Ashford 4 Shaft Table Loom – 24"
The Ashford 4 Shaft Table Loom is a sturdy, versatile and folding loom, ideal for learning shaft weaving or continuing to explore traditional weave structures. With its 60 cm (24") weaving width, it allows you to create a wide variety of textiles while remaining practical for home weaving, workshops and guild meetings.
Easy to operate with its four individual shaft levers, it features an overhead beater with automatic return and an integrated shuttle race. Its folding castle makes storage and transportation easier, even with a warp on the loom.
At a Glance
✔ Ashford 4 Shaft Table Loom
✔ 60 cm (24") weaving width
✔ Individual shaft control levers
✔ Overhead beater with automatic return
✔ Integrated shuttle race
✔ Folding castle, even with a warp on the loom
✔ Solid, lacquered beech hardwood construction
✔ 480 Texsolv heddles included
Why Choose the Ashford 4 Shaft Table Loom?
The Ashford 4 Shaft Table Loom is an excellent choice for learning and practising weaving on a sturdy, versatile loom. It allows you to explore fundamental weave structures such as plain weave and twill, along with numerous pattern and texture variations.
Each shaft is controlled individually by a lever. Simply engage the levers required for your chosen weave structure to create the shed. This straightforward mechanism makes it easier to understand the relationship between threading, shaft combinations and the resulting fabric.
The overhead beater automatically returns to its resting position after each pick. The integrated shuttle race on current models helps guide the shuttle across the warp and reduces the risk of it dropping between the warp threads.
The castle can be folded even with a warp on the loom. This feature is particularly convenient when storing the loom between weaving sessions or transporting it to a workshop.
The 4-shaft model is an excellent introduction to shaft weaving, but it remains equally useful for experienced weavers looking for a practical table loom for their 4-shaft projects.
What Can You Weave?
With its 4 shafts and 60 cm (24") weaving width, this loom allows you to create a wide range of projects and explore many different weave structures.
- Dish towels, table linens and household textiles
- Scarves, shawls and wearable accessories
- Fabric for garment making and decorative projects
- Plain weave, twills, herringbone and other traditional structures
- Overshot and other structures suitable for 4 shafts
- Technical samples and weaving exercises
Its 60 cm weaving width provides excellent versatility for everyday projects while maintaining the practical dimensions of a table loom.
Which Model Should You Choose?
Ashford table looms are available with different numbers of shafts. Your choice will depend mainly on the weave structures you want to explore and the space available for your weaving equipment.
| Model | Main Features | Best Suited For |
|---|---|---|
| Ashford 4 Shaft | 4 shafts, 60 cm (24") weaving width | Learning shaft weaving and exploring traditional weave structures |
| Ashford 8 Shaft | 8 shafts, 40, 60 or 80 cm (16", 24" or 32") weaving widths | Developing weaving skills and exploring a wider range of structures |
| Ashford 16 Shaft | 16 shafts, 60 cm (24") weaving width, with occasional 80 cm (32") editions | Studying elaborate weave structures that require additional shafts |
The 4-shaft model is a sensible choice if you want to discover shaft weaving without immediately investing in a more complex loom. It also remains useful for a wide variety of projects, even after years of weaving experience.
Our Advice
New to shaft weaving?
The Ashford 4 Shaft Table Loom is particularly well suited to learning the basics of threading, warping and traditional weave structures. Its individual levers make it easy to understand how the shafts work together.
Would you like to use your loom with a stand?
Ashford offers a compatible folding floor stand, allowing you to weave at a comfortable height without placing the loom on a table. An optional four-treadle kit can also be added to the stand.
Working with different yarn sizes?
The loom comes with a 10-dent-per-inch reed. Additional reed sizes are available separately, allowing you to adapt your sett to different yarns and projects.
Do you use indirect warping?
A compatible raddle can be added to help distribute the warp threads when winding them onto the back beam.
What's Included
- One stainless steel 10-dent-per-inch reed (40/10 cm)
- 480 Texsolv heddles, 22 cm long
- Two 56 cm (22") lacquered wooden Ashford stick shuttles
- One reed hook
- Lease sticks and warp sticks
- Cardboard warping strips
- Integrated shuttle race
- Weaving instruction booklet and assembly instructions
- Components and hardware required for assembly
Assembly is required. The floor stand, weaving bench, treadle kit and additional accessories are sold separately.
Technical Specifications
- Manufacturer: Ashford
- Model: Four Shaft Table Loom
- Manufacturer's reference: TLFS6
- Product type: Table loom
- Number of shafts: 4
- Shaft control: Individual levers
- Weaving width: 60 cm (24")
- Material: Solid beech hardwood
- Finish: Lacquered
- Beater: Overhead beater with automatic return
- Shuttle race: Included
- Heddle type: 22 cm Texsolv heddles
- Heddles included: 480
- Included reed: 10 dents per inch (40/10 cm)
- Construction: Folding castle
- Folded height: Approximately 18 cm (7")
- Weight: Approximately 7 kg (15.5 lb)
- Assembly: Required
- Manufacturer based in: New Zealand
Assembly and Video Demonstrations
To help you become familiar with your loom, Tisse et File provides practical video demonstrations.
Assembling the Ashford Table Loom
Follow the main steps involved in assembling an Ashford table loom. This demonstration complements the manufacturer's assembly instructions. Some details may differ depending on the loom version.
Using the Ashford Shuttle Race
Discover how the shuttle race works and how it is used on Ashford table looms.
Documentation: View the official Ashford Table Loom guide (PDF).
Care and Maintenance
Place the loom on a stable, level surface at a comfortable working height. Check that the levers, shafts and beater operate correctly after assembly.
Clean wooden surfaces regularly with a soft, dry cloth. Remove accumulated fibres and dust from around the mechanisms. Avoid excessive moisture and abrasive cleaning products.
Check screws and fasteners periodically and tighten them as needed, following the manufacturer's instructions.
Before folding the castle, make sure the moving parts are correctly positioned and that the warp threads will not become trapped.
Why We Love It
At Tisse et File, we appreciate the simplicity and versatility of Ashford table looms. The 4-shaft model offers a wide range of weaving possibilities without requiring an especially large workspace.
The individual levers make it easier to understand weave structures, while the automatic-return beater and shuttle race provide a comfortable weaving experience. The folding castle is also practical for weavers who need to store or transport their loom.
We also appreciate the ability to expand the loom's capabilities over time with accessories suited to your needs, including a floor stand, treadle kit, additional reeds or a second warp beam.
Explore More
Ashford Reeds Folding Floor Stand Treadle Kit Weaving Accessories Weaving Classes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ashford 4 Shaft Table Loom suitable for beginners?
Yes. It is well suited to learning the fundamentals of shaft weaving, including threading, warping and traditional weave structures. It also remains useful for more experienced weavers.
What is its maximum weaving width?
The weaving width is 60 cm (24"). The finished fabric width will depend on factors such as draw-in, shrinkage and the yarns used.
Can the loom be folded with a warp on it?
Yes. The castle can be folded even when a project is underway, making storage and transportation easier.
Is the shuttle race included?
Yes. It is included with current Ashford 4 Shaft Table Loom models.
Can I add treadles?
Yes. An optional four-treadle kit can be installed on the compatible floor stand to operate the four shafts.
Can I change the reed or add heddles?
Yes. Compatible Texsolv heddles and reeds with different dent sizes are available separately.
Is the floor stand included?
No. The folding floor stand, weaving bench and optional accessories are sold separately.
Does the loom arrive assembled?
No. Assembly is required. Ashford provides instructions, and Tisse et File offers an assembly video.