So, You Want to Buy a Loom!

Buying a loom for the first time can feel daunting, I know. But with a little direction, you can easily narrow down the best fit for you and find an excellent option for your beginning weaver's heart.
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[@maggierobillard]

Last year I bought my first loom, a 36 inch four shaft Harrisonville from a Weaver, who was having to retire due to health reasons. She included so much yarn, her entire collection of magazines and books, and all the tools I could ever use, even a couple of bonus things that her husband had made for her. I absolutely love it and mostly make scarves and fabric for sewing now I’m in the market for a smaller rigid heddle so I can use it while watching television on the couch with my husband. I’m looking at the Ashford and can’t wait to see what happens!

[@ActonCreative]

What a find! Congratulations!

[@kimberendt6595]

Great tips! Almost all the looms I’ve owned have been pre-loved. I started on a Rigid Heddle loom. Then, on a whim I looked at Craig’s list and found a great loom in perfect condition! 60” LeClerc Nilus II with a bench all the reeds you could want and more for $450! I wove on that loom for several years. It was very big and I realized that I only wove smaller things. I passed that loom on to another weaver. I searched FB Market Place and found what I wanted. I got a Schacht Baby Wolf and a Mighty Wolf. They fit in the same space as the other loom. I had to put in a little elbow grease to clean them up. They are both amazing and I saved a lot of money.

[@TinyWeaverLori]

Oh how I love pre-loved looms. I would help elderly weaver clean out their weaving space when they decided to stop weaving. I received so many additional freebies that I was able to sell to purchase the loom of my dreams, an Oxaback Lila. I have a Glimakra Victoria that is my sweetie. I recently purchased a Louet Erica. I had sold the old looms that i had to make another weaver happy. So good that you sell looms that you are not using.

[@cheryllove5148]

My first loom was a 30” RHL in December. In February, I came across someone who knew of an estate sale with some looms and I picked up a 45” Oregon loom for less than $200!

[@ActonCreative]

Amazing!!

[@sueannesullivan3827]

My first loom was an 8-shaft, 10-treadle Baby Wolf that I bought new through a Schacht dealer. I love love love her so much. Later I added an 8-shaft Louet Jane table loom (40cm) to take to workshops and for smaller projects. She’s fun but will never replace my Baby Wolf as my favorite. ❤

[@ActonCreative]

Schacht makes a beautiful loom, that's for sure!

[@callielw]

Wonderful tips! I bought my Harrisville loom after joining some facebook weaving groups. I mentioned there that I was looking and a very nice lady contacted me about one of her looms for sale and there we were. I really wise there was a closer fiber group near me.

[@ActonCreative]

Ask and you shall receive, huh? That's amazing!!

[@sonjanordahl3158]

A local or neighboring weavers/knitters/spinners guild is such a great resource. You will usually find someone knowledgeable who is more than willing to help you find the right loom for you. And if you are a first-time buyer who is looking at a used loom they can let you know if all the parts are there and if it is a fair price. My first loom was a 32" Ashford 8 shaft table loom. After a month I knew this was going to be a lifetime love and over the next year and a half I bought 4 more used looms. Each style of loom has it's own quirks and I love and use them all.

[@ActonCreative]

Once you know weaving is for you, it becomes easy to buy ALL the looms, right? It's so much fun!

[@InbictaProductionzZ]

I live in Portugal, and there aren't many weavers around. Second hand looms are non-existent. I bought a Louet Jane 8 shaft table loom a few months ago, but I'm saving up for a Louet David, for the larger weaving width and faster working speed. I'm not selling the table loom because it's portable and foldable, and I like the idea of having two looms warped with different projects. It will still take me over a year from now to save enough money for the floor loom, though.

[@TinyWeaverLori]

Wow that's sad to hear that there are not many weavers in Portugal. I live in the Netherlands and it's very easy to get your hands on a second hand loom. I do know of a wonderful weaving store that ships worldwide. I just recently purchased a foldable weaving loom and I love it.

[@13heylady]

All my looms have been pre-loved! Ok, so I've only had 2 but still lol. My first was a rigid heddle, and my second is the HD floor loom I have now.

[@ActonCreative]

Very nice!

[@dannyl2598]

I ended up with a loom because the previous Owner never actually used it. I know of two other people that have looms but have never gotten up the courage to do a project. If you find someone that has a loom, you could probably buy it. I didn't get started until I found a Small table loom that wasn't so intimidating.

[@ActonCreative]

@@dannyl2598 Nice! Thank you for sharing!

[@conniepeterson122]

When I started weaving, I took lessons from a master weaver. I rented a 24", 4 harness until I was able to convince Norm that I would use one. I wanted something larger, so got "Matilda," who is 36", 4 harness. My teacher told me what to get. Back then, 1973, she cost $100. There is no brand on her but I think she's an Ashford. She was brand new. All of my other looms have been used. I looked, I wanted, I bought. Only one turned out to be unsatisfactory, so I sold her and got another.

[@ActonCreative]

Renting a loom is a great way to start!

[@sandraeasthope3010]

Good morning.

[@robertrobert5583]

So far as I can tell, there are no showrooms or conferences in England where one can test drive floor looms. If anyone knows otherwise please let me know!

[@ActonCreative]

Oooh, that's interesting! I'll definitely toss it out to the group to see what might be available to you!

[@jiggyfun807]

Loomcraft?

[@ActonCreative]

@@jiggyfun807 Nice!