I have extensive TC2 weaving experience at other facilities, will you still require authorization from me?

At LMRM, 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, 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. 

We offer group and individual authorizations on a rolling basis. We also include authorization as part of your attendance in any of our 2-day workshops.

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. For those traveling from out of town to weave with us, please sign up for individual authorizations here which will be 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. That being said, we know it’s a lot of information to remember! So we do give a refresher on essential information about operating the looms and software during your rental check-in. 

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

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 beginner intensives or signing up for individual consultation for guided instruction. 

While our authorization reviews the basic uses of how to operate our looms, it is not an introduction to hand-weaving fundamentals or file-design. We want to emphasize that this is a specialized tool and process. A TC2 loom is NOT a fully automatic jacquard loom - working on this tool requires the renter to weave by hand. 

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

Yes, come weave with us! That being said, we strongly recommend taking one of our beginner intensives, visiting artist workshops, or signing up for individual consultation for guided file design instruction. 

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.

What tech support do you offer as part of the rental? 

We strive to provide clear and simple instructions so all our weavers— regardless of experience—feel capable of solving questions at the loom.  We will cover what looks, sounds, and feels “normal” so that you are confident using the tools during your time with us. We are happy to show you an easy solution to a problem that can be diagnosed in under 15 minutes.

If something doesn’t look, sound, or feel “normal,” please check in with staff. It is better for us to take preventative measures that would improve your weaving experience or protect the integrity of the warp or loom before it compounds into a larger problem.

What is excessive assistance?

LMRM staff does 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 15 minute explanation. Excessive assistance is priced at $100/hr.

What options are available for continued education or introductions to TC2 weaving?

We now offer individual consultations to help augment your open studio rental at LMRM! This is an option for any renter, regardless of experience, needing support in refining their file design and weaving process. 

If you are looking for a structured, head-to-toe learning experience about TC2 weaving, we recommend taking a look at our group TC2 intensive. If it is full, please feel free to inquire with us about an individual TC2 intensive following a similar format at lmrmchicago@gmail.com.

We also offer workshops 3-4 times a year, led by visiting artist educators who will cover topics ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced explorations. 

Check our educational offerings here.

Are there other resources or spaces for continued learning?

Below we have compiled some resources to help you with file design:

Woven Pixel by Alice Schlein and Bhakti Ziek
Adacad by Unstable Design Lab
Histós by Jovencio De La Paz
Photopea Free Online Photo Editor
Satin Playground‍ Building Weave Files
ArahWeave Textile Design Software
Ratio by Poppy DeltaDawn and LMRM
Digital Jacquard Design, by Julie Holyoke
Digital Archive of Documents on Weaving by University of Arizona Library

If you are interested in long form residencies, we strongly recommend you consider the amazing 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.

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. With our staff’s extensive training and knowledge, we take care of 50-80 hours of complex labor associated with warp changeovers. 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 announce the next “warp drop” in advance of the booking cycle so users can plan ahead.

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

The maximum warp material use is 6 yards of warp per rental period. Since renters share a community warp, sticking to your requested amount of warp as closely as possible is essential to ensuring that everyone who has reserved a spot in our calendar will get to weave. Requests for more than 6 yards may be considered depending on demand during the Warp Cycle.

Do my rental sessions have to be consecutive?

Sessions do not have to be consecutive. In fact, we really encourage you to break your sessions up across days. We will not schedule someone else in between your sessions and we don’t charge you for the unused days in between your requested sessions.

2 continuous sessions per day is the max, but we are always happy to book 1 session per day too : )

When submitting your booking request, we ask for the first day of your booking period and the last day so we can reserve the entire block of dates even if you aren’t in the studio 10-6pm every day of that period. From there, let us know how you would like to split up your sessions between the days.


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. 
6-16 sessions are necessary for 3+ fully formed ideas with sampling and new file design time.

For more specific planning, check out our LMRM Project Calculation Worksheet!

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.

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 takes 1 hour at the start of your session and 1 hour at the end. 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 during your reservation slot is entirely up to you. When estimating the amount of sessions to reserve, please add buffer time that accounts for check-in, sampling, meals, breaks, and check-out.

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.  

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."

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

Authorization is only required for those looking for TC2 access. The floor loom is not set up with any warp by LMRM, so you should know how to dress a loom independently.

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 issues and do our best to make sure you feel confident working on our floor loom.

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 email. This does not change the price of your booking.

Do you teach weaving/can beginners rent?

We do not teach floor loom weaving at LMRM but we’re happy to point you to people/places who do! If you are in Chicago, we recommend The Chicago Weaving School as a great place to start!