One of my most commonly asked questions relates to physical conditions.
No, I’m not a physician, but I am a weaver and I do have physical restrictions. I’ve also found ways around the restrictions and I’d love to share some of them with you.
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My first multi shaft loom was an 8 shaft, 32″ Ashford Table Loom.
My decision to buy this particular loom was based on a few things.
- My physical capabilities
- What the loom could do
- Price
- Size
Addressing number 1 first. I have a back injury that causes daily pain and discomfort and limits what I can do physically. I desperately wanted a multi shaft loom but thought it probably wasn’t going to be possible for me to physically use one. So I started researching (a lot!) and found that a table loom could be a very good option. And it was! Here is why:
- My table loom was operated by levers rather than treadles. This meant no getting down on the floor to tie up treadles.
- The raddle was separate to the loom. This meant that if I was doing a narrower warp, I could sit at the table, away from the loom to place my warp chain in the raddle ie. less time standing.
- I had my loom on a table rather than a stand. I also had a height adjustable chair on wheels. So I could adjust my chair to the right height, then roll right in under the table and get close to the loom. Many table loom weavers weave standing up, I couldn’t do that, so the adjustable chair was very important.
- The loom had a slung beater. Effortless to use.
- Because the table was at a good height for me, I found warping easy, not having to bend to the height of the loom.
On to number 2 – what the loom could do.
Well, it could do anything that an 8 shaft floor loom could, but there were some differences. I could never achieve as good tension on the table loom as I can on my floor loom. It wasn’t a really huge deal, but could be frustrating at times when my boat shuttle would dive through the weaving. The other thing that bothered me was not being able to remove or add heddles from the shafts once I had a warp on. Once again, not a huge deal, but annoying at times.
The all important number 3 – the price!
Table looms are really affordable considering the abilities they have. If you can find a used one with all the pieces and in good condition, even better! For those who really can’t afford the outlay (which can be massive!) for a floor loom, a table loom can be 1/4 to 1/2 the price. You also have the option of starting out on 4 shafts to reduce the initial outlay. You can either stay with your 4 shafts or upgrade to 8 later on.
Finally, number 4
If you simply don’t have space for a floor loom, a table loom can be the solution. Whether you have it sitting on a table or on a stand, it is more compact than most floor looms.
As I mentioned, I do now have a floor loom. Testing myself on a table loom taught me many things. One thing was that my body could handle it if I was careful and that greatly influenced my final decision to buy a floor loom. It was also the perfect learning ground for weaving with multiple shafts, so that moving up to a floor loom was a short, rather than steep learning curve. I had to sell my table loom in order to finance and make space for my floor loom, but many times I still wish I had the table loom as well.
If you are interested in learning more about table looms, I have some Youtube videos that will help.
I have also written about table looms in a previous post where I discuss Which loom to buy?
I hope you found this post informative and helpful. Please let me know by leaving a comment, and be sure to ask any questions you may have.
Until next time…
Happy Weaving!
Hi Kelly, I have loved your weaving videos on Rigid Heddle and love my that loom. I am looking at the Ashford 80cm table loom for the 8 shaft capability. Can that loom also do tabby weaving, four shaft, and ultimately make my RHL not needed? What is the benefit of a second warp beam for the 8shaft table loom? Does the table loom come with all 8 shafts?
Hi Sandy,
Yes, you can do tabby, which only requires 2 shafts. The main benefit of the RH loom is it’s much faster to warp and can be more portable. A second warp beam would mean you could wind on longer warps but it’s not a necessity.
Yes, it comes with 8 shafts, though Ashford have just released their new 4 shaft table loom if you’re interested in looking at that. It’s called the “Brooklyn” loom.
I am currently weaving 4 shaft patterns on my rigid heddle and am really excited to weave eight shaft drafts on an affordable loom. I have ordered 80cm 8 shaft that will not be delivered until August! Thank you for all your help!
Wonderful, congratulations!
I am surprised at the number of replies you have received from people with 32inch table looms, similar to the one you had. A 24inch loom is lighter and takes up less space. There is less likelihood of the shuttle diving down between the warps. Ashford no longer offers a four shaft option. A double width cloth can be woven with a four shaft pattern (eg twills) in both the top and bottom layers or even four layers of two shaft pattern. I am very pleased with an Ashford 8 Shaft loom, which I bought second hand, complete with a stand and a second warp beam. The stand puts the loom at an ideal height. I have a Glimakra 120cm countermarch floor loom and I have even bought a 32 inch Ashford second warp beam which I can attach to the back beam. A floor loom is limited by the number of treadles. I have woven a pattern on my table loom which would require 32 treadles!
It’s great to hear you’re enjoying so much what your table loom can do Peter!
Hi Kelly,
Earlier today I sent you a request for help on the lack of shed on my elderly Ashford 32″ four shaft table loom. I have now sorted this problem. After several years of using RH looms you would think that I should have known better, I tied on under the front bar instead of over it. Silly, stupid mistake and its taken ages before I noticed.
So sorry for troubling you, but thank you for being there to help when needed.
Ah, don’t you love it when you discover the mistake yourself? You will have it set in your mind not to do that again now 😀
I have an older Ashford 32″four shaft table loom. My problem is lack of knowledge. I’m getting a very good deep shed from the metal heddles to the beater but almost no shed this side of the beater. I’ve tightened the warp but still nothing. Help me please Kelly.
I would like an 8 shaft table loom and am concerned about making an expensive mistake so I am trying to find out as much about them as possible before I decide. Your information is very interesting and useful. Thankyou.
Could you tell me if the Ashford makes a good shed, please? Also is it hard to operate the handles on the beams as they look very big and flat and my hands are quite stiff at times?
Thankyou in advance.
Hi Delia,
The Ashford gives a good shed, especially if you advance a little and often, which I recommend for all weaving looms anyway.
As for the handles – are you referring to the levers that lift the shafts?
If so, these a very easy to operate – they make shaft changes really gentle and seamless.
Are you looking at some other brands of table loom as well?
No. Not the shaft levers. I meant the ones that advance and wind the warp onto the beams, by the pawl. They look like they are made of beige plastic? They look quite broad and I wondered if it would be difficult to grip them. I know you can buy a Handi Handle to help.
I have looked at Louet Jane looms which are the only others I might be able to access in the UK but they are so very expensive and they do not have one as wide as I would like to make bigger items.
There’s no chance I can try either or both before I buy unfortunately.
Oh, I’m sorry, now I understand you!
The handles on the clicker pawls can be quite stiff to operate. If you have challenges with hand dexterity, it is possible it could be an issue for you, though I do think you get used to using them and the stiffness eases off a little over time.
I haven’t used a Jane, but they are very popular – the only downside being the price and limited sizes, as you mentioned.
I hope that helps, but let me know if I need to be more specific.
Thankyou Kelly. A great help – now I just have to save hard and then decide! That’s the hardest bit of all.
Yes, deciding is hard. I know that you will be happy with the decision you make, they are both great looms.
I have a 32″ Ashford table loom and a 45″ floor loom. I am having more and more difficulty as I age, using my floor loom due to fibromyalgia pain. I’m considering selling the floor loom but I’m afraid of losing the ability to weave coverlets. I thought it might be possible to weave a coverlet in 3 pieces, a middle and 2 sides, on my table loom. In your opinion is that possible?
Hi Lynn,
I’m sorry to hear about your pain 😔 Yes, I do think you could weave coverlets in panels on your 32″ (keeping in mind that the finished panels will be narrower than 32″, but I’m sure you realise that already). Most traditional coverlets were woven in 3 panels – middle and 2 sides.
Have you worked on your table loom very much? Do you find it easier on your body than the floor loom is? Give it a bit of time and thought, I would hate for you to regret the sale of your floor loom later.
I found this information very helpful, Kelly! I have been researching 8 shaft loos to take to workshops but also wide enough to make more than samples or scarves on. The Ashford was in the running until the comment about inability to add additional Heddles and tension issues. I plan to mark this loom off the list. I will probably purchase a workshop floor loom.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
I didn’t mean to put anyone off the Ashford, I still think it’s a great loom. I’m actually considering purchasing another for teaching purposes too because I already know the loom well and know exactly what to expect from it.
I love the yellow and brown weaving pattern in this newsletter – what pattern is it and holw many heddles does it require. I currently have a rigid heddle loom but am seriously interested in upgrading to an 8 shaft loom for the ability to do the more complicated patterns, and also want a wider width (currently I only have a 16″ rigid heddle) so I found your discussion on the table loom very helpful! Thank you!
It’s actually green and purple, though the photo does not make it look so. This was a 4 shaft undulating twill pattern I wove on my table loom. I don’t recall the heddle count, but it was a wide warp – around 30 inches for a baby blanket. It’s surprising how often a weaving pattern can look like an elaborate 8 shaft but is a 4 shaft. There is a lot you can do on just 4 shafts!
Really informative description and very helpful with both your pro and cons on the table loom. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for reading, Rachel!
Thanks, Kelly! I am going to work toward getting my table loom, as soon as I can afford it! In the meantime, my Rigid Heddle Loom will be getting busy again. I need more Fibonacci towels! 😊
Good luck with saving for your table loom. It can be surprising how quickly small savings can add up. Don’t forget to look around for a used one if you really want to save some cash.
Wow. Greatinsights. I have a 32 Ashford RH and love it. Great therapy.
Thank you Kelly, very informative. Which size RHL would you recommend? I have a 40cm and it does seem rather restrictive now that I’m planning to make more than just scarves. Not that there is anything wrong with making scarves 🙂
I love my 24″, I find it a great size and you can weave such a variety of things on it. It’s also not too big to fit in the limited space I have for it. However, if you think you will want to weave larger shawls or blankets, and you have the space and the $, you may want to consider something larger. But I do think after weaving on a 40cm you would enjoy the size of the 24″ (60cm)
I found this interesting Kelly and will be sure to check out your table loom videos. I’ve not really thought of a floor loom, didn’t think I could physically cope, (back, knees, hips), but a table loom looks interesting. At present my RH looms are keeping me busy enough, they can do so much and I’m happy to explore their possibilities. I joined our Handspinners & Weavers Guild and have only met spinners & floor loom weavers so far, that’s a bit sad. Don’t know what I’d do without the online community.
I’m surprised by that Gai! Rigid heddle weaving has really increased in popularity, particularly in the past 5 years or so.
Thank you Kelly for this information. I’ve been considering a table loom as I really want to extend my weaving knowledge and capabilities. I’ve watched your 3 heddle adventures and am thinking maybe I’ll set myself up with extra heddles and manage that way to begin with.
That is a great way to start Glenda!
Hi, this post has come at the perfect time for me. I’ve recently been considering the jump to a shaft loom from a SampleIt as I’m keen to try more complicated designs. Thank you for your fantastic insights and help. Love all you do ❤️
You’re welcome, I’m glad to help!