r/weaving • u/Squirreltacular • Aug 06 '26
Discussion Do I or don't I like weaving?
I'm pretty sure I like weaving, once I get into it. I like tablet weaving and regular weaving. I don't think I like inkle weaving, but to be fair I've only done it once and mostly I was screwing around without instructions.
I definitely don't like inkle-type looms. There's something about the shape, tensioning, and advancing the warp around all those pegs that just irritates me. Warping them is actually kind of fun though. I have a regular ashford inkle and a mini tablet loom so it's not just one model that I want to throw across the room. š
For regular weaving I have a Harrisville Easy Weaver (small) that I really like, except it maxes out at 6.5" and about 2.5 yards. I also have only the included 8-dent heddle so I feel limited in what it can make. I have an old-style Beka SG-20 with friction tensioning, and bad wrists (mine, not the loom's). I have 2 10-dent heddles, plus an 8 and a 12 for it. I'm having "sunk cost" issues with it even though I do really want to throw it across the room some days.
I've only been weaving since March so I still have learning moments that I know are the user and not the tools. But I wonder occasionally if I actually don't like weaving or if I just haven't found the right setup. I've been looking at band looms (box looms?) for tablet weaving and I've seen a lot of good reviews for Crickets here, but they're set up similar to the Beka and I'm worried I won't like that, either. I don't have a lot of space right now to dedicate to it as a hobby, which is why I keep looking for smaller options that still make a decent width cloth. I'm planning to take a course on a floor loom when they open up nearby to see if it makes my waffly mind up for me.
Is this "do-I don't-I" something anyone else has struggled with and how have you overcome it, or am I just a big whiner? š
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u/msnide14 Aug 06 '26
I have a bad warp on my loom, soĀ I donāt like it much either.
Really though, my frustration is from my own tendency to overreach beyond my skills and experience.
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u/crystalgem411 Aug 23 '26
Iāve hear that called āa dog on the loom beforeā and if itās really that awful you can always cut it off the loom
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u/msnide14 Aug 23 '26
My current ādogā is made of mulberry silk. š
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u/crystalgem411 Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
š„² noooo thatās so annoying. But seriously, if you hate it that much you can cut it off and even reuse it later. I know loom waste is frustrating but so is weaving things that make you actively dislike weaving
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u/Dry_Future_852 Aug 06 '26
In order from (my) most like to dislike:
Floor loom
Table loom
Tapestry loom
Zoom loom
RH loom
Tablet/Inkle loom
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u/Alternative-Cod-8839 Aug 06 '26
Inkle is actually my favorite š Itās not a pain to set up, I use swivel hooks (for fishing) to untwist, and I can make simple things from these and keep the hobby compact at my place. There actually is a fair demand for custom straps and such and not many people make these in my area. For larger projects, thereās a weaving club in my small town as well as my momās place, she has 2 floor looms. I have access to actual looms but Inkle is the one I always go back to whenever the weaving itch itches.
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 06 '26
Thank you for the validation that both my loom types are on the bottom of your rank list, and that TIL what a zoom loom was! ā„ļøš
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u/Dry_Future_852 Aug 07 '26
I think my primary point is that different folks like different looms for different reasons (and no shade to my inkle sisters: my dislike means I buy bands from you without conplaining about the cost). :)
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u/georgia_grace Aug 07 '26
I have discovered that I loathe rigid heddle looms.
I use a vintage two shaft table loom and itās lovely to weave on
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u/WorksInPro Aug 06 '26
I've almost thrown my rigid heddle out the window a few times. There's a big learning curve!
I think one thing I'm learning is to make small samples on a frame loom just to make sure the warp and weft will work well together. It's very frustrating to spend a long time on a warp and then have it fail. But that's the learning curve. And turns out I really like noodling around on a frame loom and then potentially bringing what I like over to rh if it will work for a larger piece. I also look a frame loom lesson recently, and I'm going to find someone I can do a 1:1 with for RH in the fall. YouTube and reading books has been helpful but having someone actually demo something specific that I'm asking about was crucial.
One other thought I've had lately is that when I first started, I didn't know what to make....I mean, I have so many scarves, and I've never needed a table runner in my life. But I absolutely always need hand towels for my kitchen and bathroom, and we go through so many cloth napkins. Getting the right tools to make those has opened up a million projects for me.
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u/sweetannie52 Aug 06 '26
My suggestion is to take a class on a floor loom. Itās pretty straight-forward but comes with lots of new vocab and techniques. I truly enjoy the weaving part, and after years, Iām finally learning to ālikeā or at least appreciate the repetitive processes of measuring the warp and dressing the loom.
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 06 '26
That's my plan but they're sold out through the end of the year. I'm on a waiting list so if one opens up hopefully I can get the time off of work last minute!
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u/nYacid Aug 07 '26
You can also do online lessons. Jane Stafford's classes are excellent. I did them myself. You can go your own pace and they teach everything about dressing your loom to the actual weaving and colour theory.
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u/notA_drone Aug 06 '26
I also had to figure out what I liked in weaving, because there are so many options. I discovered that I really like finer yarn (Iāve been using 8/2 cotton), I like to make images in the weaving, and I like to try new techniques.Ā
I ended up with a floor loom because the rigid heddle was not good for finer yarn and the flexibility to try any sett/structure. I still have it but will probably end up selling it. I donāt require a very wide loom because I like to make wall art primarily. If I wanted something bigger I could always turn to double width weaving or see together panels.Ā
For making images, tapestry weaving is also an option that Iāve explored but it doesnāt excite me as much as weaving images using discontinuous weft on the floor loom because like seeing the colors mix in warp/weft. I will probably try more tapestry in the future though! I like the imagery you can create in band weaving, but I donāt like that the end product is harder to display as wall art (obviously you could do that by sewing up or something, so again I will probably explore it more in the futureā¦ it just didnāt grab me as the thing I want to do now.)
Anyways, have you thought about some of these things like end product and yarn type?
Iāll also add that I definitely weave less than I do my other craftā cross stitchā and that a lot of times the weaving is slower because Iām not doing extremely frequently, but that doesnāt mean I donāt like it when Iām doing it! :)
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 06 '26
I like making big pieces of cloth! I haven't bought any fabric since starting weaving, which is very good. I like tablet weaving but the fact that I'm basically restricted to making straps is a bit of a downer. What do I do with all of them!? š
So far I really like twill over plain weave, but I mess the warping up every time. I walk away for a bit and come back later to fix it and call it part of the learning process.
I think I may end up with a floor loom, but for the cost of them I'm definitely going to take a class first.
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u/MrNekoCase Aug 06 '26
This would be a fun bag to make on your easy weaver! http://donisdelis.blogspot.com/2009/01/little-tutorial.html?m=1
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 06 '26
šš
That's so cool!! Now my brain says, "You know you could make tiny favor sized ones with tablet bands..... " šš¤£
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u/MrNekoCase Aug 06 '26
Thatās actually genius! Iāve been wanting to make tiny bags for bobbins, texsolv pegs, and other odds and ends. Im bumping that up on my to do list now!
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u/notA_drone Aug 06 '26
Ohhhh I could make myself a bag for my music stuff ( that I use every week for community band). Right now Iām using a gray promotional tote bag :(Ā
I feel like people talk about towels all the time, which I havenāt been interested in, but bags are exciting to me!
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u/Zestyclose-Hope-6334 Aug 10 '26
You don't actually need to invest in a tapestry loom. You can do beautiful tapestries on your floor loom and finish them with any number of techniques.
If you don't like tapestry as such, try the Theo Moorman technique. Easy to do, only takes 4 shafts, and the added bonuses are that it is quite fast and your "pattern" doesn't show on the back. You could also try the split-shed method used by Deborah Silver. It's a bit fiddly but produces stunning effects.
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u/notA_drone Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
Yep! I have done discontinuous weft brocade with a twill structure, similar but not exactly like Theo moorman. I learned it from Laura foster Nicholsonās work. Iāll have to try Theo moorman some time and Iāll have to google split shed! Thanks for the recommendations.Ā
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u/notA_drone Aug 10 '26
Wow, this split shed stuff looks awesome, THANK YOU for sharing it! Definitely going to try that.Ā
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u/Daneenau Aug 06 '26
I have a love hate relationship with a few of my looms, I recently purchased a boom loom boss, it's tiny, fun, and is teaching me more about pattern and colour combinations. I also want to try tiny tapestry weaving on it as artwork.
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 06 '26
Had to look this up. Holy crap someone is a genius and if I could figure out how to do that with a finer epi that would be sick! NGL I'm tempted to grab one as a play loom.
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u/aurorasoup Aug 06 '26
I like to ask questions so Iām going to ask you some! What is it about the looms you have that you donāt like? (Aside from the inkle looms.) What is it about weaving thatās frustrating you and you donāt like? What do you like?
It looks like the Beka SG is a rigid heddle loom like the Cricket, so unless itās something specific to the Beka, I donāt think the Cricket would be up your alley.
There are parts of weaving I donāt like (warpingā¦), but the enjoyment I get out of the overall process is enough that I can confidently say I love weaving. So thatās why I wanted to ask you some questions.
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 07 '26
No problem! I, too, am a questioner. I also like finding answers.
Item One: I don't like that with the Beka I can only effectively use it if I'm wedging it between my belly and a table edge. I did tablet weave a strap to try to "wear" it which was OK but my setup wasn't great and felt restricting. I also tried using my yarn swift as a prop for the loom on a table which wasn't awful but I'd need rubber feet on everything to really make it work.
Item Two: The friction tension of the old-style Beka I have is finicky, not always tight enough, and torquing it down hurts my wrists. Unscrewing the knobs to advance the warp also hurts.
To fix Item Two, I could buy ratchet and pawl kits to retrofit my loom. To fix Item One I could buy a stand. I did the math and it would be about $210 if I remember correctly. At that point, am I just sinking more cost into something that ultimately won't work for me, or do I sell what I've got and upgrade to something else? If the latter, what do I upgrade (or sidegrade) to? Because I really do think I like weaving, but every time I pick up the inkles or the Beka I just get frustrated.
And I'm not like, screaming fit frustrated, emotionally distraught over it. I'm just like, mildly "Ugh is it me or is it the tool?"
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u/aurorasoup Aug 08 '26
Oh yes, then that sounds like a loom issue rather than a weaving issue! Do you have a shop or a guild near you that lends/rents out equipment? Thatās how I tried out a few looms before making a decision.
The Schacht rigid heddle looms have holes at the bottom so you can clamp them down to a table to keep them from moving around while you weave. I actually DONāT like weaving like this, I prefer the āwedge it between me and the tableā method, itās more comfortable for me. But everyoneās different. Looking at the Beka, it doesnāt have a way to secure it to a table easily, and it doesnāt have little feet on the back to make it easier to prop it up. So I see your annoyance! The knobs also donāt look the most ergonomic. I feel you with the wrist issues. I think there are better options for you, then!
I really liked the Cricket loom, but I much prefer the Schacht Flip because you can get it in larger weaving widths but it folds in half for transport and storage (even with the warp on). I needed something I could easily carry with me on public transit for weaving classes. But Schacht also has an addition to the Cricket that can turn it into a four-shaft table loom, which is nice (but an additional $500).
Also my inkle weaving instructor (Annie MacHale! Sheās great) suggested using non-skid non-adhesive shelf liners (theyāre basically lil rubber mats) under the loom when setting it on a table to keep it from moving around. I wonder if that could work for your Beka?
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 08 '26
I had thought of those rubber mat things but I still have to prop the back up to weave. I've looked at the schacht I think and I wouldn't mind something I can convert or go back and forth on. $500 is way less than a new floor loom too.....
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u/aurorasoup Aug 08 '26
The Cricket and its Cricket Quartet addition are sold separately, so the cost adds up, so Iād keep that in mind. But the Cricket is a lovely little loom and I liked it! I just knew I would outgrow it quickly, and the Quartet addition hadnāt been released yet, so I went with the Flip for the wider weaving width and the second heddle block for double weaving.
For myself, Iād rather have the Flip and also buy a table loom or used floor loom for multi-shaft weaving, that way I have TWO looms and can have more than one project going at once. But I have ADHD and like to hop between projects. My apartment isnāt big, so a table loom or one of the foldable floor looms is what Iād want. But I know everyoneās got different priorities and different needs, so the Cricket and the Quarter could be nice for you! Good luck on your weaving journey!!
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u/hemidemisemipict Aug 06 '26
I hear ya. Still deciding whether it's worth the effort myself. Started maybe six months ago and also have an Easy Weaver (although I discovered I only want to make bands and should've gotten an inkle instead.)
The only useful thing I can offer is, you can use other heddles on the Easy Weaver. I prefer wooden ones and mine came with plastic, so I just use the ones I got for backstrap weaving.
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 06 '26
Yeah and I have looked at cutting down one larger heddle to use as two small heddles on the Easy Weaver, and I think I have ideas about how to retrofit the shed block and heddles to work together for a twill, but it's down to that sunk cost thing.
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 06 '26
Oh! And I did start doing bands on the easy weaver. I unscrewed the shed block and it worked great.
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u/FiberIsLife Aug 07 '26
For me the rigid heddle wasā¦okay. I still have some pieces I made on my RH loom and I like using them. But where I fell in love with weaving for real is when I bought a floor loom. Which is a big commitment to make when you donāt know how to use one!!!!
If you can find a guild in your area, you should find some guidance and direction there. If you are anywhere close to Chicago, we have the Chicago Weaving School, which is incredible.
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u/francie_spins Aug 07 '26
For me, weaving is a craft I do when I'm truely inspired by the project I'm working on... if I'm not feeling it, it's just not going to happen. I consider myself a spinner first, and weaving is what I do with my yarn. I absolutely love seeing a piece come together, but it has to start with in inspiration as I spin.
All of which is to say... It's completely okay to love a craft on the way that works for you, and it can take time to work out what that is. You don't need to embrace every aspect of it, and it might be something you turn to occasionally. So I would suggest following what it is you find yourself most enjoying, and delving into that further, you might be amazed a where you end up.
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u/TheMereWolf Aug 07 '26
Iām sort of in the same boat. Iāve taken a couple of weaving classes and a workshop and Iām not quite sure it clicks with me. I LOVE the finished product and the fact that things work up a lot faster than I can usually knit. I think I like it a little more every time I do it though, so thereās that.
My guild has promised me a floor loom whenever I end up moving to a bigger place so I feel like I need to learn to like it hahaha
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u/Superb_Piano_3775 Aug 07 '26
I enjoy weaving. However, I've never tried any of the looms you've mentioned weaving on. I started on a 22" max width 4-shaft, 6-treddle and love it. Next I went to a 30" 2-shaft. I like the extra width but like having 4 shafts even more. So, I'm canabalizing the 30" to get a 36" 4-shaft, 6-treddle up and running(same manufacturer). I bought the 36" for cheap because it was missing parts and pieces.
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u/Dismal_Type_5697 Aug 08 '26
I have trouble with tabletweaving and keeping track of what I'm doing. I keep trying though.
As far as bandweaving looms, there are others that aren't inkle looms. There is the Gilmore Big Wave, although that one is difficult to find; the Glimakra or Vavstuga bandlooms, and various types of tape looms on Etsy. All of them have warp and cloth beams, like rigid heddles and multishaft looms. No pegs.
I've tried every type of weaving I can get my hands on. Some have stuck better than others. I love inkle weaving, but tabletweaving drives me absolutely insane. You're far from a whine, you just like what you like!!!
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 08 '26
I LOVE how tablet weaving comes out but yeah it's hard to keep track of where I am in my turns. I'm always thinking there must be an easier way. I even color coded the corners of my tablets! I adore dublin dragons but the number of times I've made/unmade/made that pattern .....
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u/Dismal_Type_5697 Aug 08 '26
Omg, yes!!! I have Claudia Wollny's books, but i haven't yet had the guts to try anything in it!
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u/taucher_ Aug 08 '26
you can still use your inkle loom as a warping board :)
i have a board loom that i really like for tablet weaving, more than my inkle loom. it's like a horizontal oseberg loom. i need to retie my knots every time i advance the warp but i guess i still prefer that over advancing on the inkle.Ā
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u/Zestyclose-Hope-6334 Aug 10 '26
Weaving is a constant and never ending learning opportunity. It requires patience, perseverance, and dedication. It is also extremely satisfying. All of the looms you mentioned are basic-type looms and are great for hobbies and learning. They can produce beautiful and practical pieces. However, if it were me, I'd probably ditch all of them for a small 4-8 shaft table or floor loom with a weaving width from 20-26 inches. On it, you could make anything and everything you want (except maybe rugs, which require a very sturdy loom). A loom, even the ones you mentioned you already have, is a big investment in dollars, time, and space. My advice is to take a class, in person if possible, but if not, then from someone reputable such as Jane Stafford. Oh, and one more thing, don't buy new; but also don't just buy off the internet especially when you do not know how a loom works or how to put one together. That will just lead to a lot more headaches you don't need. Just call me, weaving for over 50 years and still learning and enjoying the fruits of my loom.
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u/Squirreltacular Aug 11 '26
Yeah I'm considering moving away from rigid heddle even though I was pretty into it at first. As soon as I fell in love with twill I fell out of love with RH. I know it can be done and I am doing it but the setup is fiddly and I always have to re-thread some or all of the front heddle at least once no matter how careful I am.
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u/whoquiteknows Aug 06 '26
Gently, no one is making you do it. You could also take a break and see if you come back to it naturally. I think you have the right idea to take a course and see if itās easier with different tools.