“How long is a piece of string?!?!?”
This is an amazing way to describe how to choose something!!! I am definitely going to use this!

Your method of explaining things is exceptional. Thank you for your time.

Oh, I dream of the baby wolf, it's so lovely. sigh  My best tip if you're very new to weaving is to see if there is a local weaving guild and if they rent looms out. I rented a table loom from my guild and taught myself how to weave - confirmed that I loved it and then found a funny little floor loom on craigslist to buy that fit into my tiny apartment. But it was nice to have that rented loom for a bit to see if weaving was really an interest worth putting money into for me. :)  Also: NEW LOOM FOR YOU! YAY!

I do have a weaving loom, initially I was going to wait and save until further on my fiber journey. I saw a listing on Craigslist at a price point that was hard to believe. When I went to pick it up the owner threw in a broken spinning wheel for free. With minimal repairs the spinning wheel was up and running. I have since been on the road to refurbishment. Can’t wait until the 31st when the last of the replacement parts comes in.

A bit off topic, I love your top! Perfect pairing with the yarn.

Before I bought my first loom, my friend told me that she had heard that I "should buy the widest loom I could afford," since I couldn't "invent" width. I think that logic may be true if you have one loom....I started with a new 32" 4-shaft Ashford table loom, and I loved it but sold it when I got a used 32" 8-shaft Gilmore floor loom; I loved that for many years but I sold it when I found a used 4-shaft Baby Wolf loom; I sold the BW when I had a chance to get a used 8-shaft Mighty Wolf loom. I found I like to have 8 shafts (although I rarely use all of them) because when I want to do plain weave, I usually use a rigid heddle loom. Most of my looms I've bought used, and I've found that the re-sale value of looms remains pretty good as long as one takes care of the loom.  I currently have my "dream" floor loom (the 8-shaft Schacht Mighty Wolf); an 8-shaft Louet Jane, which is a nice portable table loom, good for classes and travel; a Schacht Cricket rigid heddle loom to use knitting yarns and hand-spun in quick scarves and projects; a 26" Schacht Flip for prayer shawls; an Inkle loom and small pin looms. I probably don't need all of the looms, but it's a nice collection for different purposes.

My introduction to weaving was in 2010. I decided to learn how to design tartans. After 12 years of tartan study and design, I think I'm ready to learn how to weave.

Well said!  It took me over 8 years to finally get a floor loom that I have always wanted; a Louet David.  A big factor for me was size, it had to be compact enough to fit in a 2 bedroom flat, noise level was my other factor, it had to be quiet, very quiet as I want to respect my neighbours and never give them a chance to complain that there is noise coming from my flat, these were my two main considerations.  I particularly chose the David because I love Louet products, I love their philosophy etc, and I love the idea of sinking shed Jack loom, just makes more sense to me.  My only small, tiny regret was not getting the 90, but the 70 is fine.  In my case I also got many accessories all in the same month of buying the loom, i.e. EF shuttles for example.  I am hoping to retire early, so I feel I need to purchase these items with "earned income" vs a fixed retirement income in a few years.

I love the entire weaving process, I love some of the process more than the other, like using a warp board, and so I plan on investing in a warping mill instead. I hate fringing as well, so I don't make long fringe, but very short fringe which is also traditional in my culture.

Thank you for your well-thought-out, informative, nicely executed presentation.  So many variables to consider!  After starting with (and still retaining) rigid heddle looms, I envisioned getting a 4-shaft floor loom.  An 8-shaft Louet David became available on a used loom site and I jumped at the chance to get it.  A fun bonus is that it is a special edition, made of cherry wood.  My heart melts every time I think about it, walk past it, and weave with it.  In my postage stamp size space, I love that I can fold and secure the back beam in for an even smaller footprint. I have used 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 shafts for projects.  I love having 8 shafts in my “back pocket” even though I rarely use all 8.  I love to use 6 shafts to combine plain weave with 4-shaft vertical twill bands. (4 shafts are adequate for combining plain weave and 4-shaft twill patterns horizontally.)  Amazingly, 4 shafts are also adequate for a complex beautiful overshot pattern:  “Lee’s Surrender.”  Best of Success, Mighty Weavers❣️

Those advice are so, so great. I'm a little bit sorry, that I found this video today and not when I was in the process of buying my first loom. I own two Kromski Harp weaving Looms - 16" and 32". I bought the bigger loom first because I thought that I need more versatile loom assuming I end up only with one piece. But then I realize that big loom requires standing while weaving with my set up - it is just to big to hold on my lap and i don't have space for floor stand. So I bought smaller one and I'm perfectly happy with it. I love weaving because of the speed of the process comparing to knitting. Also I'm driven by color and texture - complicate structure is just not for me. And rigid heddle loom gives me simplicity - even without any classes, books or previous experience I was able to successfully start weaving. I love the process and I'm able to experiment with weaving aspects I enjoy without worrying about anything else.

Thank you!  Your video helped me decide on a rigid heddle loom. I'm autistic, and we like to stim. I discovered weaving, knitting and tatting as a healthy way to stim.

Wonderful  video. I have 3 looms and still  I was interested in  your presentation. I learned  how  to  weave about 10 years  ago. Our classes ended with the recession in the states. I was without access for over 5 years, my family  had moved away. When we moved back to our old location, I looked forward to returning to class. Alas, my teacher had retired, some of the looms had been auctioned off, while the rest were gathering dust in storage.
So, I volunteered to teach classes without a clue what to do. It didn't take long before a couple of my old classmates showed up looking for studio space. I was delighted, they all were far more experienced and I offered to assist them for refresher lessons and information. We only had (5) 4 shaft floors looms and 1 Navajo loom, I was in heaven. Fortunately, the students that showed up felt intimidated by the floor looms, so I was able to convince the director to purchase a couple of rigid heddles.
Sadly, our Art Center has been closed again, this time they auctioned off all of the remaining looms, except for the new ones. I was able to bid on the auction and purchase a beautiful 4 shart loom.

The more I learn about weaving the more I respect the wisdom of the dear lady that helped me pick out my first loom. I live in an apartment so space was an issue. My project interest pretty much was to try a bit of everything from small projects to yardage for sewing. On her advice I bought an 8 shaft baby wolf with a 10 dent reed. Initially I was really worried about it being only 26 inches. For clothing that is narrow and that reed is pretty wide gaps I thought. I have since learned so much more like multiple threads in the dent and double weave/double wide weaving. Really there isn't much I can't do on the loom. Mine is on casters so I can move it around easily.

The importance of doing the research and getting help from someone with experience really cannot be overstated. TY for putting your process out there to help others.

This has been very informative. I purchased a tabletop loom at the Ashford factory in New Zealand when I was there 3 years ago. It is still in its original packaging. I’ve been afraid to get started. Now I’ve been told I have severe arthritis in my hand and my knitting days are growing less. It’s time to try something else. You are giving me the courage to jump in and get started. Some have suggested knitting machines, but they sound even more scary. 😄

Your way of explaining this craft is on point. Answered all my questions and answered questions that I didn’t know I need.
Thank you.

All great tips! Buying a loom can be daunting for someone just starting out and trying them first can be a real challenge depending on where you live. I think the main thing is to get something. It doesn’t have to be your ‘forever’ loom. I started with a rigid heddle and in 6 months bought a used 45” 4 shaft counterbalance and 4 years later I still love it. Fine linen, silks, rugs, blankets it does it all. Do I wish I had 8 shafts? Sometimes, but 4 is keeping me plenty busy.

I love what you said about preparing to make a project on a loom. For me each part is a pleasure, even twisting fringe. But when I first got my 8 shaft 36 inch Ashford, I couldn’t get to the weaving part fast enough. I found the warping horrible and tedious and time consuming. But really, once weaving, I found that that was also pretty repetitive. I have grown to enjoy the whole process, however long each part of it takes.

Thanks for this -  Started weaving 8 months ago and just ordered my first floor loom (Standard Schacht 8 shaft 36”) because I want a powerful enough loom to make 40 epi cloth that I can sew into clothing 😊

I had tried weaving and wanted to do more so with a small budget I bought an 8” wide loom and have made 3 scarves from it. The cost was my biggest factor, as the 32” wide one was $300+ and mine was $80. However now I have loom envy because I would like to weave a fine shawl and would need to go up to the $300 model, which didn’t save me anything now.
I agree with your video to buy what you think you want to get to and not only what your budget will allow for.
I’m on the lookout for a 32” loom (I’d like to have a 4/8 shaft one too) now with a stand so I can stop hunching over the dining room table.

I've been thinking about my Goldilocks loom for the last 6 months. I do not want to be buying and selling looms constantly, so I've been taking my time trying to figure out what I actually want. I've come back to your video a few times. I wanted 8 shafts, and after working on a couple of jack looms realized that I didn't really find them comfortable. The treadling felt a little heavy, and it seemed noisier than I was comfortable with living in a condo. I wanted a weaving width in the mid-30 inch range. I had a price I was comfortable with for a new loom. It took me this long to decide on a 100cm Oxaback Lilla. It just checks all my boxes. Size-check. Quiet-check. Ease of treadling-check. I'm very hopeful that I've made a good choice for me. I expect a learning curve, and that's ok.
I have a rigid heddle loom for weaving in my living room quietly with other people around. I have a table loom where I'll never be limited by number of treadles. Now I'll have a floor loom that gives me the additional width I've been craving with much more capacity to hold a long warp. I can't ask for more.