A few weeks ago, I woke up with a thought buzzing in my brain.
"Check the Warped Weavers Marketplace."
"It's 6:30 in the morning."
"Check the Warped Weavers Marketplace."
"Fine. Why?"
"Don't worry about it."
I hadn't looked at the used equipment boards on Ravelry in a while, so I was met with several new "for sale" posts, and found myself looking at a couple of used Macomber looms—both in Maryland. One was for pickup only, and the other would ship. I sat back for a moment, realizing I knew next to nothing about floor loom brands, features, or types. And I wasn't even in the market for a floor loom!
But the bug had bitten me.
I had been admiring the work of several weavers over on Instagram, especially Kate Kilgus, who weaves on a Leclerc Nilus II. Recently, I completed a 2/2 point twill project on my 24-inch rigid heddle loom and, while part of me was content with the slow but rhythmically steady pace of weaving twill that way, I was also thinking a bit about how much more efficient a treadle loom would be for production weaving.
Production weaving is something I've wanted to pursue for a little while now. I want to be able to make runs of useful items, finish them, and put them up for sale in my webshop—and eventually at in-person shows. While I still have a lot of learning to do, I am also comfortable enough with simple designs to feel good selling a finished product.
With these ideas in mind, I broached the subject with my spouse. While we're very much a "you don't need my permission" household, we do like to discuss expensive items, and new floor looms with the features I'm looking for can range anywhere from $3,250 to $5,000.
Not. Cheap.
Thankfully, he's very supportive of my hobbies and general well-being, so it quickly became clear that this wouldn't be an "if" but rather a "when," and I set off to compare looms.
Well, a day and a half later, I had made myself a spreadsheet. It's not perfect, but you're welcome to peek at it! (Click on the image to open in a new tab and view at original size.)
The chart includes only 8-harness, 10-treadle floor looms, because those are the parameters I was specifically looking for.
To be perfectly honest, I spent a long time waffling between various looms. The only one that was never a strong contender was the Schacht Standard, due to sheer cost. I spent a couple hours trying to find the difference between the Leclerc Artisat and the Nilus II, and discovered that the Artisat folds up from both the front and back beams, and the Nilus II folds only from the back beam. Likewise, the Nilus II is heavier and sturdier. The Harrisville with added studio equipment package from Eugene Textile Center (ETC) is incredibly attractive (it even includes a bench!), but the Harrisville is also the lightest weight loom on the chart, and if you're interested in rugs or anything requiring a heavy beat, it won't be the loom for you. However, if portability is high on your list and you're not looking to make such items, it's a strong contender!
It's all give and take, cost and features, portability and stability. When I started the spreadsheet, I had only five looms listed, but as I researched I was reminded about the Harrisville and Ashford options.
If you're in the market, don't let my final selection color your opinions. Seek out information, watch videos, and feel free to use or build off of my chart. If you'd like an Excel copy, I'm happy to send you one.
At the end of my search, I decided on the Ashford Jack Loom. It's a sturdy loom with removable back and front beams for easy threading, its back beam folds in to save space when not in use, it comes standard with Texsolv heddles, it has a built-in raddle, and if purchased from Pacific Wool and Fiber it comes with a free add-on item (I'm choosing the large warping board). There's a great video from Kate Sherratt at Ashford on YouTube if you're interested in how this specific loom works.
We're working on our budget and figuring out when I'll be able to order a new loom, if a used one in good condition doesn't show up in the meantime. (Being closer to the West Coast, used looms are harder to come by.)
Since deciding to take the plunge, I've been watching a lot of weaving videos, mostly from Felicia at SweetGeorgia, who has a wonderful way of explaining things and being relatable and trying to make things as accessible as possible for folks. I feel like I've learned a ton, but I'm also itching to learn hands-on. I'm poking through my stash and thinking about the possibilities to come.
So, this weekend I went ahead and rearranged the craft room to make space. While I don't know when a floor loom will grace this floor, I do know that rearranging furniture now and building a loom later is a better option than doing both back to back. I also took the opportunity to open up the room so I have better access to the windows and easy access to everything else.
While not the tidiest-looking, I did accomplish a bit of cable management on my PC and set up the desk perpendicular to the bookshelves that hold nearly all of my fiber and yarn stash, as well as reference books.
Last night's WIP was the beautiful burgundy Merino/yak/silk blend I started spinning over the summer and let languish on the shelf these past few months. It's great to be back at it, and I'm looking forward to knitting and weaving with more handspun in the future.
If you have a loom you love, stories about how you ended up with yours, or a loom you've been dreaming of for years, feel free to comment! I'd love to hear about your experiences.
Until next time, stay cozy, stay crafty, and don't be a stranger. 💗
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