Weaving is a rather quick way to use up yarn, especially some the yarn that makes you wonder why you ever bought it.
Years ago, I bought a Schacht rigid heddle 25″ loom. I used it some . . not much. Our Texas house is so small and while the small loom doesn’t take up a lot of room, it does take up enough to create problems in a house the size of our house there. Then, add a blind dog to the mix and the weaving and spinning came to a halt. This is a post I wrote when I was first thinking I might buy a loom. This is the post I write when I bought the 25″ loom.
Last year, after talking to my friend, Denise, about her table top loom, I decided to by a Schacht 15″ Cricket. Here’s that blog post. Now it’s been a year and I haven’t used it yet. So, one might think I’d stop buying looms but . . nope!
About a month ago, Chad told me about an auction in Nevada, MO. I think I mentioned it. There were looms, all kinds of knitting things, including yarn . . and even though I was in MO at the time, I didn’t have time to go over and attend an auction and with COVID, I didn’t really want to so Chad told me I could call and place my bid so I did that and I got this Schacht 15″ Cricket loom.
Yesterday I got the loom and it’s perfect. I don’t think it’s ever been used. I actually knew the lady who was having the auction and when we lived there, she had a yarn shop so I’m assuming this is one she had for sale and it didn’t sell or she may have had it set up as a display model.
The loom itself sells for about $200 new. The extra reeds are $40 – $45 new. I didn’t know I was getting two extra reeds and I got the whole thing for $80. My thinking for buying a second one is that Addie and/or Nicole might want to weave with me some day.
With the two Crickets and the 25″ loom, I can see us all sitting and weaving. I doubt Addie will have much interest or really get into it – there’s a lot of sitting and doing what she will probably consider “boring”, repetitive work but at least she can get exposed to it and some day, she may decide she enjoys doing it. I’d rather see her outside playing but on cold, snowy days, it might be something to keep her occupied for a while.
I can’t tell you how excited I am to be able to sit in front of a window and knit, spin or weave and watch it snow.
Chris says
When I was teaching school (fourth and fifth grade), we had simple looms and the kids loved it! We tied it in with U.S. colonial history and every spare moment during that time the kids would rush to grab their looms and work on their projects. There is a Mennonite community near us and I watched in awe last summer as an eleven-year-old-girl wove on a huge loom. I’m betting Addy with think it’s fun!
Ava says
I went to that auction and brought home more than planned, yarn, needles, lovely blue dishes, etc.
Joyce says
I tend to collect looms too. I have 3 rigid heddle looms at the moment, and several other types of looms, so I totally get the desire to buy a loom…or 3…or more…LOL
Teri says
What a good deal! Happy for you that you’ll have a wonderful space to use them.
Nelle Coursey says
So glad you got it! Yes she will want to learn and yes one day she may want to do this full time or just for her own use. But knowledge, any kind, can never be taken away from you. And learning something new is good for everyone. Even as old as I am, I think I need to learn more. I don’t think we ever stop learning.
Susan says
I don’t recall what grade Addy is in but in elementary school they always have some kind of unit on US history. What a great project for her to use as a demonstration if her school does that sort of thing.
Mary says
I love weaving even the set up process. I’d like to find a peg loom but haven’t found a used one yet. Maybe that would help me to use up some of my fabric stash.