Hi Jane! Sorry for the long post. I love your classes! I’m enjoying my subscription so much! I’m a fairly novice weaver. I’ve watched your videos on the looms. I have an 8 shaft and a 16 shaft Jane. My floor loom is an old Harrisville 4 shaft direct tie up. I am saving up for either a David 3 or a Spring 2. I’ve asked for lots of opinions. Seems that people love both looms. I have woven on a David for a 3 day floor loom class. I loved it. It was so smooth and easy to warp.
I’m 59 and have rheumatoid arthritis that may get worse as I age. I’ve had bilateral knee replacements. Treadling doesn’t hurt anymore. I can get on the floor (getting up is not real easy). I am not scared of the more complex tie-up on the Spring. I will not be a production weaver. I just want to weave for fun. I want to produce cloth, especially delicate, cloth to sew clothes occasionally. And I love summer and winter patterns. It seems the floating breast beam is the biggest advantage to the Spring. And I can get 12 shafts. Although I have the 16 shaft Jane for my shaft envy.
This is probably the only floor loom I’ll be able to buy so I don’t want to make a mistake, particularly on choosing the David over the Spring. The price of the David is better for me. Do you have words of wisdom?
Thanks so much!
Wendy
Hi Wendy, I have some years on you and also have had bilateral knee replacements. When I was looking into replacing my old Leclerc loom years ago, Jane advised me that the David would be the easiest loom for me to weave on as I aged. She was right! I couldn't comfortably kneel under the loom after my knee replacements but found a way where I could safely tip my loom and securely rest it on a chair, so I don't have to get down on the floor.. I've happily woven for over 20 years on my David and I'm currently preparing to put a 8 shaft twill project threading a fine yarn sett at 24 epi. I've woven 30/2 silk & 40/2 linen on it without a problem.
Hi Wendy~
I recently purchased the David III and am considering selling it. If you are nearby...would you consider it? Where do you live?
Michele in Bellingham, WA
I’m in south Texas unfortunately.
Sandra, This is very helpful info. I think I’d be very happy with a David but don’t want to regret my decision. You’ve helped me a lot as you seem to be weaving with the type of threads I want to do!
This is a very useful thread for me too as I have just started using all 8 shafts on my Jane table loom and am beginning to realise how much speedier it would be with a floor loom. Also, like you, I am fairly new to weaving and interested in weaving cloth for my own use as well as having fun in the process! I am a similar vintage to yourself and my joints seem to be in pretty good order so far, but I hope to keep weaving into my 80s so no doubt I will be fairly creaky by then! Thanks again to you and to Sandra.