What is a Shuttle Race and How Does it Help Your Weaving?

If you’ve ever experienced the frustration of a boat shuttle diving between your warp threads, you’re not alone. Many weavers face this challenge when using table looms without a shuttle race. But what exactly is a shuttle race, and how can it improve your weaving experience?

What is a Shuttle Race?

A shuttle race is a smooth, supportive track that sits along the beater of a loom. Its purpose is to guide the boat shuttle as it passes through the warp threads, keeping it on course and preventing it from “diving” between the threads. Think of it as a little runway that helps your shuttle glide effortlessly.

The Good Yarn Ashford Eight 8 Table Loom 40cm w shuttle race side

How Does a Shuttle Race Help My Weaving?

A shuttle race ensures that your shuttle moves smoothly and accurately across your warp threads with every throw. Without it, the shuttle can easily fall below the threads, causing frustrating interruptions in your weaving flow. With the shuttle race in place, even beginner weavers find that their shuttles move more predictably, making the weaving process quicker and more enjoyable.

It eliminates the dreaded shuttle dive, reduces hand strain, and enhances the overall efficiency of your weaving. Ultimately, it helps create more consistent fabric with fewer mistakes.

Ashfords Table Loom Shuttle Race

When Ashford’s folding table loom was first designed in the late 1990s, the focus was on portability and versatility. At the time, weavers requested features like the overhung beater and the ability to fold the loom for easy transport. However, these priorities meant a compromise—foregoing the shuttle race to maintain the loom’s portability.

Fast forward to today, and they’ve listened to their weavers! After years of development and testing, Ashford are thrilled to introduce the **Table Loom Shuttle Race**. It provides a supported race for the boat shuttle to glide smoothly over all your warp threads with every single throw. The best part? The design is simple, effective, and incredibly easy to use.

The shuttle race flexes out of the way when you beat the weft and returns to its position for the next throw, ensuring a seamless weaving process. Whether you’re an experienced weaver or a beginner, you’ll notice how much easier and faster it is to weave with the shuttle race in place.

What About Older Table Looms?

Ashford haven’t forgotten about those of you with older Ashford folding table looms! The great news is they’re offering a “retrofit” shuttle race kit so that all older Ashford folding table looms with curved beater arms can be upgraded. This easy-to-install kit includes the shuttle race, new curved beater arms, bungy cords, and spanners. It’s everything you need to add a shuttle race to your existing loom and improve your weaving experience.

The shuttle race is made from beautiful beech hardwood with a lacquered finish, perfectly complementing the elegant design of Ashford’s looms.

So, if you’re looking to enhance your weaving process and make it faster, smoother, and more enjoyable, the new shuttle race is the perfect addition to your table loom. Whether you’re upgrading an older loom or buying new, this feature is a game-changer for weavers of all skill levels!