Posted by mike on Saturday, 4 August 2007, at 2:22 p.m.:
In Reply to: Cost of loom posted by Merry Jo on Saturday, 4 August 2007, at 2:12 p.m.:
Starting a new hobby can be exciting and
confusing. Here are some ideas that might
help you decide where to begin.
You might want to try to decide if there is
any particular type of weaving that especially interests
you. Do you think you might want to make blankets?
How about rugs? Maybe you prefer smaller items, like
placemats or table runners. Do you like intricate patterns?
How about weaving belts or handbags? Are you thinking of
weaving cloth for sewing? It would always be best to use
a loom that has been designed to weave the weight and size
of cloth that you desire.
Something else to think about is the amount of time that
you might be willing to spend to actually weave something.
A simple project might only take a few hours, a
more complex item could take a year. Most simple items
can be woven on simple, inexpensive looms.
You might want to also consider how much space you have
available for your equipment. Weaving equipment tends to be
bulky, so you want to be sure that storage won't be a problem.
Personally, I like to make smaller items that I can finish in a
reasonable amount of time. I primarily like to try new techniques
and patterns. I also enjoy the tactile experience that I get from
handling the yarns on smaller looms.
Here are the looms that I use in order of complexity and cost.
Inkle loom - Primary for belt and strap weaving. Easy to warp.
Projects can be finished in several hours. Patterned
weaves can be quite fun. $50 - $100.
Rigid Heddle loom - I think that this would be the best loom to learn
on. These loom are available in many widths. There
are a lot of patterns that you can try. More pattern
variations can be achieved by adding heddles or dowels
with tie-ups. Portable. Inexpensive. $100 - up
Frame Loom (Navajo Loom) -
A simple loom that you might be able to make
yourself. Smaller looms can be used for tapestry.
Larger looms can be used for rugs and blankets.
$50 - up
Table Top 4-harness loom
The one I have has a weaving width of 24". I like it
primary because it folds flat for storage but it still
has a wide weaving width. Versatile. $250 - up
There's a couple of techniques that you might check out that don't require
any loom.
Backstrap Weaving - Very little equipment is required. Dowels,etc. but
experienced weavers can produce beautiful pieces.
Card Weaving - Just requires some punched cards and a couple of
clamps. Good for belts and staps.
You can probably find books that cover all of the above looms and techniques
at your local library or online.
I hope that some of this info will be useful.
Happy weaving!