8 shaft table loom overview.

[@Jen-pz6qg]

Hi Kelly, I really appreciate your informative videos on the weaving looms! I just bought an Ashford table loom, and I don't know where to find the answer to questions, though I've searched, I have found your table loom overview video. This is the question: I want to weave super fine linen, and as yet know very little about shaft weaving, but have woven some on rigid heddle. I've woven with doubled 15 dent reeds and achieved a very fine weave indeed. But as the heddles in the shaft are going to be crowded, I am confident that I could weave the 40/2 linen I found, and other similar super fine yarns. However, I have no idea about what reed to use. Like rigid heddle reeds, does a weaver just get the whole size run? I heard about doubling threads through the reed. For the 40/2 yarn, how would I handle the reed?

[@KellyCasanova]

So, the principle is the same for rigid heddle and table looms in regards to achieving the sett you want, you just have to find the most suitable spacing. The Ashford table loom comes with a 10 dent reed. Rather than buying a bunch of expensive reeds to achieve varied sett, you can use a reed substitution chart. I like this one - schachtspindle.com/pages/reed-substitution-chart Using a chart like this means that you can take whatever yarn you want to use for your project, figure out your ideal epi and then use the chart to see how many ends you will place in each dent of the reed. One thing to remember (because new table loom weavers often get confused about this, especially is they've been weaving on a RH loom) is that no matter how many ends you sley in each dent, every thread needs to go through a heddle of it's own.

[@Jen-pz6qg]

Kelly, thank you from the bottom of my heart! This is exactly what I needed to know about, I think I can figure it out from here... thanks again! @@KellyCasanova

[@feleciaeverett1799]

I've reached recently upgraded to a 32-inch rigid heddle Loom. with a second heddle kit & reed, so I now have the ability to weave with two reads as opposed to just one what I would like is a video showing how to use a double heddle in a pattern

[@ceritat625]

I love your videos, they are very helpful, thank you! I have a question about this particular Ashford loom, I had a 4 shaft Ashford table loom a few years ago, and while I really liked it, and wove quite a bit on it, I just did not like the shed, it was so small (2.5 cm is the most I got), no matter what I did. How wide a shed do you get on the 8 shaft? Thanks Kelly.

[@KellyCasanova]

Hmm, that is a tiny shed! Something wrong about that methinks, I can get a nice shed on this one.

[@REngArchitect]

Kelly Casanova Kelly, then how do you get a wider shed? Do you adjust the Shafts up or down? I would assume that in the neutral position the warp threads are flat, horizontally.

[@mamijo3382]

Hello Kelly! I recently bought this weaving loom. Are you able to weave with a boat shuttle without it falling between the threads? I don't get there often. If it works from right to left it doesn't work from left to right or vice versa. What's the trick or the secret to getting there? Do you have any idea why it's not working? Thank you for your help

[@KellyCasanova]

Congrats on the loom! The short answer is "yes, you can" but there are variables with that. A narrower width warp (say, a scarf) is easily woven with a boat shuttle as it doesn't have far to travel. If weaving a full width warp for a larger project, it can be difficult because it is not easy to achieve great tension on this loom. If your boat shuttle is often diving through the warp, it's due to a lack of tension. Try to get the best tension you can whilst warping. But, as I said, wider warps can be difficult!

[@mamijo3382]

Indeed yes, it is difficult to find the ideal tension. Thank you for your response and I wish you a happy new year!

[@elfy60]

Thanks for your advice, and for replying so quickly! Happy Christmas.

[@KellyCasanova]

A very Merry Christmas to you!

[@elfy60]

Hi Kelly - great videos. Is the brake system and winding on efficient? Do you have to get up to wind on or can you do that from your weaving position? I bought a Saori loom last year, though in the past I have had large floor looms. I do not like the Saori loom and wish I had researched further. The Saori cloth beam is too close to the weaver's knees, and the brake system is erratic. Winding on a warp is very awkward, as you have to crouch over the back beam which is practically on the floor! I'm wondering if the Ashford table loom with stand and treadles would be an improvement.

[@KellyCasanova]

Yes, the brake system is good and pretty straightforward. You do have to get up to wind on. I've never used a Saori loom, what a shame you are disappointed with it, from what I've heard most people love them. The table loom with stand and treadles would be a definite improvement on the issues you mentioned. I believe with the Ashford table looms, you can add the treadles later if you don't want to make that investment initially. The lever system is very easy to use, slower than treadling of course but fine for starting out.

[@susananderson1071]

Hi Kelly, Thanks for another informative video. How much longer, and more difficult is it to warp this machine than a RH?

[@KellyCasanova]

You need to warp on a warping board rather than direct, that takes longer. You have to thread all the heddles, then the reed, so that takes longer too. The actual weaving part is a bit faster. It is a bit of a challenge to warp initially but you get used to it quickly.

[@Tieyad]

I want to get an eight shaft loom. I have been learning how to weave on a rigid heddle and have encountered more than a fair share of problems because I am old - tangled yarn, threaded backwards, fumble fingers, etc. but I am learning. In your opinion, do you think I will encounter another set of trying problems with the 8-shaft or might my experience with the rigid heddle make the transition a little smoother? I would like to plan on realistic expectations. Your videos have been such a big help!

[@KellyCasanova]

Hi there, The answer is yes and no :) Yes, weaving on a RHL definitely makes the transition to a multi shaft loom easier. To be honest, if you are finding the mechanics of a RHL difficult, an 8 shaft is much more complicated, takes a lot more time and is finer sort of work - threading little heddles etc. My best advice to you would be to seek out an 8 shaft that you can have a go on before committing to buying one. Hope that helps :D

[@Tieyad]

Thank you Kelly. The time and threading does not worry me. My greatest difficulty is traversing the very narrow shed on the RHL. I understand that the shed on the 8shaft is considerably wider and more stable.

[@KellyCasanova]

Depending on which 8 shaft you go for - an 8 shaft table loom for example has a smaller shed than an typical 8 shaft floor loom. My David 2 floor loom has a beautiful, wide shed.

[@Tieyad]

Thanks for your advice. I discovered a partial solution that will help me for the rest of the year. I plan to get the new loom next year. I made a slightly narrower pickup stick that is threaded behind the heddle into the same shed as the lower heddle position and it adds just enough room in the shed to keep me from snagging errant threads. I push it down flat in the up position and it does not interfere. I also slip a crochet marker into each selvedge loop while I am beating and it has made a big difference in whether or not I have a nice straight edge. Your videos have been such a big help to me. Thanks again.

[@KellyCasanova]

Great ingenuity at work there, well done!

[@amysmith6983]

I have to say that I am not impressed with this loom - it has no weaving space, it does not hold much tension, also, weaving an 8 shaft pattern on a table loom, I now realize, is picky - also putting the shuttle down between sheds is not efficient.

[@KellyCasanova]

Table looms definitely have negatives, but they are still a great option for an in between rigid heddle and floor looms. I know a lot of weavers who love their table looms, and even though I have a floor loom I actually miss my table loom.