The Zoom Loom is a pin loom, used to needle weave 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) squares.

All the tools you need come with the Zoom Loom.

Weaving cards create warp-faced bands. They can be used alone or on a loom.

Essential

• a belt shuttle

Nice to have

• backstrap loom, inkle loom, or rigid heddle loom to tension the warp

Inkle looms create warp-faced bands, with or without weaving cards.

Essential

• belt shuttle—included with Schacht and Louët products
• string heddles made with strong cotton yarn or buy 150 mm/5-7/8" Texsolv heddles here or here for the Schacht Inkle Loom or Louët Standard inkle only

Nice to have

• pick up stick for advanced pattern techniques
• weaving cards for advanced pattern techniques

These looms create weft-faced fabrics. They are specially designed for tight tension on the warp ends. The weaver can see most or all of the weaving area at one time, and uses hand-held tools or heddle bars to lift warp threads. 

Frame looms are great for beginners and younger weavers: they come in a variety of sizes, include some weaving tools (as shown below), and have teeth to space the warp. Most tools and books listed below are suitable for frame loom weaving.

Tapestry looms allow the weaver more control over warp spacing (sett). Heddle bars on the loom speed up weaving. There are more loom accessories available for these products.

Essential

• a tool to hold weft yarn, such as a weaving needle, shuttle, or tapestry bobbin
• a tool to open the shed, such as a pick-up stick (frame looms only)
• a beater to pack in weft yarn—you can use a fork or a tapestry beater

Nice to have

• loom stand (not available for all products)
• additional Texsolv heddles (tapestry looms only)
• loom accessories for the Arras

These looms create lengths of fabric. A rigid heddle reed with slots and holes makes the sheds—it's the equivalent of a two-shaft loom. Our Cricket and Flip rigid heddle looms can sit on a tabletop or on a floor stand.

Short version:

• The Cricket is smaller and simpler. You can add a Cricket Quartet to the 15" loom for shaft weaving.
• The Flip is bigger, foldable, and has more options. You can easily weave with two heddles.

See more details below.

These looms create lengths of fabric. Heddles on shafts (harnesses) make a shed. The more shafts on a loom, the more weave structures it can create.

• Table looms sit on a tabletop or a floor stand. The weaver uses levers to raise or lower shafts. They are generally the smallest and least expensive.
• Floor looms sit on the floor. The weaver uses multiple treadles to raise or lower shafts. They are generally in the middle in size and price.
• Dobby looms sit on the floor and require a dobby system (a mechanical or computer device). The weaver uses a single treadle, along with the dobby system, to raise or lower shafts. They are generally the largest and most expensive.

It's complicated because this group of looms has many options.

Short version:

• Decide between table, floor, or dobby.
• Choose a weaving width.
• Choose the number of shafts.
• For floor looms, choose between jack or parallel countermarche styles.
• For dobby looms, choose the dobby style.

The comparison tables below can help you decide.