Comparison of Schacht Cricket and Flip Looms, Ashford and Glimakra Rigid Heddle Looms
Warping and weaving on Rigid Heddle Looms is fast. A rigid heddle loom can be warped in as little as 30 minutes. Rigid Heddle looms are affordable and portable. You can weave with knitting yarns. They are a great choice for a first time weaver.
To determine what dent reed to use with your yarn, simply wrap the yarn you plan to warp the loom with around 1” of a ruler with the yarns touching each other but not pushed together tightly. Count the number of wraps of yarn in your 1” section and divide by two. This gives you the size reed you need for a particular yarn. For example, if your yarn has 16 wraps in an inch, you will need an 8 dent reed.
Schacht Variable Dent Reeds are available for the Cricket and Flip looms. The variable dent reeds come with various dent reed sections that can be placed in the reed frame in whatever order you like.
We highly recommend Jane Patrick’s Book entitled The Weavers Idea Book as well as Jane’s DVD entitled Weaving on a Rigid Heddle Loom.
Schacht Cricket Looms
are available in 10 inch or 15 inch weaving widths. The Cricket loom is designed to sit on a table or in your lap or there is an optional stand available. The Cricket loom comes with an 8 dent reed, warping peg, 2 clamps, threading hook, stick shuttle, assembly and weaving instructions. 5, 10 or 12 dent reeds are available to purchase separately. It is unfinished furniture grade maple ply. Assembly takes about 30 minutes and instructions are easy to follow. There is a new variable dent reed available as an option. There is also a sturdy, colorful Cricket Bag available. The Cricket Bags are handwoven in Guatemala and weavers are paid a fair price for their work. The bag is suitable for Spinners too!Schacht Flip Folding Rigid Heddle Looms
are designed to sit on a table, rest in your lap with the top of it leaning against a table or there is an optional Trestle Stand available to order separately. The Schacht Flip Loom is available in 15 inch, 20 inch 25 inch and 30 inch weaving widths and folds for travel, even with a warp on the loom. You have your choice of a 5, 8, 10 or 12 dent reed with the Flip loom. The flip loom comes with brackets so you can weave with 2 heddles for more complicated weaves. It is assembled and finished. Includes warping peg, 2 clamps, stick shuttle, threading hook and instructions. Just take it out of the box, remove the protective bubble wrap and unfold it. There is a variable dent reed available to order separately. There is also a Flip Carry Bag available separately to fit the 15, 20, 25 or 30 inch Flip Looms.Ashford Folding Knitters Looms
are available in 12 inch, 20 inch or 28 inch Knitters Loom which fold for travel even with a warp on the loom. Ashford Knitters looms are assembled and have a clear lacquer finish. Reeds are available in 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, or 12.5 dents per inch. Optional brackets can be purchased to accommodate 2 reeds and stands and bags are also available to order separately.Ashford also makes Rigid Heddle Looms that do not fold in 16 inch, 24 inch or 32 inch weaving widths. These looms are unfinished and unassembled. They come with a 7.5 Dent reed. Optional reeds are available with 2.5, 5, 10 or 12.5 dents per inch. Stands are available to order separately.
