I've been dancing around buying a rigid heddle loom and finally succumbed to the 25" Schacht Flip folding loom. Mind you, aside from weaving on a weave it I'd never touched a loom before, nor seen the one I wanted in person. If you're thinking about the twentyfive incher, it's big. With a 7"+ scarf in progress...
![P1010901](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tguhX1HE8KmNnEQUi-vCNteGoi13HBXzXNgo84b3fpwP7FvRp9Jcy9H4xIV23e_KbtmYgAyFXqXP69FWvEhpBdSuKRXF4rehaGQFwrTL5LmtyY_7v75w1ZE4lpXMUK1eA=s0-d)
Okay, instead of a coke zero can for scale, how about my Schacht Matchless?
![P1010892](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_um9tMdgmTlL45WAp0Bd24Tm0MHPz4CWcZKOThg9aaGgfCcX60_x-P27KguB-6MTo6FxAlx3lAa266OtYVZcpPd-Lxf_OrelWsmIZqVC6EphH3Pz7yP5h63ncxVrC85XD8=s0-d)
Coolest thing about this picture? My Matchless is 20 years old, and made from the same wood as my new-to-me Flip. Excited thinking it'll honeypot up over the years :)
As with each of my tools it seems, I bought it gently used with the stand. I wasn't planning on buying the stand, but am glad I did-- the loom, like I said, is huge! It really would be unwieldy on my lap leaning against a table's edge, and takes up more than half of my already-taxed dining room table. I thought to myself that I really would like the Flip, one of the reasons being I could fold it to put it away. Honestly I haven't in the week it's been here-- the loom's attached to the stand by four screws, two of which need a screwdriver (read: I'm lazy) and I'd still need a place to store the stand. So, it's been out and about, enjoying the living room instead.
For the size, perhaps if I saw it in person I'd have bought the 20" size instead. No matter... I've already found a creative way to use the length up (for a later post). I really do like the loom, no matter the length. Like I said, I was looking (erroneously?) for a folding version, and was torn between the Flip and the Kromski Harp. Initially I wanted the Flip, just for my happy relationship with my Matchless and the whole made in the USA thing... but I did ask opinions on Ravelry and got several good answers about the differences, including a link to a very helpful blog post side-by-siding the nonfolding Schacht + the Flip. Finding this one used sealed the deal for me, and I'm glad I went with my gut.
I love it. (Did I say that already?)
![IMG_3746](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uwvM0XrDtMk-2p_578D4EGGj2ka2TIBiSf3jQmf1MNF3ygM07SQfJmglgs0x4G6lHIPMVg0j_EDd7UMGNIjpvDZSbGIlxVePXiW6s4T8JjDWc7NSt-Vqo0Go3p-pQT9w=s0-d)
Sheep and Wool Co. Plain and Fancy Sport, "Fall Foliage"
(a gift from Margene I'd been hoarding!)
![P1010890](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vp4K7H4BSt86yPP6dBfmTPn08qTKHrJ496B3SnBgv2UCm-B8L82iGGjn8ecWPtiX-o8g3YEYBbLRIy5rqnj_H-S-GDb2dxG0QARC5aaa8aNHfi8hsVJ297kMyuXC7TFmc=s0-d)
used and warp and weft
![P1010958](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sKrZzd4u3j6DiSa8BR2eilsMSLq-rAj8DwyIFuBaTkSJRzy2zwFqAdKQIbK_F8UJqtH88mjfuf33vAXQ_3g_mxR_ZTH0Lv65hYNaGzGUkpBLF_OiUxutraQfz5GwOykaU=s0-d)
for a scarf.
7" wide, 6'+ long not incl. fringe (76 ends, 10dpi reed)
![P1010902](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sSZpwMP2rBFQn9YP5jOHLtLCBbmeDKA60M84mDdQHSaR7oYzTMzjqhUEpz8WeBThWkITLRfD5uizmyaT3mg_isWk3LwwPwsSgGC0AVEFzhVLsr7b0NUnZvyDMhh3Nbqg=s0-d)
leftover waste, reminiscent of that shaving time
I immediately warped (using the direct warping method, no need to fear warping time w/ a RH loom) after cutting that one off...
![IMG_3719](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uasmNVoZdpmKTVEyJWvhPiuL9rgI-V21v9xgmnW9VbI1Vry1OcKUGOIbc9kwSEdzi3uqgMMNW51ee0vWtioLXkyCDD-Q69fPmVMAh0EUWh4iDaU2q-eeKnhum54GwG=s0-d)
Regia Bamboo, another gift! from retroknit
![P1010946](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tV4A-Wdp510ErcudqUGxKCv71_rL-z_vwdn7VouxArzCDpcti90JjegD35alBGN7fgdraXmaEHn7GdL8vYa3gXzk_7ATgq9z2cRKUHGCK-cGgMovsmUkEF_bnqzGrnU_M=s0-d)
detail of fabric
![P1010959](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_shPaoxYB2XqcElcXZ9fpFIYoejVxILQc_wGm5QYPpPP8TA36qJ51kecz-MaOWk9_N5fpbjxSd54y2uauWN3g72GuvKG2nLKgafy4SAKKf1YMg_05jvJ1TQN43oIt_TTLk=s0-d)
another scarf. 7.5", 6'+ excluding fringe
(80 ends, 8 rpi, 10 dpi reed)
I love woven scarves so much. Too much. Committing stuff white people like atrocities like scarf + tshirt much. They're just different from handknit scarves-- thinner, not squishy, have a body and hand that wants to stand and be molded. Oh, did I mention they took me about 2 days each?
!!!
I'm really enjoying the loom though. It's very plug and play-- with a single copy of Hand on: Rigid Heddle Weaving (only reading the first chapter ;) I was impatient!) I was able to crank these, plus more, out. Weaving won't replace knitting for me, though-- it's not portable, limited in fabric shaping and items able to be made. Still, there are a lot of exciting options out there with a rigid heddle-- using pickup sticks to create patterns like in Textures and Patterns for the Rigid Heddle Loom, or patterns with more than one heddle like in The Xenakis Technique I don't see myself outgrowing the rigid heddle anytime soon.
If you're in the Bay Area/East Bay, both A Verb for Keeping Warm and Article Pract can order the Flip looms for you :)
Off to warp for some more scarves :)
ps... Schacht is doing so well with their folding rigid heddle Flip version that they're discontinuing the 25" non-folding model... so there are a few retailers out there discounting them for sale (from $199 to $140-159-- here's one, here's another, here's one on SF craigslist with a stand...). It doesn't fold, isn't equipped with the second heddle block standard, a few other changes (Schacht can tell you exactly the differences), but still-- buying it + a stand at $160 would be $300-320, $35-55 more than the 25" flip with no stand. I might have gone this way had I realized I wouldn't be folding Flip up much as it is :)
Okay, instead of a coke zero can for scale, how about my Schacht Matchless?
Coolest thing about this picture? My Matchless is 20 years old, and made from the same wood as my new-to-me Flip. Excited thinking it'll honeypot up over the years :)
As with each of my tools it seems, I bought it gently used with the stand. I wasn't planning on buying the stand, but am glad I did-- the loom, like I said, is huge! It really would be unwieldy on my lap leaning against a table's edge, and takes up more than half of my already-taxed dining room table. I thought to myself that I really would like the Flip, one of the reasons being I could fold it to put it away. Honestly I haven't in the week it's been here-- the loom's attached to the stand by four screws, two of which need a screwdriver (read: I'm lazy) and I'd still need a place to store the stand. So, it's been out and about, enjoying the living room instead.
For the size, perhaps if I saw it in person I'd have bought the 20" size instead. No matter... I've already found a creative way to use the length up (for a later post). I really do like the loom, no matter the length. Like I said, I was looking (erroneously?) for a folding version, and was torn between the Flip and the Kromski Harp. Initially I wanted the Flip, just for my happy relationship with my Matchless and the whole made in the USA thing... but I did ask opinions on Ravelry and got several good answers about the differences, including a link to a very helpful blog post side-by-siding the nonfolding Schacht + the Flip. Finding this one used sealed the deal for me, and I'm glad I went with my gut.
I love it. (Did I say that already?)
Sheep and Wool Co. Plain and Fancy Sport, "Fall Foliage"
(a gift from Margene I'd been hoarding!)
used and warp and weft
for a scarf.
7" wide, 6'+ long not incl. fringe (76 ends, 10dpi reed)
leftover waste, reminiscent of that shaving time
I immediately warped (using the direct warping method, no need to fear warping time w/ a RH loom) after cutting that one off...
Regia Bamboo, another gift! from retroknit
detail of fabric
another scarf. 7.5", 6'+ excluding fringe
(80 ends, 8 rpi, 10 dpi reed)
I love woven scarves so much. Too much. Committing stuff white people like atrocities like scarf + tshirt much. They're just different from handknit scarves-- thinner, not squishy, have a body and hand that wants to stand and be molded. Oh, did I mention they took me about 2 days each?
!!!
I'm really enjoying the loom though. It's very plug and play-- with a single copy of Hand on: Rigid Heddle Weaving (only reading the first chapter ;) I was impatient!) I was able to crank these, plus more, out. Weaving won't replace knitting for me, though-- it's not portable, limited in fabric shaping and items able to be made. Still, there are a lot of exciting options out there with a rigid heddle-- using pickup sticks to create patterns like in Textures and Patterns for the Rigid Heddle Loom, or patterns with more than one heddle like in The Xenakis Technique I don't see myself outgrowing the rigid heddle anytime soon.
If you're in the Bay Area/East Bay, both A Verb for Keeping Warm and Article Pract can order the Flip looms for you :)
Off to warp for some more scarves :)
ps... Schacht is doing so well with their folding rigid heddle Flip version that they're discontinuing the 25" non-folding model... so there are a few retailers out there discounting them for sale (from $199 to $140-159-- here's one, here's another, here's one on SF craigslist with a stand...). It doesn't fold, isn't equipped with the second heddle block standard, a few other changes (Schacht can tell you exactly the differences), but still-- buying it + a stand at $160 would be $300-320, $35-55 more than the 25" flip with no stand. I might have gone this way had I realized I wouldn't be folding Flip up much as it is :)