Start Weaving on a Table Loom

A table loom is the ideal entry point for anyone who wants to learn weaving without committing to a full-size floor loom. Compact enough to sit on a desk or dining table, a good table loom can produce scarves, placemats, towels, fabric yardage, and even small tapestries. Table Loom is your resource for choosing the right loom, learning the fundamentals, and finding projects that build your skills.

Why a Table Loom?

Accessibility

A table loom weighs between 10 and 30 pounds and fits in a small space. You can weave at your kitchen table, put the loom away when company comes, and pick it up again without losing your place. Floor looms demand a dedicated room — table looms ask only for a clear surface.

Affordability

Entry-level table looms start around $200, making weaving accessible without a major financial commitment. Even high-quality four-shaft table looms from respected manufacturers cost a fraction of comparable floor looms.

Learning

The mechanics of weaving are the same on any loom — warp, weft, shed, beat. A table loom teaches the same principles as a floor loom, just operated by hand levers instead of foot treadles. Everything you learn transfers directly to larger equipment.

Choosing a Table Loom

Weaving Width

• 10–15 inches — Scarves, bookmarks, narrow fabric samples
• 15–20 inches — Placemats, towels, wider scarves
• 20–26 inches — Table runners, yardage for bags and small garments

Number of Shafts

• 4 shafts — The standard for beginners; handles plain weave, twill, and most common patterns
• 8 shafts — For weavers ready to explore more complex patterns like overshot and Summer and Winter
• 16 shafts — Advanced pattern complexity, approaching what computerized looms can produce

Recommended Models

• Ashford Katie — A popular 8-shaft table loom with a 12-inch weaving width, excellent for learning
• Schacht Flip — A rigid heddle loom (simpler mechanism) ideal for absolute beginners
• Leclerc Bergamont — A 4-shaft table loom built in Canada, known for solid construction and smooth action
• Glimåkra Emilia — Swedish-made, compact, and beautifully finished with 4 or 8 shaft options

Your First Project

Plain Weave Scarf

The classic beginner project. Choose a soft cotton or bamboo yarn, warp your loom with 100–120 ends, and weave a simple over-under plain weave. You'll learn warping, threading, sleying, and weaving mechanics while producing something genuinely wearable.

What You'll Need

• Table loom (4+ shafts)
• Yarn for warp and weft (cotton or bamboo recommended for beginners)
• Shuttle (stick or boat)
• Reed hook and threading hook
• Scissors and measuring tape

Essential Supplies

• Yarn — Cotton, wool, bamboo, and linen are the most common weaving fibers
• Shuttles — Stick shuttles for simple projects; boat shuttles for longer runs
• Reeds — Different dents-per-inch for different yarn weights
• Warping board or peg — For measuring and organizing your warp threads

Pick up a shuttle and discover one of humanity's oldest crafts.