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All of the Reviews on this page are my opinion and are not paid for or sponsored by any outside party.

Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom

6/14/2019

6 Comments

 
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Ashford offers a large range of rigid heddle loom options.  I own their 32-inch standard rigid heddle loom (which is available in four sizes) and their 10-inch SampleIt loom.  They also have a Knitters loom, which I believe folds; neither of my looms fold.  I absolutely love both of my looms, though.  I'll take a moment on each, because one is a large rigid heddle loom and the other is tiny- they are different yet they are both mighty.  They are both in metric sizes with US size approximations; so know that a 12-dent loom, for example, is actually a 12.5-dent loom because of the metric reed size.
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The 32-inch loom is wonderful!  At first I was hesitant to have a rigid heddle loom that was so large, but it is well constructed, the balance is great, and it works just as well as my smaller rigid heddle looms (such as my 15-inch cricket), no matter what size project I am tackling.  I have made a baby blanket, receiving cloths, scarves and wraps on the loom- three of which are now featured in Interweave publications and one in Ply Magazine, so the loom can really produce quality weaving without fuss. And somehow I manage a very balanced beat with the larger reed size.  I would actually say that my fell line is more consistent and even with my larger loom than my smaller one- perhaps the extra grabbing space changes the way I pull toward the front beam. My 32-inch loom is not the largest size, either.  There is a 48-inch loom I've been tempted to explore, as well.  I have a stand for all of my rigid heddle looms, which I think makes using them much easier.  However, the stands are just as expensive as the looms themselves, so a tabletop works great, too.  If you have the money to splurge, however, I would recommend a stand.  

There are plastic bits on the loom, but they are durable and tough, not at all flimsy.  I really like the crank, it is very secure and I like the way the break is designed for the crank. The extra little bump makes winding and stopping so easy.  I was hesitant about the plastic ties that hold the apron rods in place, but they actually work great and Ashford offers replacement pieces should your loom need some love and care.  I have had my loom for two years with lots of traffic and have not needed to replace anything.

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Designed very similarly is the 10-inch SampleIt loom.  This tiny loom was a gift, otherwise I would never have thought to own one.  However, now that I have it, I really appreciate it.  It is wonderful.  I enjoy sampling- I think it is an important part of all crafting.  It is a great way to explore new fibers, colors and textures without a large, overwhelming commitment.  The 10-inch loom is a great place for this type of action because it behaves exactly like my larger looms (with all the reed sizes available) but it is, as I've said, small.  Not only does it keep the weaving quick and easy, it also makes it so my larger looms are not burdened with sampling projects that I sometimes take a while to finish.  
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I have purchased the loom stand for my SampleIt, too.  While I would recommend the loom stand for the larger looms for everyone, I would not say the same for the SampleIt.  Don't get me wrong, I really like the loom stand, it works great for me and helps my weaving.  However, unlike the larger stands, I think body type is a bigger factor for this particular stand.  My legs fit under the loom still, so I can sit comfortably as I do with all my weaving.  My mother, on the other hand, has to straddle the stand because her legs do not fit as comfortably underneath.  This changes her whole weaving stance.  While the straddling position may be comfortable for some weavers, it was not for my mom.  It is an expensive accessory, so I just wanted to mention that it is narrow.
Overall, I really really really like my Ashford looms.  I would recommend them to any rigid heddle weaver, whether new to the craft or a seasoned expert.  They are sturdy, well-made tools and they are widely available, making reeds and other accessories easy to get.  They are reasonably prices, but some of the accessories can start to get expensive- but because the loom is great on its own, the pricey bells and whistles are not actually needed.
6 Comments
Val
1/28/2021 03:12:49 pm

Hello, i am a complete beginner and i want to learn weaving. Would you say a ridge heddle loom would be good for a start?
Thanks

Reply
Rachel link
1/28/2021 05:38:08 pm

Hi Val!
I love that you reached out and asked this question! It is a good one. I would say that a rigid heddle would be a good place to start with weaving. A big plus for starting with rigid heddles is that they have a much lower start-up cost, as quality table looms and floor looms often start over $1000 whereas rigid heddles start at about $100 for smaller models. It is also a nice place to get acquainted with the craft without the more complicated warping stresses or draft reading that can accompany multi-shaft looms- but it still has the functionality to produce beautiful and unique cloth. I have been weaving for years on my rigid heddles and still love them. They can grow with you as a weaver as you learn new techniques that can make them sing. And if it turns out weaving is your cup of tea, perhaps a future investment in a more expensive multi-shaft loom could be made with more confidence because of your weaving experience.

Thank you for asking!
Rachel

P.S. Let me know if you decide to take the plunge into weaving and what type of loom you settle on!

Reply
Val
1/31/2021 01:22:51 pm

I did take the plunge and ordered a 80cm width loom. Looking forward to get it and reading a lot on warp and weft, got a book as well. I need yarn and just go for it.... on my own which might be challenging

Reply
Rachel link
2/7/2021 02:06:03 pm

Go forth with confidence! It can be a little intimidating, but once you get into it, it is not so bad. (Also, I love my 80 cm loom, it is a great size.) If you have any questions, please let me know! I found the book Inventive Weaving on Little Looms, by Syne Mitchell, to be invaluable when I was first starting out. Also, www.yarnworker.com is another great resource for rigid heddle weaving.

Good luck!

Reply
Juliet
4/7/2022 05:08:51 am

I have the Ashford 32” RHL and have recently purchased the 16” sampleit loom too. I have ordered the stand for this one, but it doesn’t come with the support braces (they’re an optional extra!). This stand is pretty expensive, so I was wondering whether you knew if the support from my 32” stand could be used on the Sampleit stand!!? Ie. Are they interchangeable??
Merci. Juliet

Reply
Rachel link
4/7/2022 07:40:45 am

Loom stands are wonderful, my stand made a huge difference in my weaving. It turns out that Ashford remodeled their loom stand in 2020, releasing a stand that fit all of their rigid heddle looms through the 32”. (The 48” is not included.) This means, I think, that it should be the same stand for both your looms. Perhaps you only need one and can exchange the looms themselves when needed or switch the pieces you need between the stands. Because this model is so different from the previous model I own, I am not sure about the side supports. However, the retailers I looked at all seemed to include these supports as a standard feature. Maybe you could look into a different retailer for your stand if they are not included? Or contact Ashford directly- they are an expensive investment for your rigid heddles (costing more than the loom itself sometimes!) that I do not want to give you bad information.

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