In this guide we’ll look at the best weaving looms for beginners.
We’ve compared ease of use, construction quality, durability, and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
What Is The Best Weaving Loom for Beginners?
More Detailed Beginner Weaving Loom Reviews
Melissa & Doug Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom
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Melissa & Doug Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom Review
The Melissa & Doug Wooden Weaving Loom is the best weaving loom for beginners and kids. This includes all you need to get started, including the adjustable wooden loom, oversized wooden needle, craft materials, design booklet, and 91 yards of rainbow yarn.
This weaving loom is easy to use and beginners can switch from craft to craft with ease. There are 4 craft projects to choose from, as well as 3 animal picture tapestries.
Made from great quality wood with a gorgeous design, this loom will stand the test of time and will be loved by the whole family.
Mikimiqi Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom
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Mikimiqi Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom Review
The Mikimiki Wooden Weaving Loom is another gorgeous weaving loom that both kids and beginners will love. This loom can be used to make scarves and other woven items with ease.
The wooden finish gives this loom a great look as well as keeping it lightweight. The metal screw regulator lets you change the frame with ease and switch the string from loose to tight. This loom comes with a frame, comb, wrap bar, shuttle, and a small quantity of colored thread.
Made by Me Weaving Loom by Horizon Group USA
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Made by Me Weaving Loom by Horizon Group USA Review
The Made by Me Weaving Loom is arguably the best weaving loom for beginners thanks to the comprehensive and easy-to-follow instructions included. This is perfect if you’re trying to improve your creativity, allowing you to create gorgeous patterns and handmade pieces with ease.
Make your own potholder or accessories by weaving, braiding, crocheting, and hooking with this lovely loom. It’s lightweight, very easy to use, and much more beginner-friendly than other looms on the market.
Beka 20” Weaving Frame Loom with Stand
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Beka 20” Weaving Frame Loom with Stand Review
The Beka 20” Weaving Frame is a stunning loom that’s great for beginners and advanced weavers alike. This 20 x 23” hard maple loom has a gorgeous light wood finish and extremely durable beam teeth. The adjustable stand means you can be comfortable weaving on a range of surfaces.
This loom is very portable and easy to assemble. It comes with everything you need to start weaving, although the colored yarn is sold separately.
Cra-Z-Art Wonderful Weaves
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Cra-Z-Art Wonderful Weaves Review
The Cra-Z-Art Wonderful Weaves will help you create awesome, colorful potholders and so much more. It’s extremely simple to use making it arguably the best weaving loom for kids, and it comes with everything you need to get going – including 120 fabric loops, a weaving hook, and project ideas.
Portable and lightweight, this can be taken on the go for moments of boredom. It makes weaving super easy and enjoyable. The perfect gift for your crafty friends.
Types of Weaving Looms
If you want to learn how to weave looms, but you are feeling overwhelmed with all of the loom choices on the market, then the following section will help you. You will be pleased to know that the basics of weaving stay the same regardless of the weaving kit you use.
Weaving looms is easy for beginners, and young children even like to take part in this fun activity. Weaving gives you hours of fun and opens up a world of creativity, and let’s not forget hours of fun.
Here are all of the types of weaving looms you will find, along with how they work and how difficult they are to use. I hope the following section helps you choose the right weaving loom for you.
Backstrap Looms
The backstrap loom is a very simple loom weaving device. It looks almost primitive, consisting of sticks, a strap, and a rope. The great thing about the backstrap loom is that is suitable for everyone, and it can be set up and enjoyed anywhere at any time.
You will need to use the simplest weaving technique while weaving using a backstrap loom. An under-over-under-over technique is perfect for this type of loom, and you can weave patterns and incorporate different colors to the design as you wish.
Tapestry Looms
Good tapestry looms should have good tension. With smaller tapestry looms, you will find that you can adjust the tension as you wish very easily, which is much harder with larger tapestry looms.
It is much easier to weave a tapestry loom at high tension, and because of this, you must make sure your loom can withstand this kind of tension for prolonged periods of time. A tapestry loom is the simplest of all looms. You can see all of the wrap at once as it holds a single continuous wrap in place at a time.
These looms can hold any type of cloth and can be used to weave almost anything. Just remember that most tapestry looms are fragile, and budget looms with plastic teeth and a thin wooden frame will not be able to hold a high tension.
Inkle Looms
Inkle weaving is a slightly more difficult type of weaving that isn’t suitable for beginners. It involves manually lifting and lowering the cloth to create the shed. Some of the cloth is held in place by wooden heddles, while the rest of it moves freely.
You would use the inkle weaving technique for creating things and long items such as trims, straps, belts, and any other narrow work you wish to do. This may take a little bit of practice and coordination, but once you get the hang of it, you will be weaving belts and cool guitar straps in no time!
Table Looms
If you want to weave something intricate and complicated, you should use a table loom for the job. New and experienced weavers can operate a table loom with little to no hassle, which is what makes it one of the best and most versatile looms on the list.
It is super comfortable to use and very flexible. Table looms are commonly used in classrooms and workshops, and they are ideal for small projects. They are also great for creating textile samples of larger projects yet to come.
Floor Looms
Do you have a long design that you are dying to produce? If so, you should use a floor loom for the job. These looms are perfect for creating long carpets and rugs.
Floor looms are quite big, stable, and very solid. Since the 7th century BC, this technique has been used and was a popular weaving technique in India. Weavers would sit on the floor as they wove their large designs.
What do I Need to Start Weaving?
You will only need a handful of essentials if you want to start weaving at home. You might have already tried to research weaving essentials and been bombarded with hundreds of ‘essentials’ that have put you off the hobby for good. Don’t worry; there are less than 10 essential tools that every weaver should have, and I have listed them in the section below.
1.A Loom
The loom is essential for weaving. It is the base of your design, but you must choose a loom that is suitable for what you are trying to make. Have a look at the different types of looms in the section above to learn more.
2. Weft
The weft is the fabric you want to weave through the loom. This can be wool, yarn, ribbon, old ripped-up T-shirts, and anything else you can think of. You don’t need to stick to traditional fabrics and have fun experimenting with different textures and designs to make your creation unique.
3. Warp
The wrap is the piece of thread that runs through your loom. This is like the base of your creation. Without the wrap, you don’t have anything to weave your weft through. Cotton is usually used as a wrap for looms as it is strong and sturdy.
4. A Comb
The comb is a very important tool because it straightens and evens the lines after being weaved. This is what ensures that your garment looks professional.
5. Shuttles
You will need a shuttle to hold your working piece of weft. Wrapping lots of wefts around the shuttle will make the workflow easily.
6. Tapestry Needle
The tapestry needle is essential for weaving the weft through the loom. Make sure you purchase a tapestry needle that can handle various weft thicknesses and weights.
7. Scissors
Scissors are always a must regardless of the arts and crafts jobs you want to do. You will need to use scissors throughout the process.
8. A Ruler or a Shed Stick
A shed stick will help you during the weaving process. You can use it at the base of the loom to help you build a sturdy foundation or during the process to help with weaving the stitches.
Take a look at this video for more information about weaving looms essentials.
Weaving Looms for Beginners Buyer’s Guide
If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at some crafts, a weaving loom is a great place to start. These are both beginner and child friendly, and often come with everything you need included. Use a weaving loom to create gorgeous potholders, scarves, and much more – using beautifully colored thread.
Weaving is usually a lot easier than knitting or crocheting and still allows you to make lovely items for friends and family. But finding the best weaving loom for beginners can be a little tricky. This buyer’s guide should help you out.
Ease of Use
It goes without saying that a beginner’s weaving loom should be very easy to use. Look for something with comprehensive, illustrated instructions, and for one that’s specifically designed for beginners like Mikimiqi Weaving Loom or Cra-Z-Art Wonderful Weaves. Those that include everything you need to get going will be much less hassle.
Construction Quality
Whether you opt for a wooden or plastic weaving loom, construction quality is important. Wooden looms like Beka 20” Weaving Frame Loom look beautiful and are more traditional, but they are often heavier and less portable. Plastic looms like Made by Me Weaving Loom are very lightweight but don’t have as nice a look. Both plastic and wooden weaving looms are usually good quality, but ensure you read reviews before you buy.
Kid Friendliness
A child-friendly weaving loom should be very durable and easy to use. Most kids’ weaving looms will be made from plastic as these are a little sturdier. While younger kids might not be able to tie knots, parents can help and from there, your child should be able to do most of the weaving on their own!
FAQ
What can you make with a weaving loom?
There’s a huge amount you can make with a weaving loom. Make blankets, cushion covers, decorations, potholders, and woven mats, or else go for something a little more adventurous like plant pot cozies, tea cozies, or coasters!
Conclusion
Kids and beginners will love creating beautiful woven items on their very own weaving loom, but a beginner-friendly model is essential. For the stunning wooden look, ease of use, and 91 yards of lovely rainbow yarn, it’s the Melissa & Doug Wooden Weaving Loom that claims the top spot.