Which loom is right for me?

A loom usually stays with you for many years. That's why it pays to spend a few minutes before you choose. We've sorted every loom in our range by the questions that almost always make the difference when we give advice. If you're still undecided afterwards, write to us or give us a call, we're happy to help.

Rigid heddle loom on a stand in a bright room — Kromski rigid heddle loom on a stand

Four questions first

1. What do you want to weave?Scarves and wraps work beautifully on a rigid heddle loom. For patterns like twill or waffle you need shafts, so a table loom or floor loom. For bands there are dedicated inkle looms.

2. How many shafts?With 4 shafts you can already weave a great many classic structures. 8 shafts give you a lot more room to play. From 16 shafts on, a dobby is worth it.

3. How wide should it be?40 to 60 cm is enough for scarves. For blankets, towels or yardage, plan on 90 cm or more.

4. How much space do you have?Rigid heddle and table looms fit on any table. Some floor looms even fold up with the warp still on.

Getting started: rigid heddle looms

With a rigid heddle loom you can weave scarves, wraps and cushion covers. Warping takes about an hour, and it fits on any table.

Light and smallKromski PrestoQuick to warp and easy to use. Perfect for your first scarves.from €219View rigid heddle loom →

Up to 80 cm wideKromski Harp ForteWith a second heddle it also handles finer fabrics, stand available.from €259View rigid heddle loom →

Grows with youLojan Flex Rigid HeddleStarts as a rigid heddle loom and can be expanded to 4 or 8 shafts later.from €229View rigid heddle loom →

70 cm weaving widthLojan Rigid Heddle 70A wide rigid heddle loom at a great price, for large wraps and blankets sewn from panels.from €275View rigid heddle loom →

Very sturdyGlimakra EmiliaWith a second heddle holder it also works for finer fabrics.from €510View rigid heddle loom →

Shafts on the table

With 4 shafts or more you can weave twill, waffle and your own patterns. On a table loom you lift the shafts with levers. That saves space and money.

Affordable startLouet Erica2 shafts, expandable to 4. Small, light and quick to set up.from €405View loom →

4 or 8 shafts, foldingLojan Flex 4-ShaftFolding and light, ideal for classes and first samples.from €430View loom →

8 shaftsLouet HarmonySmooth levers, great for sampling with 8 shafts.from €770View loom →

8 or 16 shaftsLouet Jane 8/16Up to 90 cm weaving width. On its stand it's almost a small floor loom.from €1,093View loom →

Computer controlledAVL Little Weaver 2Compu-Dobby with up to 24 shafts. The shed changes automatically.from €5,000View loom →

16 shafts, computer dobbyLeclerc DianaWith its stand and two treadles it also works as a floor loom.from €5,050View loom →

Floor looms for your home

On a floor loom you work the shafts with your feet and keep both hands free. It's faster and much more comfortable on long warps. These models also fit in an apartment.

Compact and affordableToika Anni4 shafts, 55 cm weaving width. Takes barely more room than an armchair.from €1,135View loom →

FoldingLeclerc CompactFolds to 54 cm deep, even with a warp on.from €2,068View loom →

Folding, 55 cmHarrisville A-SeriesMaple jack loom, the treadles are tied up with chains.from €1,990View loom →

8 shaftsLouet David 3Up to 110 cm weaving width, easy to tie up, good for beginners too.from €3,572View loom →

91 cm, foldingHarrisville T-SeriesAs a T8 with 8 shafts from €3,390. Light treadling even with many shafts.from €2,790View loom →

Countermarch, compactToika LailaCountermarch on a small footprint, with 4 or 8 shafts.from €1,950View loom →

Wide fabrics and rugs

For blankets, yardage and rugs you need weaving width and a heavy frame.

Up to 110 cmLouet Spring 2Parallel countermarch with 8 or 12 shafts, a very calm and clean shed.from €5,180View loom →

Up to 150 cmToika LiisaCountermarch with 4 to 12 shafts for wide fabrics.from €3,845View loom →

For rugsToika EevaHeavy build, strong beat, up to 150 cm weaving width.from €4,690View loom →

For rugsLouet DeltaUp to 130 cm, 8 or 12 shafts, built for dense cloth.from €6,952View loom →

Patterns at the push of a button

With a dobby, a mechanism or a computer selects the shafts. You only press one treadle and can weave very complex patterns.

Dobby by LouetLouet Octado8 shafts, the dobby does the shaft selection. No more tying up treadles.from €5,250View loom →

16 or 32 shaftsLouet MegadoComputer controlled dobby for complex patterns.from €7,875View loom →

Compu-DobbyAVL Workshop Dobby8 to 24 shafts, 40 or 61 cm. Your way into the AVL world.from €5,400View loom →

ProfessionalAVL K-SeriesUp to 40 shafts and 102 cm weaving width.from €10,500View loom →

ProductionAVL A-SeriesProduction loom up to 183 cm weaving width.from €12,400View loom →

With E-LiftAVL V-Series with E-LiftElectric shaft lift, 16 to 40 shafts.from €14,300View loom →

Bands, belts, tablet weaving

You don't need a big loom for narrow bands. An inkle loom is set up in an evening.

3 in 1Lojan Inkle LoomInkle, tablet weaving and band weaving with one tool.from €79View inkle loom →

ClassicLouet Inkle LoomSturdy inkle loom, in Mini and Standard.from €79View inkle loom →

All looms compared

On your phone, swipe the tables sideways.

Rigid heddle looms

Model	Shafts	Weaving width	Price from
Ashford SampleIt	Heddle	25 or 40 cm	€155
Kromski Presto	Heddle	25 or 40 cm	€219
Lojan Flex Rigid Heddle	Heddle, expandable to 4 or 8	30 or 50 cm	€229
Ashford Rigid Heddle	Heddle	40 to 120 cm	€236
Kromski Harp Forte	Heddle	20 to 80 cm	€259
Lojan Rigid Heddle 70	Heddle	70 cm	€275
Ashford Knitters Loom	Heddle	30 to 70 cm	€320
Glimakra Siru	Heddle	40 or 60 cm	€329
Glimakra Emilia	Heddle	35 or 50 cm	€510
Glimakra Susanna	Heddle	70 cm	€710

Table looms

Model	Control	Shafts	Weaving width	Price from
Louet Erica	Levers	2, expandable to 4	30 or 50 cm	€405
Lojan Flex 4-Shaft	Levers	4 or 8	30 or 50 cm	€430
Louet Harmony	Levers	8	50 cm	€770
Ashford 4-Shaft	Levers	4	60 cm	€869
Ashford 8-Shaft	Levers	8	40 to 80 cm	€900
Toika Leena	Levers	4 or 8	60 cm	€985
Leclerc Dorothy	Levers	4 or 8	40 or 60 cm	€1,025
Ashford Katie	Levers	8	30 cm	€1,075
Louet Jane 8/16	Levers	8 or 16	50 to 90 cm	€1,093
Leclerc Voyageur	Levers	4, 8, 12 or 16	24, 40 or 60 cm	€1,125
Ashford 16-Shaft	Levers	16	60 or 80 cm	€1,494
AVL Little Weaver 2	Compu-Dobby	8, 16 or 24	40 cm	€5,000
Leclerc Diana	Computer dobby	16	60 cm	€5,050

Floor looms

Model	Mechanism	Shafts	Weaving width	Price from
Toika Anni	Jack, folding	4	55 cm	€1,135
Glimakra Julia	Counterbalance or countermarch	2, 4 or 8	67 cm	€1,750
Toika Laila	Countermarch	4 or 8	70 cm	€1,950
Toika Alvar	Countermarch	8	70 cm	€1,990
Harrisville A-Series	Jack, folding	4 or 8	55 cm	€1,990
Leclerc Compact	Jack, folding	4 or 8	60 cm	€2,068
Harrisville T-Series	Jack, folding	4 or 8	91 cm	€2,790
Leclerc Artisat	Jack	4 or 8	90 cm	€3,050
Toika Jaana	Countermarch	4 or 8	80 or 100 cm	€3,145
Ashford Jack Loom	Jack	8	97 cm	€3,485
Louet David 3	Jack	8	70 to 110 cm	€3,572
Toika Liisa	Countermarch	4 to 12 (16 on request)	80 to 150 cm	€3,845
Leclerc Mira II	Counterbalance	4	90 to 150 cm	€4,150
Leclerc Fanny II	Counterbalance, folding	4	90 to 150 cm	€4,200
Leclerc Nilus	Jack	4 or 8	90 to 150 cm	€4,300
Toika Eeva	Countermarch	4 to 12	80 to 150 cm	€4,690
Leclerc Nilus II	Jack, counterbalance or countermarch	4 or 8	90 to 150 cm	€4,700
Louet Spring 2	Parallel countermarch	8 or 12	90 or 110 cm	€5,180
Louet Octado	Dobby	8	70 to 110 cm	€5,250
AVL Workshop Dobby	Compu-Dobby	8, 16 or 24	40 or 61 cm	€5,400
Glimakra Standard	Counterbalance or countermarch	4 to 16	100 to 160 cm	€5,600
Louet Delta	Parallel countermarch	8 or 12	110 or 130 cm	€6,952
Leclerc Colonial v2	Jack	8 or 12	115 or 150 cm	€7,450
Louet Megado	Dobby	16 or 32	40 to 130 cm	€7,875
AVL K-Series	Compu-Dobby	8 to 40	61 to 102 cm	€10,500
Leclerc Weavebird	Dobby	16 to 32	90 to 150 cm	€11,600
AVL Studio Dobby	Compu-Dobby	16 or 24	50 or 76 cm	€11,800
AVL A-Series	Compu-Dobby	8 to 40	76 to 183 cm	€12,400
AVL V-Series with E-Lift	Compu-Dobby, E-Lift	16 to 40	76 or 102 cm	€14,300
AVL Dobby Rug Loom	Rug loom, Compu-Dobby	8 to 32	300 to 600 cm	€28,900

Jack, countermarch or counterbalance?

The terms sound more complicated than they are. They simply describe how a floor loom opens the shed. On a jack loom the treadles lift the shafts. It's easy to tie up and great for beginners. On a counterbalance loom the shafts hang in pairs from rollers, one goes up while the other goes down. On a countermarch loom every treadle raises some shafts and lowers the others. That gives you a large, clean shed, even on wide warps. With Louet's parallel countermarch you only tie one treadle per shaft.

Any of these systems is fine to start with. What matters more is that the weaving width and number of shafts suit your projects.

Pink Kromski Presto rigid heddle loom on a stand — Kromski Presto on a stand

Frequently asked questions

Can I expand my loom later?

On many models, yes. The Lojan Flex grows from a rigid heddle loom into a table loom with 4 or 8 shafts, the Louet Jane from 8 to 16 shafts and the Louet Spring 2 from 8 to 12.

What else do I need besides the loom?

Yarn, one or two shuttles, a threading hook and, for longer warps, a warping board. For many floor looms a weaving bench is well worth it. We're happy to put together a matching set for you.

Can I try a loom first?

In our weaving courses you get to know different looms. Or give us a call, we're happy to help.