Weaving Shuttles for All Weavers

Boat shuttles are ideal for faster weaving and work well with floor or table looms. They use a bobbin to hold the weft. Stick shuttles are simpler, better for rigid heddle or frame looms, and hold yarn by wrapping it around the body of the shuttle.

End-feed shuttles like the Honex are great when you want even tension and tighter selvages. They’re especially useful for fine yarns and high-speed weaving but do require compatible pirns instead of bobbins.

Choose a size based on your loom width and the project. Shorter shuttles are ideal for narrow warps or smaller looms. Longer or larger shuttles hold more yarn but may feel bulky in tighter spaces.

Yes, though smaller or low-profile boat shuttles are recommended. Rigid heddle looms often have less shed height, so a large boat shuttle may catch or not pass through smoothly.

A fly shuttle is used with looms that have a shuttle race and a mechanism for launching the shuttle. It increases weaving speed significantly and is helpful for production weaving or wide fabrics.

No, bobbin sizes vary by brand and shuttle type. It’s important to match the bobbin size to your shuttle to ensure smooth spinning and proper yarn release.

Ski shuttles are ideal for bulky or textured yarns. They glide across the warp, holding large amounts of thick yarn without distortion—perfect for rugs or tapestries.

No, pick-up sticks are used to manually create patterns or pick up specific threads, especially in rigid heddle weaving. Shuttles carry the weft yarn through the warp shed.

If you're working with multiple colours or weft types, having more than one shuttle is useful. It saves time and makes it easier to switch between yarns while keeping tension consistent.

For wide projects, a fly shuttle or longer boat shuttle allows for efficient weaving across a large warp width. Just make sure your loom supports the shuttle length or fly shuttle system.