Now available in 4 models, the Waves are ORIGINAL, universal and uniquely designed, STRONG portable looms from the Gilmore Loom Company. They will easily weave and hold up for all high tension or general weaving work. This and their ease of operation make them ideal for all Inkle, Band, Tapestry, Bead, Card, and many other styles of weaving.
Used as an Inkle or Band weaving Loom: Normally Inkle looms use a looped string as a heddle and the warp thread must go over a post down to the string heddle where it is held tightly and then must turn at a sharp angle. This makes it difficult to use many finer threads as a warp. The Waves, however, use standard Texsolv heddles and the warp threads float through an eye thus allowing even the finer threads to be used. Since there is no reed or rigid heddle the string heddles allow the woven fabric to be as tight together as the size of the individual warp threads, and each "shaft" can hold hundreds of heddles. A shed is created on a standard Inkle loom by moving ½ of the warp threads through the other half and then making the shed completely by stretching those threads up or down with your finger. A Wave's counterbalance Heddle Tower creates the shed by lifting ½ the warp threads either up or down and the other half in the opposite direction creating a much larger shed without as much stress or stretch. Waves have a positive breaking system that is created with metal ratchet gears and a dog/pawl system, and utilizes both a strong maple Warp Beam and a strong maple Cloth Beam. Cloth and Warp Beam handles are positioned on both sides of the loom to allow strong easy tightening. From the Warp Beam the warp goes over a 1 ¼" thick maple Top Bar in the back through the heddles and then woven cloth goes over a 1 ¼" thick maple Front "Breast" Bar and then to the Cloth Beam. Developing a tight warp on a loom can often cause problems with the thread layers on the Warping Beam. Using paper, slats, or other material between the layers will prevent the tight threads from sinking into each other. But even using spacers can still cause the sides of the threads to spread outward with a dome appearance. As the outer edge threads spread they loose their tension compared to the other threads. To prevent this a the Big Wave's and Small Wave's Warp Beams have 8 adjustable stainless steel pins, and the Mini Wave has sectional strips that hold the warp inward and keep it from spreading. Each Wave comes with 200 mounted heddles (100 per frame), 2 lease sticks, and a strong shuttle. Extra heddles (see Specifications Table below) ordered with the Big Wave or Small Wave are also mounted without extra charge. You can view the instructional movie below or on YouTube, or download a copy to the left of the movie frames below. The Big Wave and Small Wave are shipped with the Heddle Tower removed. The Heddle Tower is easily reassembled with 6 screws. Otherwise the Waves come assembled and are all finished with clear lacquer and wax coating. Heddles come already mounted on the Heddle Tower. Click here for current Wave pricing
OPTIONAL Add-ons for the Big Wave and Small Wave include: A STAND available for either the Big Wave or the Small Wave that allows the weaver to sit in a chair, or weave in a vertical position on a table (Description below). A REED HOLDER and a RADDLE (Descriptions below).
Big Wave
Small Wave
Mini Wave
The CURL
Maximum Weaving Width
9 1/2 inches
5 1/2 inches
4 inches
4 inches
Weaving Area Length
(from heddles to inside front beam)
13 1/2 inches
9 1/2 inches
7 inches
8 inches
Overall Length
25 inches
19 3/4 inches
16 inches
15 inches
Overall Width
15 inches
11 inches
8 inches
9 1/2 inches
Height
15 1/2 inches
15 1/2 inches
13 inches
7 to 13 1/2 inches
Basic Weight
14 lbs.
10 lbs.
6 lbs.
4 1/2 lbs.
Shuttle Length
15 inches
11 inches
6 inches
6 inches
(Waves come with 100 heddles per
shaft/frame)
Maximum # of heddles that
can fit per frame
Max. 300 per
frame
or
600 total
Max. 200 per
frame
or
400 total
Max. 100 per frame
or 200 total
(Standard included)
Max. 100 per frame
or 200 total
(Standard included)
To view the full Instructional video in two parts on click on PLAY for either part ................>
Wave Loom Specifications
All of the Waves can be used for card or tablet weaving by bringing the warp over the top Heddle Beam. The Big Wave and Small Wave have more width and more room to the Front Beam than the Mini and Curl Wave.
Small Wave
Mini Wave
Wave Raddle
For the Big Wave and Small Wave loom. USED for ease in laying out and winding on a warp and spreading and grouping for card weaving.
The beautiful Wave Raddle is made of maple wood with 1/8” stainless steel pins up 1”, and on 1/2” centers. 20 spaces on the Big Wave and 12 spaces on the Small Wave. The Raddle has a slotted top that can be attached over the pins to seal in threads running through it. Both the slotted top and the Raddle are attached to and removed from the Wave Tower Top with industrial strength Velcro. click here for Raddle pricing
For the Big Wave and Small Wave loom. USED for open face weave, tapestry weaving, and other weaving where you want the warp fibers to be separated evenly.
The Wave Reed Holder is made of two maple End Brackets that slide over the end of a standard floor loom reed (usually 5-5 1/2” high), and a comes with a stainless steel reed (specify dent). They are attached with industrial strength Velcro. A pair of Reed Posts are included. These allow you to move and hold the reed away from the heddles when you sley the reed. Then simply slide the reed back and attach it to the Heddle Tower click here for Reed Holder pricing..
This stand is made of hard maple and mounts to the bottom of the Gilmore Inkle Loom, the Big Wave, the Small Wave and will fit other table looms. (It will not fit the Mini or Curl Wave.) It is easy to mount with 4 screws to the bottom of any table or portable loom with a solid bottom of at least 3/4 inch thick. The length is adjustable so you can use your loom while sitting in a chair, or couch. It can also be used to weave vertically on a table. The pivot axles can be adjusted so they swing tightly or loosely. This makes it easy to work from a sitting position and allows you to rock back and forth with your weaving movements. When not in use the whole assembly folds up under the loom and only adds about 1 inch under the loom. .Click here for Loom Stand pricing
Mini Wave Tote Bag (which ever of the two is currently available ): Click on image to the right for further description >>>
Introducing the DORY SHUTTLE This is a mini boat shuttle that can hold yards of weft on a removable bobbin. Designed for Wave/Inkle weaving it has a wedge shaped edge for packing the weft. To learn more about this amazing shuttle click HERE
Big Wave card weaving- small cards- knitting sport yarn, 96 ends, 5 yards
Using knit stitch markers for "heddle count" on Mini
Ribbon woven on a Big Wave
Big Wave
Mini Wave
WAVE Hybrid/Inkle Looms
The CURL Wave
Instructions for the MINI Wave are the same as the other Waves (see video below). However, there is an additional set of directions because Sectional Strips are used to confine the warp instead of the "L" brackets used on the Big and Little Waves. (click here for the additional Mini Wave instructions)
Mini Wave
The Curl -- a folding Wave--
The Curl is the ultimate portable Wave loom. Great for travel and Inkle/band weaving.
WAVE SERIES LOOMS Sorry but currently the Wave looms (the Big Wave, Small Wave, Mini Wave, and Curl) looms are NOT available. Plans are still to make more and they will be available when completed. Sometimes this can take a while. There are NO waiting lists, pre-orders, or early announcements for the Wave Looms.