I've watched season 1 & 2 so far. The recommended progression is throw-beat-shift sheds while beating with one hand and not putting the shuttle down. It makes perfect sense. But what if you are using a table loom? I'm using a Louet Jane. I need three hands to do this progression. Or do I move the beater forward, take my hand off, shift the shed, and then move the beater back?

Hi Janet
I’ve been having the same issue with my Louet Jane table loom! If you take your hand off the beater it returns to its neutral position before you can change the shed. I am using 8 shafts. I’ve tried holding the beater, setting down the shuttle on the woven fabric in front of the beater, using my free hand to change the shed, releasing the beater and then picking up the shuttle. It’s all a bit clunky! Two more steps “throw, beat, shuttle down, change, beater back, shuttle up”

When I weave on my table loom, I throw the shuttle, beat, change sheds and beat again. When I weave on my floor loom, I beat as Jane does.

I’ve trained myself to throw, beat & hold while also forming a “garage” for the shuttle. I drop the shuttle in the garage, with now free hand I change the harness, then release the beater and take the shuttle back teacup saucer style. It’s very efficient.

Hello! I'm a new weaver and am having trouble with my picks per inch. I don't really care all that much that I cannot produce the tight PPI, however, it does become an issue when deciding (predicting?) how long a warp to prepare.

I have just finished 4 tea towels and a smaller washcloth/leftover from the Abalone and Ebony kit. They are so beautiful, but they ended up being much longer than anticipated because in order to get the wonderful diamond pattern, I had to use the same number of picks, but they weren't tight. No problem, because I had no intention of making the scarf that should have been able to be made on this same warp this time anyhow and hadn't purchased the more expensive silk (yet, HA!).

I bought an Ashford 8 shaft 30" table loom but I'm looking for a used floor loom because I find the Ashford model kills my shoulders while dressing the loom. I have tried the advice on this forum, but I wonder if anyone else has similar issues with the Ashford model? I know a huge part of my problem is inexperience, but I'd be delighted with any other advice. :)

Just a wee question …. Were you measuring your PPI while you were weaving? Measuring several times when you start your project gets you to see and feel how you beat to get the right PPI. It also doesn’t hurt to check it occasionally while you are weaving to see if you are keeping the same beat throughout.

You know, I was just enjoying the colours and the process so much that I did not measure PPI while weaving. My washed/dried, hemmed, finished tea towels are 32" long (as opposed to the prescribed 28") X 15" (not the 17") for the finished dimensions. So 4" longer and 2" narrower seems weird to me.

I am completely happy with the result, but as I learn to estimate warp I suppose I should refine my technique so that I can get a little closer to a predictable outcome. ( Or maybe I'll just throw all that to the wind and weave! Ha!).

On my next project I'll make note of my PPI compared to what the draft says to expect. Thanks :)

I have just bought an Ashford table loom (4shaft /24 inches wide) and have to beat really hard to get a balanced weave. I sett the warp at 17 epi and started with a relaxed beat getting only 12 ppi. Later I did get 16/17 ppi but had to beat to the point of squidging down the fell line. The beater seems stiff. I am a new weaver so don't have a lot of experience. Does this get easier? Is there something I am doing or not doing?

CL , I have two table looms...a Woolhouse Tools 23" Carolyn, and a 40cm Jane. I don't have to beat hard on either of them. I throw a pick beat, change sheds and beat again (unless it's a weave that needs a gentle little kiss of a beat).

I don't have much experience with the Ashford, but I am helping a brand new weaver who bought the same loom as you. So far, she is weaving a very open sett with a sticky, furry yarn for a full width scarf, so no help here.

You didn't mention what yarns you are weaving with.

Thanks for replying Cheryl, I am using 8/2 cotton and weaving 22" tea towel. Also I am new to weaving plus its the 2nd time Ive used the brand new Ashford loom so there could be teething problems. The beater bar seems stiff when I watch others using them with much more ease. I'm looking to see if there is any way of loosening the action. Two things ocurred to me 1) that the beater arms my need to be loosened and 2) the elastic ties may be too tight.

Hi Cheryl

On closer examination I think there is a problem with how the beater has been put together. The Left side is hitting the bumper approx 1/4 inch before the Right side when i pull from the centre. Jane adresses a similar problem with a Spring loom https://janestaffordtextiles.com/knowledge-base/beater-problems-on-an-older-spring-loom/