Some really great info here. I’ve been half-heartedly intending to get myself an Ashford rigid heddle loom, but I hate buying stuff retail. I started on a rigid heddle loom that was essentially four bars and a heddle, from some 1960s craft kit, and it was definitely one of those situations where having decent tools can make or break your desire to pursue a craft. A couple of years ago I borrowed a friend’s Erica loom (another vintage craft loom, but orders of magnitude better) and I really actually enjoyed using it.
Then this spring I found a Harrisville Easy Weaver A at a church rummage sale for $5. It’s just so narrow. I haven’t used it yet, but was thinking about warping up a plaid scarf with some stash worsted and see how it goes. It has gotten good reviews online for a beginner loom.