This is my first time weaving at LMRM - what would you recommend is a good amount to request for?

Most first-time renters book 4 sessions to acclimate to our looms, test their files, and comfortably weave 1-2 fully formed ideas in that time. If you have the flexibility of time, we strongly encourage scheduling 1 session on your first day, where you can dedicate the first four hours of your rental period toward sampling and acclimating. Many renters find a sweet spot scheduling their sessions in a 1:2:1 ratio to give them time to digest ideas and edit their files or take longer breaks between hours of weaving. 

Generally: 

2-3 sessions are ideal for just sampling and testing new structures and portions of designed files. 
4-6 sessions are great for sampling + 1-2 fully formed thoughts/pieces. 
6-10 sessions are necessary for 3 fully formed ideas with sampling and new file design time. 


Do breaks count toward the hours rented?

Rental fees are paid to reserve LMRM’s open hours and exclusive access to the equipment. This DOES NOT mean every moment of your reservation will be spent actively throwing a shuttle in front of the loom. Our check-in and check-out processes take time and are essential parts of your rental. This activity usually occupies 1 hour at the start of your session, and 1 hour at the end, especially if this is your first rental at LMRM. Please be prepared for this, and if you feel you need more time actively in front of the loom, we strongly recommend you book an additional session.

How you manage your time in regards to breaks, late starts, early ends is entirely up to you. We strongly emphasize taking breaks and adding buffer time to your estimates about how long your weaving will take - please include the time it takes to set up, weave test strips, eat lunch, cut off your project from the loom, clean/reset the work area, and close out any outstanding payments.

We encourage you to break your sessions up across days - weaving is intense, and sometimes you need to rework your files! 2 sessions per day is the max, but we are always happy to book 1 session per day, too : ) 


So if I rent 2 sessions (8 hours), it seems I only really get to have 5-6 hours of active weaving (throwing the shuttle)?

Yes, that’s correct. 

If you are a returning renter and have acclimated to the studio workflow, you may find that time becomes 6-7 hours. However, our check-ins (tying on the warp) and check-out (cutting off your project and cleaning) do not get shorter.

Please consider booking an additional session to your reservation if you are hoping for more active time at the loom. 

This is a computer-assisted loom, which means the design process for your weavings is digital. Please remember that sitting in front of your computer to rework the aspect ratio, reassign pattern structures, or redesign your compositions is part of the weaving and art-making process. You cannot disentangle or separate them cleanly, try as you might! You are not “wasting” your reservation if you are not standing in front of the loom the entire time. 

We recommend booking 1 session a day if you are hoping to maximize shuttle-throwing time and keep the redesigning time outside of the active hours of your studio reservation. 


What is the default warp on the loom?

LMRM’s two TC2 looms are set up with warp material already installed, allowing renters to weave back to back without downtime spent setting up their own warp. At LMRM, our priority is collective experimentation, so we design warps varying in color, material, or density. LMRM curates standard (cotton) and special warps (painted, silk, wool, etc) each rental cycle, offering renters the opportunity to experiment with new materials and new configurations. 

Our two TC2 looms vary in size and will carry different warp material from each other during each rental cycle. Please refer to our loom pricing chart for different rental fee options. We strive to announce the next “warp drop” in advance of 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 next time! Since we are sharing a community warp, this is essential to ensuring 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 10 sessions?

Due to the demand, we try to stick to our 10 session cap per loom 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 and experimental explorations. However, you are welcome to book up to 10 sessions on each loom, which means you may weave up to 20 sessions across two different loom sizes and warp designs during a rental cycle. If you’re interested in long-term rentals, your own custom warp, or producing a high volume of materials, we strongly recommend you consider the amazing residency programs that our friends at Praxis Fiber Workshop, Lottozero’s Textile Laboratories, or the Icelandic Textile Center (to only name a few) offer to the public!

Check out Meghan Price’s list of international TC2 work spaces here.

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. At a weaving width of 28 inches and 60 epi, the average pace of weaving on our TC2 2W is 250 picks/hour. Use the total pick number of your file design (pixel height) and the picks/hour rate on each loom to estimate how much time it might take you. Aspect ratio, number of weft constructions, and the weight of weft material may affect this number, but this is a good starting point.

I have extensive TC2 weaving experience at other facilities, 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.  

Authorization covers our specific studio guidelines, since LMRM’s tools and rental format can differ from other facilities. Because LMRM weavers share a community warp between each other, authorization establishes a standard practice between all our renters. This ensures that LMRM staff can facilitate smooth turnovers between everyone booked on the loom. So regardless of experience, all prospective weavers must attend our one-time authorization. This helps keep our rental process accessible for everyone! 

Group authorizations will be offered once a season at $100/ticket. Sign up for our newsletter to get notified of when these are scheduled.


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! We’re here to minimize technical and mechanical issues with the loom and do our best to make sure you feel confident in front of our equipment. Please note that we do not assist renters with the artistic production of their project. We can, however, provide beginner-friendly file design consultations if you find you need excessive assistance beyond a 10 minute explanation. Excessive assistance is priced at $100/hr.


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.

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 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! 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 or one of our workshops. We try to schedule our topical workshops ahead of each rental cycle for this purpose. As long as you have attended our group authorization, we are more than happy to view your request. We are also working towards offering beginner-friendly file design consultations by LMRM staff. Please inquire via email about this option!

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. 

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 one of our workshops first, which will be extremely helpful in preparing you for independent rentals at LMRM.

We are working towards offering hourly beginner consultations by LMRM staff. Please inquire via email about this option!

How does cut off work?

We do not hold projects on the loom for group cut off - every rental ends with cut-off so you go home with your piece the day of your last reservation session. 

For a more detailed breakdown of the cut off process, scroll to the bottom of our welcome page, where we have a section titled "What to expect." When you arrive at your rental session, the loom will be left in the state that the last weaver leaves it at (post-cut off), which means the apron rod is not attached to the warp, so staff will assist you in tensioning it onto front beam. At the top of the final hour of your last session, we ask you to arrive at a stopping point with your weaving, which includes fixing any broken warp ends that can be pulled through. We ask you to weave a few inches of tabby or any header structure to keep your piece from unraveling. Once you have woven the last pick needed to secure your work, we then assist you in unrolling your work from the fabric beam to cut the warp from the front of the loom. This is the state you will leave the loom for the next renter. 

We will measure the exact length of material you used, which informs the final material fees. As a courtesy to the next renter, we ask you to use the remaining time in your rental period to reset the workspace by wiping down high-touch areas with disinfectant and unwinding excess yarn left on your pirns. 

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.