Table Looms
John and Teruko Low designed and built Woolhouse Tools in Armstrong, BC, from 1979 until about 2016. In 2021, Tim and John reached an agreement that allowed Tim to further develop John's innovative table loom design. The looms were modernized to enhance usability, reduce weight, and improve production feasibility.
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Loom Name |
Production Status |
Weaving Width |
# Of Shafts |
Key Position |
Heddle Length |
Heddle Qty. Supplied |
Modern/Orig. |
Folding Style |
Weight (w/o reed) |
|
|
|
Alice |
In Production |
10” |
8 |
Top |
7” |
400 |
Modern |
Quick |
12-13.5 lbs |
|
|
|
Norah |
In Production |
16” or 23" |
8 |
Top |
7” |
400 |
Modern |
Quick |
15 lbs |
|
|
|
Mimi |
Not In Production |
16” |
4 or 8 |
Top |
7” |
400, 400 |
Original |
Flat, Standing |
|
|
|
|
Julie |
Not in Production |
16” |
16 |
Top |
8” |
800 |
Modern |
Quick |
|
|
|
|
Carolyn |
Limited Availability |
23” |
8,12 |
Front |
7” |
400, 600 |
Modern |
Does Not Fold |
|
|
|
|
Margaret |
Not in Production |
23” |
16, 24 |
Front |
10.5” |
800, 1200 |
Original |
Standing |
|
|
|
Weaving Width
The maximum width you can weave on your loom. Our table looms are available in 10", 16", or 23" widths.
# of shafts
Indicates the number of shafts and control keys.
Control Key Position
Woolhouse table looms feature either top-facing or front-facing keys.
Heddle Length
Woolhouse looms use Texsolv heddles available in 7", 8", or 10.5" lengths.
Heddle Quantity
Refers to the number of heddles included with your loom, typically based on the number of shafts and weaving width. Additional heddles can be added or repositioned, even during threading!
Modern vs. Original Looms
Original Looms: Constructed from solid birch in Armstrong, BC. Always branded with the "Woolhouse" or "Woolhouse Tools" logo.
Modern Looms: Designed to incorporate the best aspects of John's designs, utilizing ApplePly for various components to reduce costs and add features—such as beater stowage on the Alice and Norah models—that are not available on Original looms.
Folding Styles
Quick Fold: Exclusive to Modern looms, this method allows users to fold the loom while maintaining tension on the warp. It requires fully removing two thumb screws and loosening the other two. A designated spot is provided to securely stow the beater/reed assembly when not in use—an enhancement not found in O”riginal Woolhouse looms.
Standing Fold: Unique to Original looms, this is the quickest folding method, ideal for storing an unwarped loom. Note that tension is lost when using the Standing Fold.
Flat Fold: Exclusive to the Mimi model, this method requires the removal of all four thumb screws, and the loom castle must be fully detached and rotated 90 degrees. Warps can be tensioned during Flat Fold.
Features
Woolhouse looms offer smooth action, with cords running over pulleys rather than being dragged over rods or through eyes.
The beater is not fixed to the base, allowing users to easily reposition it for comfort during weaving. The peg nearest to the weaver serves to store the beater when folding a warped loom or when in Standing Fold.
The wooden ratchet and pawls operate the beam smoothly with 32 stops.
Rubber feet protect your table surfaces.