Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom Review

[@lorainew4281]

Excellent review & spot on! I have the same one for three years now and I love it, I’m also lucky enough to have the same stand, so comfortable to weave at. I’ve made several double weave projects which give me about a 48” wide piece so for me, the 24” was perfect. The 36” would have been too wide and I didn’t want to be restricted to a smaller width. I love Ashford products, so nicely made!

[@deborahsweitzer4901]

Thank you!! God bless you!! 5/16/23. 9:00pm EST, USA

[@paulinemulrooney5573]

Great video. I love my Ashford Rigid Heddle looms. I always wax them before assembling and about yearly to keep the wood protected. I have the SampleIt 25cm, RH400 and RH800. Also have both the old and new variable stands. Such great products and easy to use.

[@wvblue4658]

I'm in complete agreement with you on the Ashford rigid heddle loom. Mine is a 32" which I've used for dozens of projects since I bought it in 1998. I also purchased the blocks to use it with two heddles, and there are some minor differences between mine and the newer ones but I've never had to make a repair or had a problem. I'm happy with the 32" but wouldn't go for the larger 48". That's just a personal preference because I would find using a longer stick shuttle awkward and I have bigger floor looms if I want to weave wider.

[@tracydally1]

Kelly, it is so good to see you in the video. I own the Ashford knitters 20-inch weaving loom with the stand and love it. I also purchased the Ashford 8-shaft 24-inch table loom that sadly haven't used yet. I work five days a week away from home and time is a problem. I have decided in October I'm going set an appointed time to watching your video and get it warped up. I really enjoy listening and learning from you.

[@TLL65]

Tracy- same here! I have a 16” Ashford RHL and a few months ago I purchased the Ashford 8 shaft 24” Table Loom but haven’t assembled it. I’m hoping to get motivated and watch Kelly’s assembly video and then her table loom videos again. Good luck to you! 🙂

[@KellyCasanova]

Setting a specific time is a great idea - if you don't prioritise something it just won't happen!

[@millar6070]

Kelly I'm so happy to see your studio, complete to date, Andrew here 🤗.

[@JackyHeijmans]

Haah... you just helped me breath again. I didn't think about it, and bought a second set of heddles. (One 30/10, and 2 of a bigger size holes). And only after paying for them, I wondered or I can actually use 2 on mine. I remembered too late you saying it comes with one, and you bought another holder that can hold two, (been a while since I saw this video), so I got stressed out. Those things are rather expensive! So I looked up your video, and found I have one that holds two, pffff! Relief!! 😮‍💨😂🤗❤ Thank you so much!

[@KellyCasanova]

Glad you had a happy outcome! 😀

[@anaramirez9813]

Wow !!! I bought your class❤ I live in Mexico and there are people on the south who make beautiful things with a different loom, therefore I didńt had a chance to learn how to weave as I leave far away from there, but with your class is so well explained, what to do, how to solve problems great great class!!! Thanks so much for sharing! Worth the price I really it

[@KellyCasanova]

Thanks so much! ❤

[@gaibutler3254]

An excellent review of the 24'" Ashford Kelly. I love my 24", the middle size of my 3 Ashford RH looms. It's probably the loom I use most as it is such a versatile size.

[@mammaearly]

Thank you for this review. I've been doing my research on many rigid heddle looms and I always come back to Ashford. I couldn't decide on the size. But after hearing your review I will probably purchase the 24". Thanks again

[@KellyCasanova]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kathleengerwien845]

Thank you for this review and reminding us of your affiliate link for The Woolery. It is my favorite fiber arts store, and, I bought the largest Ashford's Knitters Loom from The Woolery last October. I thought I would want the largest because I envisioned weaving fabric wide enough for sewing. In hindsight, as a new weaver, I think buying the less wide loom would have been the better choice as the widest loom and stand take up a lot of floor space in my limited footprint and are a bit large for working, particularly when I am doing smaller projects. I find I take it down when I am not weaving to open up floor space, and, thus am less reluctant to use because I have to rework the room to set up the loom. I am thinking either the Ashford Samplett or a narrower Ashford loom will be a next purchase for me. I bought the Ashford wax and finished the loom. I am glad I did. I also used the wax to finish my Ashford Traveler, a spinning wheel I bought used several years ago. I like the appearance of the finished wood better and feel that I am protecting the wood from possible damage.

[@KellyCasanova]

Kathleen, a Sampleit is light enough to hang on a wall for storage 😉

[@kathleengerwien845]

@@KellyCasanova I have been trying to find a samplett loom used; but, if I can’t find one by Christmas, I will use your affiliate link to The Woolery for a Christmas present to me!

[@magdalenas8713]

I have the 32” and the stand. It’s ok and I do enjoy it. I mostly chose it as my first one because of affordability (cost) and availability here in Canada. It’s wood but I can’t say I agree that it’s solid or sturdy, particularly when the loom is mounted on the Ashford stand - I suppose it depends on your definition of sturdy. To keep costs low the quality overall is going down in my experience. I bought everything unfinished and there were plenty of imperfections and everything needed additional sanding. On my view Ashford is affordable and for the mass market. If one gets into weaving as a big hobby there are superior products but they come at a cost.

[@KellyCasanova]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@melissalacombe1824]

Wow. You are so generous with your time and information. I just ordered the 24” Ashford RH on your recommendation and this is so great to watch. BtW, I have gotten into weaving again after 8 years of owning a schacht cricket 15” RH and am awaiting my cricket quartet ….tomorrow! But I am nervous about not being able to weave on a rigid heddle easily. The thing about buying present inventory now is that next time the price will be way up. Rationalization. Long sentence. Thank you for being there. Happy holidays. 🎄😎❤️

[@KellyCasanova]

Congratulations on your new looms, how exciting!

[@sharonwaddell2548]

I would love if Ashford followed Schacht, and made a 4 shaft conversion kit. i have a 16’ and a 32”.

[@KellyCasanova]

That would be interesting for sure.

[@KodamasaMC]

Wow, the timing on this. I was planning on heading out this weekend to buy this loom! Still debating between 24 and 36" though. Thank you for the reassurance!

[@HandmadeDarcy]

If you have the space and you have any whim for a use for wider cloth, go bigger. I got the 24" at the last minute at a Show, because someone, who absolutely meant well, focused on how it will feel so much bigger out of the big Show space, and in that moment I forgot that I'd had a reason for the 34" that 24" just wasn't going to be big enough - namely weaving fabric for clothes for me - and I hardly use it because I'm just not inspired by projects for its limited size. 😢 I'm saving for the 120, though 😂

[@KodamasaMC]

@@HandmadeDarcy Thank you for this! I know I will be drawn towards blankets so I really should do the bigger one. I just need to find space to dedicate to that!

[@KellyCasanova]

Just have a good think about what you really want to weave the most of, that will help dictate an appropriate sized loom.

[@HandmadeDarcy]

@@KodamasaMC Ashford's new loom stands really help with space - they allow the loom to fold flat against the stand when not in use, and that's really when you (or at least I) feel that it's "taking up space". Also, the little legs which they advertise as turning the rigid heddle into a tapestry loom actually also turn it into a loom you can use on the table (originally typed table-top loom and reconsidered 😂). I mostly use the legs on the table when I do weave - I use the old-style loom stand I got for the 24" as an embroidery trestle for larger pieces 😂. All hail multi-crafting!

[@KodamasaMC]

@@HandmadeDarcy Thank you again! I did pick up the 32" loom yesterday and it's currently drying from it's staining. I'll look into the stand! I hadn't considered getting one for some reason.

[@TLL65]

Great video Kelly!

[@KellyCasanova]

Thank you!!

[@rbmmylife]

I've been renting the 24 inch Ashford from my local weavers guild (first time weaver!) and I have looooved learning on it. When my rental period is up I am definitely thinking I'll buy this same model. Thanks for sharing this info about how it ages, that was one of my concerns! Also PS, Woe to Go is amazing for getting started, I had a set of 6 placemats now! Very clear step by step to get started. I'm already now experimenting with double heddle and twill, I felt like I got some really good fundamentals from that class

[@KellyCasanova]

Sounds like you're doing really well! 👏👏👏

[@lauriemontgomery4832]

How do I get the pattern?

[@dukeofpurl]

Thx for the very informative video! I've more-or-less decided to buy a 24" Ashford Rigid as my first learning loom. What's holding me up from buying one and getting started is "fringes"! I'm not into fringes on scarfs etc., and neither are my kids. I need to discover if there's a way to start and finish a weaving project with top and bottom selvedges resembling the right and left ones - using a rigid heddle loom. Can you point me to some resources that would show me how this would be done - if it can at all be. TIA

[@KellyCasanova]

There are a couple of options for dealing with unwanted fringes. If you use a sewing machine, you can cut and hem (but then of course you have hems, which may not be as desirable for something like a scarf). Another option is to needle weave the fringe ends back in after hemstitching on the loom. The hemstitch secures the loose ends. I thought I had a video of this technique somewhere, but I can't find it so I'm thinking I must have addressed it in a class sometime.

[@dukeofpurl]

@@KellyCasanova Needle weaving the fringes sounds like just the thing! Thanks! I'll Google to see if it's been demonstrated yet, but I think I'll be buying either a 24" or 32" Ashford rigid. Thx again! Great videos - the lot!! 👍

[@woollybluestocking3412]

I did the same -- put mine together immediately so I could get weaving! I regret that now as our new apartment is quite damp. I was thinking of going over it with a light wax, but do I have to take it all apart again, or do you think it would it be OK to do it when it's fully assembled?

[@gaibutler3254]

I've had my 3 Ashford RH looms for 3 years and waxed all before assembly. I rewax after approx 18 months but do this while still assembled, it is just a little more fiddly but not really a problem. I like to leave them for around 24 hours before warping again to allow the wax to fully soak in (after buffing) so that it doesn't affect the yarn. Hope this is helpful and that you enjoy the waxing process as much as I do!

[@MonicaLea]

Are there adjustable stands for the Ashford looms? I would like a stand for my 16" but I plan on getting a 36" in the future and I really don't have room for separate stands.

[@KellyCasanova]

The new stands that are available now are more adaptable to different sized looms. You can buy a stand that is compatible with a 16, 24 and 32" 😊

[@pamyclark1263]

No stick shuttle comes with the loom now. And interestingly, neither does a shuttle.

[@gaibutler3254]

I don't know where you are in the world Pamy, but in Australia the looms are still advertised as coming with 2 stick shuttles, plus all of the other inclusions mentioned by Kelly.

[@dawnjanz]

Ashford should replace that rough warping peg

[@KellyCasanova]

I'm not concerned about it, it will be fine with a light sanding 😊

[@chirsley7286]

How to order this product.

[@KellyCasanova]

Where are you located?