The rigid heddle loom most new weavers should buy first. It assembles in under an hour, ships ready to warp with an 8-dent reed and two shuttles, and weaves cloth at a roughly 6-pound scale. The 15-inch is the width to buy: it costs about $16 more than the 10-inch and is the only width that accepts the 4-shaft Cricket Quartet upgrade.
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Gear worth buying
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19 products
A scotch-tension single-drive spinning wheel made in New Zealand from Silver Beech, with three ratios (5.5:1, 7.5:1, 9.5:1), a 10mm orifice, folding double treadles, and three 130g bobbins. For most first-wheel buyers it is the recommendation; spinners who need double drive or higher top ratios from day one should step up to the Traveller or Traditional.
The same first-wheel recommendation as the lacquered Kiwi 3, in the unfinished finish that lets you apply your own oil or lacquer to match your studio. Scotch tension only, three ratios from 5.5:1 to 9.5:1, a 10mm orifice, and folding treadles that make it manageable for first-time wheel owners.
Ashford's jumbo flyer kit replaces the standard flyer with a 27mm (1-1/8 inch) orifice unit; each super bobbin holds 500g versus 130g on the standard flyer. It ships with three super bobbins and a lazy kate and fits the Kiwi 1, 2, and 3. The right add-on for bulky yarn, art yarn, and heavy plying.
A castle-style wheel hand-built from hard maple in Boulder, Colorado. One flyer assembly runs all three drive modes (double drive, Scotch tension, Irish tension) with no hardware swap, plus four ratios from 6.5:1 to 10.5:1. It earns its price for spinners who want drive-mode versatility rather than the single mode common at this level; think twice if very fine lace is your primary goal.
A Saxony-style spinning wheel made in New Zealand from Silver Beech, in continuous production since 1965. The single-drive model covers ratios from 7:1 to 17:1 and includes four 100g bobbins, a 10mm orifice, and a 56cm drive wheel. The natural Ashford destination for upgrade buyers leaving a castle wheel; first-wheel buyers are better served by the Kiwi 3.
A simple frame loom under $50 is the right first tapestry loom for almost everyone, and this is a roughly $25 starter frame to test the craft before committing to a maker-built loom. You do not need tensioning hardware or a shedding device to learn weft-faced weaving; step up to a tensioned loom like a Mirrix only once you are weaving regularly.
The best-equipped rigid heddle loom in its class, built in Poland from alder. Alone among its rivals it ships with a built-in warping board, pickup stick, and double heddle blocks, plus a 5-year warranty, the longest standard coverage in the category. The 8-inch is the sampler width; most beginners start at 16 or 24 inches.
At the 16-inch width the Harp Forte is the strongest value in its class: no comparable rigid heddle loom ships with more included accessories at this price. The built-in warping board removes a likely $60-$100 additional purchase, and the double heddle blocks extend the pattern range when you are ready for them. A common beginner pick alongside the 24-inch.
The wider of the two widths most beginners choose. Like the rest of the Harp Forte line it is built in Poland from alder and ships with a built-in warping board, pickup stick, double heddle blocks, and a 5-year warranty. Pick this over the 16-inch if you want room for shawls and wider cloth from the start.
The widest Harp Forte, for blankets and full-width yardage. It carries the same best-in-class accessory kit as the rest of the line, the folding frame with a built-in warping board, double heddle blocks, and the 5-year warranty that is the longest standard coverage in the category.
The narrow Cricket: the same easy-warping maple-and-plywood loom as the 15-inch, sized for skinny scarves, samples, and travel. Buy this width only if storage is genuinely tight; otherwise the 15-inch costs about $16 more and is the only width that accepts the Cricket Quartet 4-shaft upgrade.
The best first rigid heddle loom for most weavers. At $255 it weaves scarves, kitchen towels, and table runners comfortably, costs a touch less than the Schacht Cricket 15-inch at a better cost per inch, and fits on any table. The 7.5-dent reed is a fine default and the Ashford accessory family is the deepest in the class.
Ashford's lightest, cheapest entry loom, the same Silver Beech build as the 16-inch in a narrower frame. At $225 it suits very tight spaces, travel, and classroom use. Most beginners are better served by the 16-inch, which weaves a real scarf or towel for only $30 more.
The best pick for wide weaving on a budget. At a flat $315 it works out to $13.13 per inch and produces cloth that used to require a floor loom: kitchen towels woven flat, placemats in a single pass, and wide fabric for bags or garment panels. Silver Beech, with double heddle blocks built in.
The narrowest width of Ashford's full Rigid Heddle Loom, which is flat-priced at $315 across every width. Over the SampleIt 16-inch the extra money buys built-in double heddle blocks and an instructional booklet. If you want the widest weave for the least money the SampleIt 16-inch is the better value; choose this for the two-heddle hardware.
The wide-yardage width of the flat-priced Rigid Heddle Loom line. At $315 it falls to $9.84 per inch, the cheapest wide-weaving cloth in the class short of the 48-inch. Same Silver Beech build and built-in double heddle blocks as the rest of the family.
The best rigid heddle loom for travel. The folding design and padded carry bag are the only reasons to pay the Knitters Loom premium over a SampleIt, but for a loom that moves they are worth it. The 20-inch gives real weaving width in a portable package; it ships assembled and lacquered with second heddle blocks.
The widest Knitters Loom, unusual for folding at 28 inches of weaving width. Like the rest of the line it ships fully assembled and lacquered with a padded carry bag, locking tension pawls, and second heddle blocks. Pay the premium only if you genuinely carry the loom; at a table any SampleIt or Rigid Heddle Loom weaves the same cloth for less.
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