What is the default warp?

At LMRM, our priority is collective experimentation, so we plan to offer a different warp (varying in color, material, or density) each rental cycle. We will do our best to announce the next warp offering in advance of opening the next booking cycle so users can plan ahead.


I love both warp designs on both looms…can I request time on each of them in a rental cycle? 

Certainly! We would love to see you experiment across the two looms. Depending on the demand during each booking cycle, we may just have to make some adjustments to the amount you request. 


Is there wiggle room around the max cap of material use?

We ask that you kindly refrain from weaving beyond your reserved amount and come back for more weaving next time! Since we are sharing a community warp, this will decrease our chances of running out of warp ahead of the next reservation so that everyone who has reserved a spot in our calendar will get to weave : ) If you finish weaving your max requested amount of warp before the end of your reservation period, we do not offer prorated refunds of the unused days.


Would LMRM ever consider special proposals for more than 5 days?

Due to the demand, we must stick to our 5 day cap for rentals. Our mission is about incremental but regular exposure to the TC2 loom; when reviewing requests we will prioritize supporting a variety of renters for short term access. Please refrain from submitting inquires beyond 5 days, as we are unlikely to consider it.

If you’re interested in long-term rentals, we strongly recommend you to apply to the amazing residency programs that our friends at Praxis Fiber Workshop, Lottozero’s Textile Laboratories, or the Icelandic Textile Center offer to the public!

Do my rental sessions have to be consecutive?

Minimum usage is two sessions before you can increment single sessions. But we encourage you to split up your rental days! Returning weavers are ideal for us, and while the max cap per cycle is 10 sessions, you are more than welcome to request 2 days (e.g. for sampling) in one week, and then come back for another 3 days of weaving (e.g. for weaving a fully formed thought following the sampling) the following week. We cannot guarantee honoring the requested slots depending on demand.


What’s the average amount of weaving that happens during a session? 

At a weaving width of 57 inches and 60 epi, the average pace of weaving on our TC2 4W is 150 picks/hour. If this is your first time weaving with us, we recommend estimating more conservatively, as working on our XXL loom can be more fatiguing than other sizes of the TC2 you may have worked on elsewhere. You may consider doubling the estimated pace with our TC2 2W, which is half the size of the 4W.


I have extensive TC2 weaving experience at other facilities and have studied under one of your artists leading the group authorization, will you still require authorization from me?

Excellent! We look forward to welcoming you to our studio :) At LMRM, we don't review project proposals or resumes. We keep our rental requirements at a minimum: authorization attendance, calendar availability, and a deposit. 

So regardless of experience, all prospective weavers must attend our authorization. This is the most accessible and standardized workflow we can make our rental process. LMRM currently does not have affiliates or partnerships where attendance with them waives your authorization with us. We view our in-person authorization as a tour of our specific studio guidelines, since LMRM’s tools and setup will differ from other facilities. Group authorizations will be offered once a season at $100/ticket. Sign up for our newsletter to get notified of when these are scheduled.


I don’t have prior experience on the TC2, but I do with other looms, can I make a booking request?

Yes, we will consider your request! Please note that we do not provide support for file-design nor do we assist renters with the production of their project. To ensure you have a fruitful experience renting our loom, we strongly recommend you take a file-design course by any number of artists teaching this. As long as you have attended our group authorization, we are more than happy to view your request.


Can I still make a booking request if I haven’t attended a group authorization?

Authorization is required prior to attending your first TC2 weaving session. We are willing to review requests from folks who register for the upcoming authorizations prior to their booking dates. So yes, you can make a booking request if you haven’t attended but are registered to.


I live and work outside of Chicago - do you offer remote authorizations?

We do not - the purpose of authorization is for you to familiarize yourself with the equipment and studio space in person so that you are best prepared for your independent rental. We are thrilled many people are planning trips from out of town to join us for rentals and workshops. Please email us if you are traveling far, especially outside of the US, and want to explore scheduling individual authorizations at the start of your rental session. Group authorizations are much easier for LMRM’s small team to handle, so 1:1 authorizations are priced at $200 and scheduled as part of the first two hours of your first weaving session.


Does authorization status expire?

No, once you are in our authorized user database, your status does not expire. We strongly recommend attending authorization if you know you want to weave with us eventually, as this opens up the most flexibility for you to schedule a session with us when we drop new experimental warps.


Who will be in the studio with me for basic tech support?

Open hours will always be staffed by LMRM’s studio monitors! We’re here to minimize technical issues and do our best to make sure you feel confident at our looms.


Can I bring guests?

Yes, you may bring up to 2 guests at a time. If you’d like to host a studio visit/meeting for more than 2 guests to see your project in progress, we simply ask that you run it by us first.


Do you teach weaving/can beginners rent?

Outside of one-off workshops, our small team does not have the capacity to teach weaving on our looms while also staffing open hours. If you are a beginner and are looking to test your understanding of the loom, we strongly recommend beginner weavers to bring an experienced TC2 weaver to join you as a project assistant or teacher. 


Can I rent the loom to lead private lessons?

Yes! Because LMRM currently doesn’t focus on long-form education for the TC2 loom, we are happy to approve loom rentals for weavers to teach their own lessons. Please note this in your request for how many guests you will bring with you during your rental period.

I have zero weaving experience! Can I also rent the TC2 loom as long as I attend authorization training?

We want to emphasize that this is a specialized tool and process; while our authorization training reviews the basic uses of how to operate a digital loom and its software, it is not a training in hand-weaving fundamentals, and we do not provide guided instruction during independent rentals. 

A TC2 loom is NOT a fully automatic jacquard loom - working on this tool requires the renter to weave by hand. This is the most necessary skill required to operate the equipment. Of course, we are happy to consider your rental request as long as you attend authorization training! But we strongly recommend taking supplementary classes to learn how to weave on any loom (floor loom, tapestry loom, etc), which will be extremely helpful in preparing you for independent rentals at LMRM.

Do I need to be authorized to request floor loom use?

Authorization is only required for those looking for TC2 access.

Who will be in the studio with me for basic tech support?

Open hours will always be staffed by LMRM’s studio monitors! We’re here to minimize technical issues and do our best to make sure you feel confident at our looms.

How far in advance or last minute can I book?

We will open our Floor Loom calendars 30-60 days in advance. We ask that you reach out a minimum of 10 days before your requested date. Bookings are only confirmed upon executing a rental contract and paying the deposit.

Is there a max cap on days I can weave on the floor looms?

Nope! We reserve the four week slot for your project, during which you can schedule as many or as little days as you want via our acuity portal. This does not change the price of your booking, we just ask that you fill out the specific days and time slots at least 7 days in advance so that we can plan accordingly.

Can I bring guests?

Yes, you may bring up to 2 guests at a time. If you’d like to host a studio visit/meeting for more than 2 guests to see your project in progress, we simply ask that you run it by us first.

Do you teach weaving/can beginners rent?

Outside of one-off workshops, our small team does not have the capacity to teach weaving on our looms while also staffing open hours. We’re happy to point you to people/places who do, and they are welcome to join you during your session as a project assistant or teacher.

Can I rent the loom to lead private lessons?

Yes! We are happy to approve loom rentals for weavers to teach their own lessons. Please note this in your request for how many guests you will bring with you during your rental period.