Think about this before buying a floor loom

Comments · 70

• DO

  @dorym8045 · 2 years ago (edited)

  Kelly,  you are so right about everything in this video.  I didn’t start to weave until my late 50s.  At that time, I bought a Schacht Mighty Wolf and did a fair amount of weaving on it.  But as time progressed, I developed arthritis in both hips and my sciatica issue became chronic.  The Mighty Wolf is a rising shed loom with a heavy treadle action.  I tried swapping the metal heddles out for texsolv but it really didn’t help as the pure weight of the shafts was also a significant factor I hadn’t counted on.  I ended up selling the loom and got a Louet David III.  I love it.  As a sinking shed loom, it is so much better and treadling isn’t a problem.  I am now 70 and still weaving.  I would have liked a Spring but knew a countermarche loom with all the tying up would not be good for me at this age (laying on the floor for extended time).  I also choose the 90cm version.  And the Mighty Wolf was also 36”.  The reason for this is I’m short with short arms.  So a wide loom isn’t my friend although I learned on a 60” Leclerc in my original class.  For your big loom, maybe you can look into a flying shuttle?  I’ve seen videos where you pull a string and send the shuttle across.  It’s an old school technique from the British isles but would maybe extend your usable time with your bigger loom?

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• CE

  @cerwelt · 2 years ago

  I’ve been weaving for a little over three months. I am 66 years old and had never weaved. Everything you mentioned is exactly true and I myself thought about all of those issues. I have a 10” Schacht Cricket and a 20” Schacht Spindle. I doubt I will ever own a floor loom for the physical reasons you’ve mentioned. I hope anyone considering weaving finds this video. No matter the age, time is marching on and it’s important to know what your body can and can’t do at every age. <br><br>Thanks for sharing. Excellent reference video.

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• AV

  @av33na · 2 years ago

  Such great advice! I want a floor loom, I feel it in my bones, but i also can tell now isn’t the time. You’ve taught me about how to use the rigid heddle loom using multiple heddles and pick up sticks to create intricate patterns on a rigid heddle. I’m so happy learning more and exploring all that the rigid heddle has to offer until I can one day get a floor loom!

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• AN

  @antinn7448 · 2 years ago

  Thank you so much for addressing these topics and doing so in such a thoughtful way. After years of weaving on a Navajo upright loom, I purchased an Ashford table loom at 58 y.o for space considerations. I still dream about getting a glimaka counterbalance, but realistically at 62, It probably isnt in the cards anymore.

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• BA

  @barbarahengstenberg7000 · 9 months ago

  Very helpful info, Kelly! I&apos;m 64, and have the concerns you mention. I&apos;ve been weaving now for 4 months on my Ashford 32&quot; RHL and LOVE IT, but I know I&apos;m going to want to purchase a floor loom one of these days. This video makes a lot of sense. BTW, your Weaving School is a great help to me!

• WE

  @wendyscheening6266 · 2 years ago

  I bought my first Louette loom about 5 months ago (a Spring 1 - used) and it is an amazing loom. &nbsp;I love my Harrisville 4 shaft, but 12 shafts on the Louette and WOW - just WOW. &nbsp;All of your advice is accurate, and I am 67 years old and hope to weave at least another 30 years (or somebody&apos;s going to have to deal with a lot of yarn when I&apos;m gone). &nbsp;;-) &nbsp; &nbsp;Thanks Kelly for always providing thoughtful weaving advice.

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• CA

  @categ50 · 2 years ago

  I don&apos;t have the room for a floor loom. My sister and I are going to swap RH looms. I have a 24&quot; Ashford and she has a 32&quot; Kromski. She has had hers warped with the same scarf for 3 years! I asked her why and she said it bothers her back going from side to side and she can&apos;t do it for long. She is short and has short arms. I&apos;m 5&apos;9&quot; with long arms. Plus she said she really liked weaving. So, we will swap and hopefully the 8&quot; reduction in width will do the trick.

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• MO

  @MosesTheCrow · 2 years ago

  thanks for sharing useful information on looming! I also suffer from back pain

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• RO

  @robertrobert5583 · 2 years ago

  What perfect timing! I&apos;ve had my Ashford 8 shaft table loom for almost a year and hope to get a floor loom for my 65th birthday later this year. I&apos;ve been watching lots of videos about the Louët David (including yours of course) and you&apos;ve really helped me with my thinking. I now just need to decide whether to get the 70cm or the 90cm.🤔

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• LI

  @LiliaandNova · 8 months ago

  Thank you SO much I&apos;m an aspiring weaver &amp; am young &amp; disabled so really grateful for this info ❤

• CH

  @chrisr8178 · 2 years ago (edited)

  Kelly, you are so right. For my 35th birthday DH bought me a 58&quot; Glimakra countermarch loom. I loved this loom, but by my 60th birthday I was avoiding it like the plague. It broke my heart to sell it, but I did. Bought a used 22&quot; used &nbsp;Gilmore and having been weaving happily ever since. Thanks for all the great videos.

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• HE

  @heleenkok5153 · 2 years ago

  Perfect advice. I have a David 2 too and also an AVL electronic dobby with e-lift. The first is so easy to handle and great weaving. The AVL is great for advanced patterns. A floor loom always has limitations on pedals. Which a table loom and dobby has not. Just a little side note! And about the wide. My David is 90 cm and the AVL 30 inch. If you want to weave wider, just doubble weave! So much easier to handle smaller looms and it takes less space.