The Best Weaving Looms of 2026

The Ashford rigid heddle is the loom most weavers we know started on or wish they had, and the 24 inch size is the sweet spot. It is wide enough to weave fabric you can actually sew with, not just scarves, and Ashford makes reeds from 2.5 to 15 dents per inch for it, so you can go from chunky rug yarn to fine cotton on the same frame. The built-in second heddle option is the upgrade path: add a second heddle and you can weave double-width cloth and more complex patterns.

The tradeoffs are small: it comes in pieces, and it is too big to toss in a tote. If portability matters more than width, the Ashford Knitters Loom folds with the weaving on it.

If you are buying a loom for someone who has never woven, buy the Cricket. Schacht includes everything needed for a first project, down to the yarn, and the loom is small enough to live on a kitchen table. The 8 dent reed suits worsted-weight yarn, which is what most beginners have on hand. It also comes in a 10 inch size (about $219 at the time of writing) if space is tight.

The limit is width: 15 inches means scarves and runners, not yardage. Many weavers keep a Cricket as a sampling and travel loom long after they buy something bigger.

The Flip is the rigid heddle for weavers who know they are going to keep weaving. It folds quickly, it takes long warps, and it accepts a second heddle for double-width and more complex work. Schacht's finish and hardware are a notch above most competitors. The only knock is value: the 15 inch Flip in this listing costs more than the 24 inch Ashford, so compare widths before you buy.

The Knitters Loom is the loom you actually take places. It folds in half without disturbing the warp, it is light, and Ashford includes a carry bag and a second heddle kit. It was designed with knitters in mind, so its wide-eye reed handles textured and novelty yarns well.

One caution: the Amazon listing we found does not say which of the three widths it is. Ask the seller before buying, since the 12 and 28 inch versions are very different looms.

The SampleIt is Ashford's answer to the Cricket. It is slightly wider at 16 inches and slightly cheaper at the time of writing, and it comes with Ashford's Learn to Weave booklet. The tradeoff is finish: it arrives as raw beech, so plan an evening with a wood finish before you warp it.

If you are torn between 24 and 32 inches, the price gap is small enough that width should decide it. Go 32 if you plan blankets or garment fabric; stay 24 if you mostly weave scarves and runners, since a narrower loom is easier to store and carry.

The Beka is the budget loom that still feels like furniture. Solid cherry, a 20 inch width, and a pick-up stick in the box for about $170 at the time of writing. It is an older, simpler design than the Ashford or Schacht, but it weaves.

If a rigid heddle has you reading about twills and overshot, this is the next loom. Eight shafts mean each warp thread can be lifted in eight different groups, which is what makes complex patterns possible. It works with hand levers rather than foot treadles, so it is slower than a floor loom but fits on a table and folds away.

Inkle looms weave long, narrow bands, and they are addictive. The Schacht takes warps up to 4.5 inches wide, enough for bag straps and belts.