5 Best Weaving Loom for Beginners in 2024

A weaving loom is not only great for making cute little scarves and handkerchiefs, but they also help to sharpen those deep brain skills like your motor responses, limb coordination, and so on.

Another great thing about them is that they are fun! So, they make great gifts for kids. If you are thinking about getting something for a cute baby next door, then do consider a weaving loom. They are easy to use, and they are great at sharpening the creative muscle.

To find the best weaving loom for beginners, keep reading this article!

5 Best Weaving Loom for Beginners

Weaving is an amazing practice for improving motor skills. But with the wrong weaving loom, you will struggle a bit too much to learn anything in a fun way. So, in this list, we’ll walk you through the top weaving looms you could find in the market and save you some effort.

1. Ashford SampleIt Weaving Loom, Best for Beginners

This 10-inch is a great tool for beginners who don’t want to invest heavily in the tools after they learn how to start weaving. A small, portable device but no less capable of producing intricate weaves in complex patterns than the bigger looms.

You can experiment with anything between textures, colors, and heddle patterns with it. The only caveat with this tool is that it can’t do weaving patterns that are too fine.  The main point of attraction with this tool is its portability. It is a very compact loom that is made with light-colored Silver Beech timber, which is beautiful and elegant to look at. It’s very easy to learn the operations on this tiny weaving loom.

All the instructions are clearly disclosed in the outlet.

The clickers and ratchets on this tool hold the thread or yarn steady in position so that you feel no pressure to manage too many things at once. Whether you are just beginning to enter the world of weaving or are already excelling in it, you will be really happy with this tool.

The reed has 7.5 dots per inch – the spacing has been done properly for the perfect alignment between the strings. Alignment is vital when it comes to a neat formation of patterns on the yarn. But with this loom, you have to make no effort into alignment, and this will move over to give you the biggest advantage when you are weaving.

You don’t have to sit with skills up your sleeve when you sit with this loop. After the basic instructions, you will most definitely get the hang of it, and that too by a great measure in terms of variety and patterns.

What We Liked

The loom has a clean reed arrangement and enough clickers to keep the yarn detangled. This will help you to concentrate fully on the weaving without distracting you with extra work.

What Could Be Better

Everything about this weaving loom works. There’s nothing we can suggest; get it without any hesitation if you are a beginner. If you are experienced, we advise you to get something a bit more complex than this.

2. Kissbuty Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom, Best for Co-Learning Between Kids and Parents

This wooden loom is the best throwback to the design of the traditional weaving looms with which it all began. However, this is not meant for those connoisseurs of the craft, but for those who are beginning to get their foothold on the art of weaving.

From the very first project, you are going to fall in love with the simple, minimalistic design of this wooden loom. The light-colored wood that it is based on is always going to put you in a lightweight mood, ready to experiment.

This beginner-friendly loom measures 9.9 x 15.7 x 1.3 inches in dimension, and it is the perfect size for little kids to begin their weaving foundation with. The wood used is soft yet rigid – it won’t hurt your kid, and neither can your kid snap it in two. This is a great advantage with this Kissbuty weaving frame – they are completely safe for handling.

Working with this loom is no hard work. Well, since they are made for kids, they, of course, won’t be! If you want to adjust the size of the frame or the tautness of the string, then all you gotta do is use the metal screw regulator to make the necessary changes.

The learning curve is not that steep with this loom. It is easy to understand, and when you are there to guide your kid through it, you will both have a great time learning something new and useful for the future.

What We Liked

It allows you to change the frame size very easily with the metal regulator screw. You will be able to experiment as much as you want and push your skills up.

What Could Be Better

The manufacturing process has to be better, as many customers complained about getting their sets with pieces missing.

3. Melissa & Doug Multi-Craft Weaving Loom, Best for Kids Ranging from 6-8 Years Old

If you do not want to be confused with all the tiny accessories that are required for the weaving experience, then the simple and straight-forward thing to do is to get an all-inclusive set like this one from Melissa and Doug.

Everything starting from an oversized wooden needle to the craft materials, rainbow yarn, and even an illustrated booklet for inspiration is packed into this set. It will be a great joy to receive this weaving kit in the house because with this; you can get started right away!

These are 6 to 8-year-old kid-friendly tools that do not have a single sharp end to hurt you with. Even the needle is made of wood!

Weaving will become an effortless skill with this loom. It will improve your hand to eye coordination and help you gain more motor skills that will have an immediate enhancing effect on your life. With the multi-crafting features of this loom, you will be able to gain creative expression with it faster than with any other loom.

This loom is extremely easy to work with. There are knobs on it that are very easy to grasp. These knobs are not just for show, but they actually help to adjust the size of the frame so that you can try out different patterns and a variety of techniques.

You don’t have to be an expert in order to work with this loom.

You can get started with this and make your kid also learn weaving along with you. Your kids will love the animal picture tapestries that come with this kit.

What We Liked

We love how this loom is all made with wood and so safe for children. The company has maintained all the necessary features required for you to try out different projects of various sizes so that you don’t have to make any compromises with this tool. It even comes with a handy book of illustrations to encourage creativity with the weaving.

What Could Be Better

Although there are examples of weaving patterns in the book that comes with the set, the instructions were a bit confusing to follow. This is the only thing that might hold users a little back from going full out with their experiments.

4. Mikimiqi Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom, Best for Moving Your Skills Up

If you are looking for a weaving loom that will encourage a growth in your level of skills and also be portable enough for you to carry it around for sustained practice, then the Mikimiqi is one of the best contenders for the purpose.

You will need to use a heddle if you want to get into the bigger projects, and as this loom comes with a big rotating heddle, you will get quite a lot of practice in the right direction with it.

It also comes with a small comb that will help you to separate the yarn and keep it in a fixed alignment so that it easier for you to keep things simple and neat while weaving. It will speed up your weaving and allow you to finish projects much faster with greater levels of satisfaction.

However, there is one thing that you will have to get used to while using this loom. The metal bits at the ends of the loom – they might go a bit tighter as you push through with your weaving. You need to keep an eye out for this because it might cut your yarn off midway through the work in progress.

You can easily solve this problem by adding two screws to the edges of the loom. The screws will help you with keeping the yarn taut without entanglements.

What We Liked

We love that this is a loom for adults who are keen on learning. It has all the features that will allow you to get a depth of understanding in terms of weaving complex patterns. It is also lightweight enough to be carried along in a bag wherever you go.

What Could Be Better

The metal bits on the edges of the loom might cause the yarn to break a mid-project. There is a fix for this, but it would be better if the company upgraded the design to fix this before dispatching the looms.

5. Ashford Weaving Rigid Heddle Loom, Best for Weaving Experiments

We have talked about the Ashford SampleIt Loom, now let’s talk about its twin – the Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom. If you liked SampleIt, you are going to wanna hear more about this one for sure.

First of all, let’s begin by saying that we are not wasting our time on this for no reason. Yes, they both come with the same bracket heddle and matching reeds, but there are quite some differences in terms of the design features.

So, let’s just focus on this one for now, and you’ll get to know the differences. So, this one is called the standard loom. It has a durable body and perfect sturdiness in its balance because it is made with very strong wood. Also, it is a bit longer in length running the front through to the back.

It also has a slightly bigger shed than its twin loom, so you will definitely be more comfortable with it. At the end of the day, this one will give you plenty of opportunities to learn and experiment with weaving.

You will be able to carry it around with you. On the go, you can make many types of scarves with it and complete other small tasks like weaving a handkerchief and so on.

What We Liked

This one is very similar to the first Ashford Loom we discussed here, but it is a heavier version of that model. Its suitability expands to those who want to get into weaving complex patterns. This loom is also very comfortable to work with because of its 16-inch space. Thus, it’s often cited as the best rigid heddle loom for beginners by many crafters.

What Could Be Better

This loom is made with heavy wood that needs regular polishes. This extra hassle doesn’t come with other weaving looms, and this extra work might be slightly discouraging for beginners who have only just begun to try their hand at weaving.

What to Look for Before You Buy?

It’s vital to know about the looms available in the market before you decide to purchase the right weaving loom for you. There are many distinct similarities and differences between them that contribute to slight changes in their functionality. We’ll talk about them here to give you a brief understanding of how does a loom work.

Types of Loom

Each type of loom serves a different purpose and caters to users on a particular level of expertise. Let’s jump into it and talk about some details.

Pin Looms

Pin Loom

This is where professional weaving starts at. We don’t mean to say that pin looms are advanced machines. They are, in fact, tiny and portable. But they will help you get your hand and heart into weaving.

They are so simple to use that you can sit with them for the first time and make little shapes like diamonds, squares, triangles, and so on just within an hour.

As the name suggests, there are pins on the machine, and around these pins, you need to wind up the yarn. Follow the easy instructions for this, and you will get the total idea of the weaving process super fast.

Another great thing is that you don’t have to waste even the tiny bits of yarn when you have this machine. You can join up handwoven shapes with these and sew up them all together to make a bigger piece. You can also embellish, try out felting, and whatever else you want.

Tapestry Looms

Tapestry Loom

If you are a complete noob at weaving, which, admittedly, is a great place to start from, then tapestry looms are great for you. Tapestry will help you to learn all the basics of weaving that you need to have in your arsenal.

With these beginner weaving looms, you can do anything from basic weaving styles to the complex ones that are used for textile art. There are several teeth or indentations on this machine, and they are placed at regular intervals. Between these teeth, the warp ends will be wound up. For the warp threads, you can use cotton strings if you want to.

After this, you can add weft with any kind of fabric you want into the warp. Anything from fiber to yarn and materials like shells or driftwood would work perfectly here.

The addition of the weft can be done with tools like bobbins, wooden stick shuttles, and so on. You can also use your hands if that’s what feels more comfortable to you.

Heddle Looms

Heddle Looms

These machines are a bit more complex than pin looms, and tapestry looms. They are meant for people who are moving into the intermediate stage of weaving. Once you get the hang of the machine, you will be able to produce work much faster. You can pick up the direct weaving method and get down to work with plain weaves or pick up weaves to get more adventurous textures through.

If you are thinking of getting serious with this, then heddle looms will be a good suit for you. These are quite portable too, so you’ll be able to travel with these if you need a change of place.

However, they do come in bigger unportable sizes as well. For example, you’ll find heddle looms that are up to 48 inches. But we wouldn’t really recommend that size – the best size range is within 20 to 25 inches. Anything beyond this might be a bit uncomfortable for you to work with.

Inkle and Band Looms

Inkle Loom

These looms can be used to make warp bands. These bands can be used to make belts, bag handles, and so on.

Also, they are quite simple to use. There is nothing complex about these machines that will need figuring out. They are, however, capable of making complex patterns with thread. Also, being small in size makes them easy for storage. You can keep it on top of a table and save space in the house while pursuing your new hobby.

If you are a beginner thinking of seriously continuing into the intermediate level, then get yourself an inkle and band loom.

Table Looms

Table Loom

We wouldn’t recommend this to any kind of beginner. These are advanced-level machines. They take up big space inside the house and are quite complex to figure out as well.

You will need to properly gauge out the size of your warp thread by using a mill, board, or pegs. You have to move yarn through looms and move shafts to create patterns.

All the complexity of these table looms makes this machine immensely versatile as well. You can quickly experiment with your patterns with this table loom for sure. Plus, the loom allows you to create beautiful wall hangings, scarves, coasters, woven mats, cushion covers, tea cozies, etc.

Is a Weaving Loom a Good Gift for an 8-Year-Old?

Weaving looms can be a great gift for an 8-year-old, especially if they have an interest in crafting or art. It is a great activity for young children because it does the following –

• Develops fine motor skills
• Encourages creative thinking
• Teaches problem-solving
• Builds patience
• Motivates them to take pride in their work

A weaving loom can also be a great way to introduce children to the world of fibers and textiles, as well as give them an opportunity to explore their own creativity.

However, it is important to make sure the loom is age-appropriate and comes with instructions so that the child can begin to use it safely and easily. You can’t just give it to an 8-year-old girl who has difficulty with basic motor skills.

Level of Expertise You Want to Achieve

Weaving Using Loom

You may want to get a loom for your kid, or you may even want one for yourself. In any case, beginners weaving looms are more or less made on the same basic principle. They are supposed to be fairly simple to work with. The Ashford SampleIt Weaving Loom and the Ashford Weaving Rigid Heddle Loom, are good examples of looms that will get you started quickly and help to catapult your skills through a smooth transition of skill levels.

If you are serious about moving forward to serious weaving, then we suggest getting one like the Kissbuty Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom that comes with a shuttle and is more in line with the traditional skill set that is required for making complex patterns on bigger and heftier looms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to weave without using a machine?

No, but you can make a DIY weaving loom with a few simple house materials if you don’t want to buy one.

How many types of weaves are there?

There are about three types of distinctive weave styles – plain, satin, and twill.

Does it take a long time to learn weaving?

It’s not tough to learn if you know where to start. Get the most basic beginner’s weaving loom, follow simple instructions, and try to complete a very simple and tiny project with it. If you do this methodically, then you are going to get your hand at it quite quickly. You’ll be able to make fabric for hand embroidery on your own.

How to seal the end of a weaved cloth?

You have to pull the strings at the ends to an extra length and then tightly knot them up.

Which weave is the strongest one?

The interweaving through the plain/linen weave is the strongest.

Are plastic looms bad?

The strongest point of plastic weaving looms is that they are pretty lightweight. Therefore, the looms are portable. However, these look really cheap and the build quality is often subpar. If you’re a bit serious about your weaving, avoid plastic looms. Start your weaving journey with proper wooden looms.

Can Beginners Use Tapestry Looms for Weaving?

Yes, beginners can definitely use tapestry looms for weaving. There are various best tapestry loom options available in the market that are specifically designed for beginners. These looms are easy to use and provide a great starting point for anyone interested in learning the art of weaving.

Final Words

Weaving is a great idea, we completely support it because it has so many benefits for you! Get the best weaving loom for beginners and get your game on. Once you get the hang of it, you will be properly surprised to see how creatively your mind has started to think. We are sure you and your kids are going to have a lot of quality bonding time if you start weaving together.

So, get one today and enjoy yourselves!

REFERENCES

1. Loom – Wikipedia