How do I choose a loom?
We hear this question constantly, and it's complicated! Start with some basic questions: What do I want to weave? How much space do I have? What can I afford? What's...
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Warping, Winding, Other Tools FAQs
Warping, Winding, Other Tools FAQs
FAQs
How do I choose a loom?
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Where can I find the assembly manual for my Schacht product?
Find a complete list of product manuals, including instructions for discontinued products, on this page.
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Making sheds on Schacht and Louët looms
When you're choosing looms, it's helpful to consider what other equipment or tools you'll need. The time required for warping and weaving might also be a factor—in this chart, more...
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What does a loom do? What is a shed?
Once you understand how cloth is made, and how much time a weaver invests in the process, it's obvious that weavers might appreciate any time-saving measure. All looms perform the...
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What is a float? What is a weaving mistake?
When you're just started to weave, you hear a lot about "floats." Most likely, you hear about fixing floats, so they sound like a bad thing. In fact, weaving doesn't...
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What types of fabric can I weave on a loom?
When you're a beginner, it's helpful to understand the types of woven fabric—some looms specialize in one type, while other looms can handle multiple types of fabric. Many weaving drafts...
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What's the difference between thread and yarn?
The difference usually comes from size. Both are made of plant, animal, or manufactured fibers twisted together for strength. Both can be made by machines or by hand. Both are...
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How is cloth made?
Textiles keep us warm in our houses, cover our bodies, and decorate our world. Humans have been making cloth for a long, long time. They've used every fiber you can...
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What is sectional warping?
Generally, people sectional warp because they want to wind on long warps that aren’t accommodated by warping boards or reels. In sectional warping, you need a yarn source for each...
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Buying Used Schacht Equipment
Buying a used loom, spinning wheel, or other fiber arts tool is like buying anything used. Before you purchase used equipment, do some research: Print out or download its manual...
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How do I fix broken teeth on my Lilli Loom, School Loom, or Easel Weaver?
The plastic teeth on our small frame looms are very durable, but from time to time they will break. The beam teeth on a School Loom or Lilli Loom must be replaced...
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What accessories and parts fit the 42" Standard Floor Loom?
When we introduced the Standard Floor Loom in 1978, it was available in 36" and 42" weaving widths. We're fairly certain that shafts/harnesses on both sizes had one heddle hook...
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How can I get The Incredible Rope Machine to work again?
There are two different styles of our Incredible Rope Machine: the older one has a straight handle and the newer version has a rounded handle. They work the same way....
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Measuring and Describing Handspun Yarn for Your Records
Good records can save you a lot of time (or aggravation when you've let a project sit for a while). If you like a yarn you've spun, you can re-create...
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What do drop spindles and spinning wheels do?
Handspinners can use a drop spindle or a spinning wheel to create yarn from unspun fibers such as wool fleece, hair from goats/dogs/llamas/alpacas, cotton bolls, or flax stems. Though these...
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Spinning Wheel Ratios
When you look at a spinning wheel on this website, or our spinning brochure, you'll see tables that list the wheel's ratios. What are all these numbers? But first, why...
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Spinning Terms
General Spinning Terms default yarn: the yarn you most often make, usually when you're not deliberately trying to make a specific yarn—what your hands default to as they draft...
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Troubleshooting Your Handspun Yarn & Adjusting Your Wheel
Every spinner will create yarn that just doesn't work, and even experienced spinners have bad spinning sessions. Let's say the yarn won't hold together, or it's overspun (you see little...
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Spinning Equipment
You want to become a handspinner, and you've chosen a spindle or spinning wheel. What other tools—besides spinnable fiber—will you need to get started? Basic Equipment scrap yarn for...
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A Quick Guide to Fibers and Fiber Preparations for Handspinning
Spinners have a lot of fiber options for their yarns. They can choose the type of fiber and fiber prep best suited for a particular project. As you decide on your...
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General Spinning Wheel Troubleshooting
The flyer won’t turn. The poly or cotton drive band is not over the flyer whorl—set the drive band in a groove of the whorl. The cotton drive band is...
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How do I replace a wood part if Schacht doesn't make it anymore?
Look for a nearby woodworker or woodworking guild. Take the part(s) to them for a consultation—it's usually not hard to make replicas.
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How do I clean stainless steel reeds if they get rusty?
Rusty reeds can be cleaned by rubbing out the rust with fine steel wool or by using a commercial rust remover, such as Naval Jelly. When using these products, be...
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How do I fix dents, scuffs, or scratches in the wood of my Schacht product?
This method will work on all Schacht wood products, whether they're made of plywood or solid wood, oiled or unoiled. There's just one exception: for lacquered boat shuttles, you need...
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Where can I get needles or pins for my Zoom Loom?
You can buy replacement needles here. You can buy pins here.
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How has the Standard Floor Loom changed?
Schacht introduced its Standard Floor Loom at Convergence in 1978—our first floor loom ever! Its weaving widths, wood, castle style, shaft options, and treadle options have changed since then. Here's...
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Can I convert a Single Treadle Matchless to a Double Treadle?
If your spinning wheel is in good condition, it can be converted to a double treadle. Actual shipping charges for shipping your wheel back to you will be added to...
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My new Schacht product arrived with broken parts or parts missing—how can I get replacements?
If you bought your product on this website and it arrived with broken parts, contact Customer Service. If you purchased from a Schacht dealer, contact them and ask them to follow...
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Why is it hard to treadle my Matchless or Schacht-Reeves spinning wheel?
The Matchless and Schacht-Reeves wheels have solid wood drive wheels. The Sidekick, Flatiron, and Ladybug have nylon drive wheels, which are significantly lighter. It takes more treadling effort to set...
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How has the Matchless spinning wheel changed?
We introduced the Matchless spinning wheel in 1987, with a single treadle. In 1996, we began making double treadle wheels. The treadles rested on a metal treadle support. The mother-of-all...
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How do I wrap a Wolf loom or Standard Floor Loom for moving?
This PDF contains photos and details for wrapping your Wolf loom for long-distance moves. The steps are similar for all Wolf looms and Standard Floor Looms: Fold the loom and secure the...
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How do I remove, move, or add heddles on a shaft loom?
Weavers often need to move heddles from one shaft to another, or add new heddles for a pattern, or remove heddles to make more space. After you add or remove...
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How and when did the mother-of-all change on the Ladybug and Matchless?
We improved the mother-of-all (MOA) on the Ladybug and Matchless in early 2012. Updated MOAs for both wheels have a groove in the top to hold the spring and string; there's...
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What is the weaving sett of my Lilli Loom, School Loom, or Easel Weaver?
Schacht's Lilli Loom, School Loom, and Easel Weavers all have beam teeth. They have a sett of 5-1/2 or 6 ends per inch (EPI), due to slight variations in our...
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How do I use the Ultra Umbrella Swift?
Watch our video!
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How do I assemble the Lilli Loom?
Watch our video!
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How do I adjust the rear bearing on my Sidekick?
You'll need a #2 Phillips screwdriver. With the flyer assembly installed, make sure the front and rear maidens are vertical and pushed against their stops. Secure the maidens with the...
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How do I square the beater on my loom?
If the beater on your loom isn't perfectly aligned, it will beat the weft in at an angle. The beater should touch both bumpers when it rests against the castle,...
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How do I warp a rigid heddle loom with two heddles?
These instructions and diagrams refer to the Flip rigid heddle loom. 1. Measure warp chains for indirect warping. We don’t recommend the direct method with two heddles.2. Secure the warp...
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How do I fix the fold knob on my Wolf loom?
On older Wolf looms, if you completely unscrew the fold knob, the metal T-nut that the knob screws into can slip down inside the castle far enough that you cannot...
