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Children's Loom — any recommendations?
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DD (about 5 1/2 years old) has mentioned that she would really like a loom for Christmas — she wants to make a scarf for her best friend (boy), potholders for Grandma, and purses for some of her little (girl) friends.
Does anyone have any recommendations? I looked at the Harrisville Peg Loom, but it won’t allow for major projects like a scarf. Then I looked at their Easy Weaver, which will allow for the type of projects she wants to do, but they are geared for kids a little older than she is now. I am open to other brands, if I know someone else’s kids have done well with them.
Thanks! 🙂
April
If she wants to do potholders, my MIL found a potholder loom that is all metal online and gave that to my youngest 3 years ago. We just go to a craft store to buy the cotton loops. This might be a good way to start and move from here. (BTW, I prefer the potholders made from this over any of the others I have seen in the stores or made. They are thick and durable, so she could actually use this little loom for the rest of her life. My oldest still has hers and will not give it up for anything.)
Have you looked at the Knifty Knitter? It is not all that hard. My 17 yo started using her sister’s set when she was 6, so if your 5.5 is motivated, she can do it, too. This would allow your daughter to do several of the projects that she desires to do. It really isn’t that difficult – she will just need to watch to make sure that she doesn’t drop a stitch.
Happy Crafting,
~jacqleene
Well I don’t have a child the age of yours interested in weaving but I am a weaver myself so thought I would give you what I know about looms.
At mentioned in a previous post, potholders are normally done on a different type of loom than purses or scarves. In my opionion a potholder loom is one of the easiest and cheapest for a child to start on. This is the type of loom I learned to weave on at 6. She should easily be able to handle this type of loom.
The Harrisville Peg loom is a tapestry loom and she would be able to use it to make small items (purses, pillows, wall hangings). It works on the same principle as the pot holder loom only using yarn instead of the loops. I see that it is rated for age 7 but personally I don’t think it is any harder to use than the pot holder loom. I have one of these myself but do not use it since I find my rigid heddle loom much easier to use.
The next step up would be a rigid heddle loom. These are the most versatile of the looms mentioned and could be used for the purses, etc as well as longer items such as scarves. You mentioned the Harrisville Easy Weaver. Others small ones would be the Beka Rigid Heddle Loom and the Schact Cricket. This type of loom would be harder for a child to warp (putting the lengthwise strings on the loom – you may end up doing that for her for a while) but much easier for her to actually weave with. My personnal preferance for ease of weaving of the three listed would be the Schact Cricket but it is also the most expensive.
You can find any of these looms online at http://www.halcyonyarn.com.
Personally I would get a potholder loom and let her try it. If she really enjoys it and wants to do more then I would upgrade to a rigid heddle type loom.
Hope this helps.
Schele
I have no idea if this is too childish or not, but it does make a scarf, and we really like this website for gift ideas!
http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/alex/fashion_weaving_loom.cfm
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions and your insight. Schele, I appreciate you offering your voice of experience on this as well! 🙂 I really want to get her a rigid heddle type of loom now, but she wants something small she can use on her lap, and DH doesn’t want me to sink a lot of money in it until we know she likes it. I want to join her in learning to weave, though, so I see one of your recommendations in our future! 😉
April
Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions and your insight. Schele, I appreciate you offering your voice of experience on this as well! 🙂 I really want to get her a rigid heddle type of loom now, but she wants something small she can use on her lap, and DH doesn’t want me to sink a lot of money in it until we know she likes it. I want to join her in learning to weave, though, so I see one of your recommendations in our future! 😉
April
I’m interested in this for my dc. They’re all boys and would only be interested in making potholders at this time. Could I get a specific brand from one of you?? I would not be able to pick one out myself and would like something that is durable (3 boys), and am not thinking this will lead into scarves/purses, and such.
Thanks in advance.
From what I have read, it seems like a sturdy metal loom is best, and cotton loops are a must; the polyster ones make pretty decoration pieces, but apparently start to melt when they actually come in contact with something hot.
I would say the Harrisville Deluxe Loop Loom based on that, or the Schylling loom, but order a separate bag of cotton loops. However, the reviews are somewhat mixed on each. Hopefully someone with more experience can offer some better insight.
April
Thanks April, I will keep those suggestions in mind. I tried to search some out myself but really didn’t know what I was looking for. My two younger dc would really enjoy doing this. I’ll keep searching and wait for someone with a little more experience to chime in. I think this is going to be fun.
I’m not sure where my MIL bought the one for my daughter, but this is the same one that she found. The only thing I am unsure of is whether the loops that come with it are cotton or not – and you DO want the cotton ones because the others aren’t worth a hoot, IMHO. The loops can be found on amazon as well as Hobby Lobby (at least the two near us carry them), and probably other craft retailer (Michael’s, JoAnn’s, etc.).
HTH,
~jacqleene
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