I got into sewing at “granny age” because of my rigid heddle loom!

Things to consider are the obvious: budget, and what you want to do with it, which will determine the weaving width you want. Bear in mind that a larger width requires larger space to the side to manage the stick shuttles (boat shuttles are also used successfully by some, but the lower tension in rigid heddle looms as compared to multi shaft looms, and the lack of a race, mean that unless the yarn is really fine, the boat shuttle will end up on the floor quite often!). Also, larger room may require investment in a dedicated stand, as weaving with the loom on a tabletop may be quite uncomfortable/unwieldy.

In my (admittedly very limited) experience knitting yarn works perfectly well, in fact that is all I’ve been using on my rigid heddle loom. Just be careful with what you use as warp yarn: strong (so that it won’t break with all the abrasion from the reed dents going back and forth) and smooth (so that warp threads don’t stick together and give you a clear shed) is key for warp yarn. For weft you can use absolutely anything you like.

“Inventive weaving on a little loom”, by Syne Mitchell. This one starts from the very beginning, with the first three chapters taking you step by step into weaving and what could go wrong. It is great on three heddle weaving and how to translate drafts for shaftt looms to the rigid heddle loom. I learned about the latter on other sources thoug (see below). Available also as ebook.

“The Weaver’s Idea Book” by Jane Patrick assumes you have a little confidence with your loom already, e.g. you’ve done your first project on it, in the sense that it starts in earnest with weaving. It is one of those books that will really take you to another level if you go through it cover-to-cover (which I haven’t done yet, though). It has absolutely everything, and it will take you from absolute beginner to super expert. It is also full of projects for each technique. Available also as ebook.

“Handwoven Home”, by Liz Gipson aka Yarnworker is project base: with each project you learn a new technique, and there are also knowledge chapters at the beginning that cover the basics of weaving. Since each author has different preferences, having more than one text to teach you the basic is I think no bad thing. Available also as ebook.

“The Handweaver’s Pattern Directory”, by Anne Dixon. A four shaft loom, or a rigid heddle loom with three heddles, has “only” 14 possible sheds. Yet with threading and threading these can be combined to one’s heart’s content, and over 600 patterns are contained in this book. It is a must have, full of illustrations with both draft and the cloth produced. Only available as physical book, but the spiral bound and hardcover make it quite handy to look up.

A substantial section of chapter 6 in “Inventive weaving on a little loom” is devoted to three heddle weaving: this opens up all four shaft possibilities, including twills, lace, overshot and double weave. There are limitations, in that to avoid cross threads it may be just impossible to weave some patterns using the full width of your loom; and some patterns in overshot patterned double weave will just not be doable because of the way in which warp threads have to alternate in the heddles. However, there is no risk of running out of things to do for a very long while!

My introduction to three heddle weaving however came from this and this blog posts, which opened my eye to the fact that even the short Ashford SampleIt loom I owned could fit three heddles – so I will be forever grateful to

Very extensive and clear resources are to be found among Kelly Casanova’s youtube videos, and on Liz Gipson webpage. She organises free weavealongs, around projects from her book.

Finally, another source of knowledge are the webpages of the various manufacturers: they’ve got typically videos and blogs to get you going and exploring. My most frequent go to is Ashford, including their blog, where you will also find projects. Weft Blown, one of my favourite shops, has a blog with concise but extensive information, here.

Besides’s Liz Gipson’s book mentioned above, if you sew (and even if you do not) you can also keep going as you are on plain weave but creating with yarn you have to play with texture and try some of Sarah Howard’s patterns (no affiliation, just a very satisfied customer – I think I’ve only not bought four or five of them), which are designed specifically for the rigid heddle loom in mind (I also have a 16” rigid heddle loom, and made this on it – sorry to brag, I still cannot believe I did that! My first ever sewing project was another of Sarah Howard’s pattern, turned into this skirt.)

And then of course the “obvious” sources of projects: magazines! Handwoven magazine in particular always has some Rigid Heddle Loom projects, but once equipped with the knowledge to weave 4 shaft patterns, there are loads of such projects there too!

If you landed on this page, you were possibly surfing the net – it is where I found all the above! Let me just add a couple of more places you may want to check out, again specific to rigid heddle loom weaving:

The photo is my version of Linda Marveng"s Aki, the first proper project after "being born again". After getting back into knitting, weaving has also become my passion (with a little sewing to turn my handweaving into garments).View all posts by lovestoswatch

We have been getting lots of questions from folks wanting to try out new crafts now that most of us are spending a lot more time at home. We"re excited that lots of new fiber artists are going to enter the world! Since we"re getting so many questions we decided to make a series of blog posts with some basic info to start you off with several different fiber craft disciplines! This week we"re going to cover: Rigid Heddle Weaving!

A rigid heddle loom is an ideal choice to economically learn to weave. The name is derived from the structure of the heddle. A heddle functions to raise or lower the warp threads. A rigid heddle is a fixed panel that moves the warp threads as a group, as opposed to individually thread movement like a wire or Texsolv heddle. A rigid heddle loom is the equivalent of a 2-harness loom, it will allow you to weave light work, such as placemats, dishtowels, scarves, shawls or fabric for clothing. Rigid heddle looms cannot support the tension required for projects like rugs.

At The Woolery we often recommend rigid heddle looms to newbie weavers who want to jump into weaving but don"t want too large of an investment in a new hobby. Rigid heddle looms can be very small and affordable, and are perfect or giving weaving a test drive! The skills and techniques developed on a rigid heddle loom are all transferable to other types of looms, including the larger table and floor looms.

Weaving Width - This is the maximum width your projects can have. It is not something that can be changed later on and is set in stone from the moment you purchase the loom. Remember that you can always weave narrower than your maximum weaving width, so it"s safer to go with a wider loom to make sure you have enough versatility for the types of projects you want to weave.

Second Heddle- This is another thing you need to think about in the beginning because some rigid heddle looms have the ability for a second heddle to be added and some do not. The second heddle has two functions. It can allow a rigid heddle loom to mimic a four-harness loom. It also can allow a weaver to use the finer cotton weaving yarns more commonly used on floor and table looms.

Space- If you are limited on space you might want to consider a loom that can be folded so as to take up even less space than a standard rigid heddle loom.

Wood Finishing - Some looms are sold with unfinished wood. We highly recommend that you finish unfinished loom wood before working with your loom. If you don"t want to bother with wood finishing, pick a loom that has finished wood.

Available Heddle Dents- The dent size of your rigid heddle determines how far apart your warp ends are going to be and also determines the size yarn you can use. Certain brands have a larger amount of sizes available. If you already know you want to use Laceweight or small yarns you might need to take this into consideration. If you are not already attached to a certain size of yarn, then you don"t need to worry about this.

Most of the other differences between rigid heddle looms are going to superficial personal preference type options such as; brand, visual style, and wood type.

We have several rigid heddle loom options, these are our favorite options for beginners:Schacht Cricket Loom - The Cricket Loom is compact, capable and cute! It comes in both 10" and 15" weaving widths. Both options come with everything you need to start your first project in the box. There are floor stands available for both sizes of this loom. The loom comes with an 8 dent heddle (suitable for Worsted Weight) and 5, 10, and 12 dent heddles can be purchased separately. There is NOT a 2nd heddle option for this loom. This loom is made of unfinished maple and apple plywood and comes unfinished.

Ashford Knitters Loom - The Ashford Knitter"s Loom is lightweight, collapsible, and portable. It comes fully assembled and finished. There are 3 available weaving widths, 12", 20", and 28". There is a floor stand available for all three sizes. It comes with a 7.5 dent heddle and you can get additional heddles in 2.5, 5, 10, 12.5, and 15 dent heddles separately. Ashford rigid heddle looms offer the most variety for dent sizes. It comes with everything you need for your first project except yarn. It even comes with the 2nd heddle blocks so you can install them and have the capability for two heddles right away. If you don"t need your loom to fold or care about the wood being finished look into the Ashford Rigid Heddle loom as it has most of the same features (but does come in different weaving widths).

Kromski Harp Forte - If you are into a more traditional style of elaborate turned wood features, the Harp might be the loom for you! The harp is available in two different finishes a light wood and walnut. There are four available weaving widths, 8", 16", 24", and 32". It can fold for a smaller storage profile. The loom comes with a 8 dent heddle and 5, 10, and 12 dent heddles can be purchased separately. It comes with a 2nd heddle block option. There is also a floor stand available.

Most looms we carry come with all of the necessary bits and bobs to get started weaving, but there are some additional items you may wish to purchase to expand your weaving journey.Pick Up Sticks - These allow you to create additional sheds in your weaving to create more elaborate patterns. We do not recommend them for your first projects, but after you have a couple projects under your belt it might be something you want to explore.

Warping can often be the process of weaving that scares away beginners, but we promise it"s not scary! All of the loom models we recommend here come with booklets with instructions for warping that particular loom. There are also very helpful YouTube videos available:

You can use almost any yarn on your rigid heddle loom as long as you are using the correct heddle dent size. Here are some options that are particularly good for beginners as they can be woven with the heddle that comes with your rigid heddle loom.

Omega Sinfonia - This is a 100% Mercerized Cotton, 6 ply yarn. It comes in balls of 218 yards. This is a sport weight yarn so it"s a little smaller than you would normally weave with on an 8/7.5 dent heddle, but that"s okay your project will just have a little bit looser weave!

Handspun Hope Organic Merino Yarn - Certified 100% organic wool yarn is hand spun and dyed in Rwanda by the ladies of Handspun Hope. It comes in 185 yard skeins. Handspun Hope is a certified member of the Fair Trade Federation.

While YouTube is a fantastic resource, sometimes nothing can beat a quality book.Weaving Made Easy by Liz Gipson - Author Liz Gipson give you the tools to make working on a rigid-heddle loom a joy in this revised and updated version of her much loved book. Added to this edition is step-by-step instructions on how to set up your loom in twenty minutes or less, finishing tips, and two new projects, as well as more headers to make it easier to find just the tip you are looking for to make your weaving time more enjoyable.

Inventive Weaving On A Little Loom by Syne Mitchell - This essential guide explores the full capabilities of trigid heddle looms, covering all the basics and offering an amazing array of projects. Crafters will be thrilled by the possibilities: satisfying tapestry and transparency projects, bead weaving and e-textiles, and dramatic effects using simple finger-manipulated techniques. Adding a second or third heddle allows for more complex weaving, such as overshot, shadow weave, and very fine threads

Ashford Book of Rigid Heddle Weaving by Rowena Hart - International weaving teacher, Rowena Hart, shows how you can create exciting, beautiful garments and crafts - all on the simple two shaft rigid heddle loom. In the book she guides you step-by-step through the many techniques, showing just how easy it is to make your woven creations come alive through color and texture.

There are so many creative things you can do with a rigid heddle loom! The most common types of projects are scarves, placemats, dishtowels, or shawls. You can also weave fabric and then sew it with other fabrics to create garments or bags. You are limited by the weaving width of your loom so if you were wanting to make something very wide like a blanket you could only achieve it by sewing together multiple panels of fabric. We recommend playing with plain weave (just standard back and forth weaving, no fancy patterning) and then maybe branching out to try some different techniques! We have a blog post, Rigid Heddle Texture Infusion that details how to make a plain weave scarf using some fun different yarn textures!

We also carry some kits that are great for rigid heddle looms!DJE Timeless 2 Tea Towel Kit - The reason things become "a classic" is timeless appeal and usefulness. Woven on one warp, this classic plaid and striped towel kit (1 towel of each design) features The Woolery"s Bluegrass Mills Hemp yarn. The hemp yarns make a super absorbent fabric with great body, durability and just a touch of shine. With the warp already wound, this is a fast, easy weave for all experience levels. You will need two 8-dent heddles.

DJE Crossroads Infinity Scarf Kit - Utilizing two sizes of hand painted Tencel combined in two color and weave patterns, this design is reminiscent of the patterns created as roads intersect on maps and the landscape. The scarf has lovely shimmer and a luxurious drape.

DJE Bloom Scarf Kit- Featuring Mountain Colors hand-painted 4/8"s 100% merino wool and two variations of leno lace weave, this kit celebrates spring foliage colors. Wet finishing the scarf makes the yarns bloom, creating a super soft, cuddly scarf that is light enough to wear indoors, yet warm enough for snuggly comfort outdoors.

It is important to note - You cannot make rugs on a rigid heddle loom, only rug shaped objects. A rigid heddle loom cannot stand up to the high level of tension required to make a durable rug. This means that any "rug" you create on the rigid heddle loom will deteriorate very quickly to use and be more of a "rug shaped object" than an actual useable rug. If you try to jack up the tension on your rigid heddle loom you will cause the loom to bend out of shape and become damaged over time. If you are insistent that you want to weave rugs you"re going to be looking at a floor loom, not a rigid heddle loom.

We hope this is a good jumping off point for your in your rigid heddle weaving journey and we can"t wait to see all of the beautiful hand woven projects you create!