What widths does the Kromski Harp Forte come in?

The Harp Forte is available in 8, 16, 24, and 32 inches. Each width ships with the same included accessories: one 8-dent heddle, two stick shuttles, one pickup stick, threading hook, two warping clamps, a warping peg, 12 warping board pegs, a warp helper, and double heddle blocks. The 16-inch is the most-purchased width and the one most dealers stock in both finishes.

How much does the Kromski Harp Forte cost?

Prices verified June 2026: 8-inch clear approximately $269 to $299; 16-inch clear approximately $379; 24-inch clear approximately $399; 32-inch clear approximately $439. Walnut finish adds approximately $40 to $60 per width. Prices vary by retailer. Amazon and authorized dealers both carry all four widths; check for current pricing as stock levels affect availability.

What is the built-in warping board on the Harp Forte?

The Harp Forte has a removable warping board built into the back of the loom frame. You fold it out, warp directly on the loom without a separate board, then fold it back flat for storage. For beginners who would otherwise need to buy a $60 to $100 warping board separately, this is a meaningful practical advantage included in the base price.

How does the Kromski Harp Forte compare to the Ashford Rigid Heddle?

The Harp Forte and Ashford Rigid Heddle 2 are the two most-compared rigid heddle looms at this price point. The Ashford is maple, made in New Zealand. The Harp Forte is alder, made in Poland, and includes more in the box: the built-in warping board, pickup stick, and double heddle blocks are not standard on the Ashford. The Ashford has a larger dealer network and more available accessories sold separately. Both are solid choices.

Can I do double heddle weaving on the Harp Forte?

Yes. Double heddle blocks ship with the loom. A second heddle lets you weave with two heddle positions, enabling warp-faced patterns and twill variations not possible with a single heddle. You will need to purchase a second heddle separately in your chosen dent count; the included blocks support any of the available dent options.

Is the Kromski Harp Forte good for beginners?

Yes. The Harp Forte is one of the most recommended starting rigid heddle looms because everything you need to warp and weave a first project is in the box: heddle, shuttles, pickup stick, warping supplies, and the built-in warping board. The 5-year warranty is longer than most competitors in this price range. Most beginners start with the 16-inch or 24-inch width.

Kromski Harp Forte Review: Best-Equipped Rigid Heddle

Item: Kromski Harp Forte
Author: The Wool Hall Team

The Kromski Harp Forte is the best-equipped rigid heddle loom in its class. It comes in four widths from 8 to 32 inches, built in Poland from alder, starting around $269. Alone among its rivals, it ships with a built-in warping board, pickup stick, and double heddle blocks, plus a 5-year warranty.

That starting price covers the 8-inch clear finish, verified June 2026 at multiple dealers, and the 5-year warranty is the longest standard warranty in the category. Most beginning weavers comparing rigid heddle looms in this price range land on three candidates: the Harp Forte, the Ashford Rigid Heddle 2, and the Schacht Cricket. The comparison is genuinely close. What separates the Harp Forte is what ships in the box.

What does the Harp Forte include and what does it cost?

Every Harp Forte, regardless of width or finish, ships with:

One 8-dent heddle (the most versatile starting dent for standard yarn weights)
Two stick shuttles
One pickup stick
Threading hook
Two warping clamps and a warping peg
Twelve warping board pegs
Warp helper
Double heddle blocks

Width	Clear finish	Walnut finish
8 inches	~$269	~$309
16 inches	~$379	~$419
24 inches	~$399	~$449
32 inches	~$439	~$489

Prices from multiple dealers, verified June 2026. Walnut adds approximately $40 to $60 above clear pricing per width; exact amounts vary by retailer. Check Amazon and local dealers for current stock and pricing.

The 8-dent heddle is the right starting choice for most weavers working with standard commercial yarn weights. If your projects lean toward fine-weight yarn at tighter setts, the 10-dent is worth specifying at order time. Additional heddles in 5, 8, 10, and 12 dent are sold separately.

Labeled diagram of a rigid heddle loom showing the heddle with its holes and slots, the warp beam at back, cloth beam at front, and the shuttle path through the open shed — The anatomy of a rigid heddle loom: warp beam at back holds the unwoven warp, heddle rises and falls to open the shed, cloth beam at front takes up the finished weaving. The Harp Forte uses this architecture in alder wood with a metal ratchet and pawl tensioning system and rare earth magnets that hold the heddle in position between sheds without drift. *Frank Müller via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0.*

What do Harp Forte owners actually say?

Owners consistently praise the Harp Forte’s square, stable build, its smooth ratchet tension, and the convenience of the built-in warping board. The loom has been in production long enough that reports appear across Ravelry equipment forums, guild discussion boards, and weaving communities. The consistent patterns from those reports:

Build quality is reliable. Alder is a softer hardwood than maple, and the difference is visible: the Harp Forte carries a slightly warmer, lighter tone than a Schacht product. Owners report no joint integrity issues or beam warping under normal use. Loom squareness comes up frequently and consistently as a positive.

The ratchet tension system is smooth. The metal ratchet and pawl with rare earth magnets holds the warp beam locked between sheds without drift. Compared to older Kromski models with a different approach to tension, current owners find the system reliable over long weaving sessions.

The side-lock latches work well. The loom folds in half for storage. The latches that hold it open during weaving and close for folding are frequently mentioned as well-designed. The loom stays stable while treadling and folds quickly when the session ends.

The built-in warping board gets used. Owners who have used separate warping boards consistently report that the built-in version works as well and is more convenient. The main advantage: everything starts as one unit. The pegs hold warp chains securely, and the board size handles the warp lengths most rigid heddle projects require.

How does the built-in warping board change the setup process?

A warping board is what you use to measure and wind a warp before threading the loom. On most rigid heddle looms, it is a separate piece of equipment: a frame with pegs, sold for $60 to $100, that you clamp to a table or hang on a wall before every warp.

The Harp Forte builds that board directly into the back of the loom frame. The pegs are already there. You fold the board out, wind the warp on the pegs, and transfer it directly to the loom. One piece of equipment instead of two. No separate clamp, no hunting for a stable surface.

For a first-time weaver building a starter kit, this eliminates one purchase and one setup variable. For an experienced weaver who already owns a separate board, it is a convenience rather than a decision-maker. For anyone working in a tight space, not having a second clamped frame is genuinely useful.

Close-up of an antique weaving machine showing heddle bars, yarn slots, and the worn wood and metal hardware of a traditional textile loom — Heddle bars and yarn slots on a traditional weaving frame: the mechanical principle behind every rigid heddle loom. The heddle's holes hold warp threads at a fixed position; the slots hold alternating threads free to move. Lifting or pressing the heddle opens the shed for the shuttle to pass through. The Harp Forte uses this same principle with a precision-cut polypropylene heddle in your chosen dent count. *Tatiana Tochilova via Unsplash. Unsplash License.*

How does the Harp Forte compare to the Ashford Rigid Heddle and Schacht Cricket?

The three most-compared rigid heddle looms at the $250 to $450 entry level are the Kromski Harp Forte, the Ashford Rigid Heddle 2, and the Schacht Cricket. All three are solidly built, widely used, and supported by established dealer networks. The differences are at the margins.

Spec scorecard for the Kromski Harp Forte: weaving widths 8 to 32 inches, Polish alder wood, a folding frame with a built-in warping board, a 5-year warranty, an 8-dent heddle with dual heddle blocks, and a $269 to $489 price band — The Harp Forte at a glance: the madder marks signal the built-in warping board, dual heddle blocks, and 5-year warranty that set it apart from its rivals at the same price. *Wool Hall original diagram.*

Feature	Harp Forte	Ashford RH2	Schacht Cricket
Wood	Alder (Poland)	Maple (New Zealand)	Hard maple (USA)
Built-in warping board	Yes	No	No
Pickup stick included	Yes	No	No
Double heddle blocks	Yes	Sold separately	Sold separately
Widths available	8, 16, 24, 32”	16, 24, 32”	10, 15, 20”
Warranty	5 years	Not specified	Lifetime (Schacht)
Amazon availability	Yes	Yes	Yes

The Harp Forte ships more accessories than either competitor at comparable prices. The Ashford’s advantage is its deep accessory ecosystem and international dealer coverage. The Cricket’s advantage is Schacht’s US-based manufacturing and lifetime warranty, plus tight integration with Schacht’s shaft loom line if upgrading is eventually on the table.

If your primary criterion is initial value, the Harp Forte wins on what arrives in the box. If long-term accessory availability matters more, the Ashford has broader depth. If you are buying a Cricket because you plan to move to a Baby Wolf or Wolf Pup LT in a few years, the brand continuity is real.

The best rigid heddle loom guide covers the full decision tree with pricing current as of 2026.

Which width should you buy?

The 16-inch is the most purchased width and the right starting point for most weavers. It handles the projects most people make first: scarves (8 to 10 inches finished), table runners, narrow shawls, and kitchen towels (14 to 16 inches finished at typical draw-in). You can warp it in an hour and weave it in an afternoon.

The 24-inch opens up wide shawls, lap blanket panels, wider table runners, and garment yardage. If you have any realistic expectation of wanting to weave wide shawls or light blanket fabric in a single pass, starting at 24 inches avoids buying twice.

The 8-inch is a narrow specialist: inkle-style bands, straps, fingerless mitts, and samples. It is not a first loom for general weaving. Its value is as a portable second loom or for weavers who work primarily in narrow techniques.

The 32-inch handles the widest rigid heddle projects: wide blanket panels, oversized shawls, and fabric yardage. It is a substantial piece of equipment in storage; know what you need it for before buying at this size.

A useful rule: choose the width for the widest realistic project in the next two years, not the widest project you can imagine.

A woman weaving on a traditional loom, working the threads with practiced motions as cloth builds on the beam in a textured woven structure — The motion of weaving: pass the shuttle, beat the weft, advance the warp. This is what the Harp Forte is built for at any width. The built-in warping board gets you to this point faster on your first project; the included double heddle blocks extend the range once you have the mechanics down. *Shaima alghanay via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0.*

Is the Harp Forte worth it?

Yes, for most beginning weavers it is the strongest value in its class. At the 16-inch width, the Harp Forte costs approximately $379, and no comparable rigid heddle loom ships with more included accessories at that price. The built-in warping board removes one likely additional purchase. The double heddle blocks extend the pattern range when you are ready for them. The pickup stick allows pick-up stick patterns from your first project.

The 5-year warranty is genuine coverage. Kromski is a Polish manufacturer with a long production history in the weaving market and a US dealer network that handles warranty claims. The loom is not a disposable beginner product.

Whether it is worth choosing over the Ashford or Cricket depends on what you prioritize. Most accessories in the box: the Harp Forte is the answer. Deepest long-term accessory catalog: the Ashford. Upgrade path to a shaft loom within the same brand: the Cricket.

For a complete beginner, the rigid heddle first project guide covers what to weave and how to warp once the loom is in hand, regardless of which rigid heddle you choose.