If you recall, about a week ago I was frustrated as a newb guy trying to get into weaving by the lack of comparisons with different yarn lingo and parity with the online sales, which seemed to throw much of the jargon out the door.

Here’s a tidbit of info I found in case others stumble onto this page looking for similar information (wool and cotton and synthetics may all be slightly different). I don’t know how accurate this is and I can’t recall where I jotted it down from:

• 8/2 yarn is roughly the same as #0 lace yarn
• 5/2 yarn is roughly the same a #1 sock or fingering yarn
• 3/2 yarn is roughly the same as #3 DK yarn
• “Worsted” weight is roughly #4 yarn [personal discovery, store visit]

I had purchased some 8/4 yarn based on a website recommendation for newbies using 8-dent heddles but, when it arrived, it is a pretty damn small diameter. I’ll use it, but not until I get a 12.5- or 15-dent heddle (thinking of getting 2, 12.5-dent heddles for my first set after I find my mojo so I can weave some finer fabrics).

So, for a newbie like myself (and working on the 7.5- or 8-dent single heddle), getting #3 or #4 yarn from the big-box stores is all someone needed to say. For some reason no-one says it. “Worsted” and “DK” are what is referenced, which I found very few stores online using either in their yarn description, e.g., JoAnn uses “medium” and eschews most number systems completely, or some would be listed as DK (or worsted), but not all in the same “weight” group for other vendors. Only weaving stores used the X/Y system, but no one told me, for example, that 3/2 would probably be a good starter yarn for my first loom.

I also discovered that the whole “must use weaving yarn for your warp” was more than slightly anal retentive. Almost all the earthy folk say that as long as it doesn’t bust easily, any thread will do because there is far less tension on the warp on a rigid heddle loom than on bigger looms.

And I did consider I was maybe being dense, but I saw others on FB groups asking similar questions.

So, here you go, a total amateur who has yet to even try weaving anything, trying to decipher things so you don’t have to. I apologize for any misinformation above and I will correct it (if I remember to) as I continue to learn. Any errors are completely unintentional.

I’d about given up hope of the loom arriving today when I saw the FedEx tracking had not updated since this morning and the location of the loom was “on van for delivery” since 2am, local. Usually, I get some kind of estimate as to the delivery time part-way through the day and none had been forthcoming. Then, the dreaded “Delivery date: Pending”.

For the record, FedEx used to be a pretty reliable delivery service in our area but, lately, the estimated delivery dates have been woefully off by one or more days in the past few years and the “Pending” note at the end of the day usually means, in the best case, “whoops, delivery tomorrow” and every once in a while, “Dammit, we lost track of your package”.

So, hangdog, I decided to see how many days needed to elapse before the seller would fix a missed delivery.

And the truck drove up.

I was joyous again! At least until I picked up the package and heard a major shifting sound, which never sounds good. I almost cried when I opened the box (melodramatic much, Michael?) and saw:

Interesting enough, absolutely nothing appeared damaged when I opened the box. I was sure I was going to find kindling rather than a loom. Instead, all of the parts seemed in awesome condition:

Aside from a bit of cardboard that had been thrown from its place to protect a metal pin sticking out of one of the side panels, everything was in place and passed muster — I’ll mention, however, that the wood they used, New Zealand Silver Beech hardwood is fricking hard. I was glad for the predrilled pilot holes, as this stuff would have SUCKED to work with otherwise and I’m pretty certain you wouldn’t forget a good rap on the head if one was applied there. And yet, it’s pretty light (I’m used to hardwood being closer to oak, which weighs a ton in comparison).

Here are wood parts supplied:

It also came with some hardware, plastic cogs and pawls, table clamps, a plastic threading hook (boo!) and some literature:

The assembly went pretty well, and would have gone more efficiently if I had actually read the instructions which (for once) were written in competent English and addressed several of the pitfalls I actually created for myself. I learned quite quickly that I could trust these instructions instead of basically ignoring them and looking at the pretty pictures to guess how to assemble the thing. So, anyone reading this — you can actually understand the assembly instructions from Ashford and they have helpful hints on how to put it all together.

Needless to say, I won’t be warping anything tonight. I turn back into a pumpkin in less than half an hour and I already lost a glass slipper.

Quick details and then I’m off to fight dragons in my dreams: this is a Ashford 24″ Rigid Heddle Loom that comes with a 7.5-dent heddle and (with additional purchase of about $12 US) direct warping on the underside.

G’night and let the adventuring begin.