KAIROS Inkle Looms Getting Started

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Kairos Inkle Looms

Weaving With Your Kairos

Inkle Loom

Getting Started

QuickStep Guide

1/27/2024

(www.KairosInkleLooms.com)

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Summary of Contents for KAIROS Inkle Looms

Page 1 Kairos Inkle Looms Weaving With Your Kairos Inkle Loom Getting Started QuickStep Guide 1/27/2024 (www.KairosInkleLooms.com)
Page 2 Patent Pending Notice The Kairos “Fingers Free” Loom Shed Opener is patent pending. All rights and restrictions that apply to this device specified as ‘patent pending’ are retained in full by Kairos Inkle Looms LLC. Copyright Notice This material is copyrighted. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of Kairos Inkle Looms LLC.
Page 3: Table Of Contents
Parts of Your Loom ........................6 Key Words to Remember ......................7 How the Kairos ‘Fingers Free’ Shed Opener Works ..............12 Preparing to Weave – Take Notice ..................13 Taking the shed opener off & putting back on ................. 13 Using the Warp Tensioner .......................
Page 4 Finishing Your Band ..................42 How to Finish Band Fringes ....................42 Section 5: Care of Your Loom ........43 Section 6: Appendices ..........44 Make Your Own Heddles ................44 page ii Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 5: Section 1: First Steps
(206-909-6660) and tell us what is missing, and if the box is damaged or appears to have been opened during shipment. We will immediately rectify our mistake, and get the missing item out to you – with our strong apology! page 1 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 6: What Comes In Your Box
50% of warped yarns in place. The rest of included heddles are in a clear zip lock bag for your future use when you create wider warps. page 2 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 7 NOTE: If it should so happen that you use more shims after running out of the one we’ve included here, simply contact us and we’ll send you a couple more, free of charge. page 3 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 8 You may find that you need more heddles than come with your Kairos Inkle Loom (some pre-installed, the rest in a plastic bag in the shipping box. You can create more heddles. Just be aware that they must be a very precise overall length in order to allow the shed opener to open the Upper and Lower shed openings equally.
Page 9: Introduction
1. To make your first weaving less intimidating, we at Kairos purposely did all we could to reduce any possible ‘fear factor’ by giving you a fully put-together loom, that is fully warped (all the yarn threads wound around all those pegs).
Page 10: Supporting Videos Available
You can also go to our Learning Center page at https://www.kairosinklelooms.com/learning-center to find a collection of videos that walk – and talk – you through this same process. Parts of Your Loom Right side of loom: page 6 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 11: Key Words To Remember
To beat is the firm pushing of a just-woven weft thread into position in the warp, snugly against the previous pick (weft thread). The thin edge of the shuttle is the most typical instrument for beating. page 7 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 12 A set of heddles serve to separate the warp threads into two layers by anchoring one set, allowing you to move only the other set, to create a shed opening to pass your shuttle and weft through. Inkle looms typically use string loops as heddles. An individual heddle may also be called a leash.
Page 13 “Fell”. Rib Protector A unique Kairos-provided wearable rib protector whose neck strap you can adjust so the protector hangs in line with where the front of the loom would push – which protects your ribs.
Page 14 Also called the ‘shed opening’. Shed Opener The Kairos patent pending levering mechanism that lets you create the opening between the two layers of warp threads (heddled and unheddled) where you pass the weft through by raising or lowering the unheddled (unanchored) warp threads –...
Page 15 The longer the warp threads, the longer your woven belt can be. Warp-faced weaving A woven fabric or band in which only the warp (not the weft) shows as part of the design. Inkle looms are made to create warp-faced bands...
Page 16: How The Kairos 'Fingers Free' Shed Opener Works
Getting Started – QuickStep Guide How the Kairos ‘Fingers Free’ Shed Opener Works Why we invented our levering shed opener With the Kairos Fingers Free Shed Opener (patent pending), on your portable tabletop inkle loom you will find that you will no longer need to use your hands and...
Page 17: Preparing To Weave - Take Notice
You will notice in the picture at the right that we have already wound the weft thread onto the shuttle so that you can start weaving on your Kairos Inkle Loom, right out of the box. Notice how the weft yarn is wound onto the shuttle as to become familiar with the recommended pattern - what it looks like.
Page 18 6. Spin the rubberized lock knob back onto the pivot bolt a sufficient way to ensure it does not come off (and will also keep both thin washers from getting lost!!). page 14 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 19 Never any need – and nothing to be gained – by over-tightening. 10. You are now ready to continue with your next weaving Slip On Outer task. Washer Remount Lock Knob page 15 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 20: Using The Warp Tensioner
3. Re-tighten the lock knob to prevent the tensioner from accidentally sliding further forward – and running the risk of the warp sliding off the pegs! Go ahead – practice it now! page 16 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 21: How To Position Yourself To Your Loom
Note – the next block of information will show you your foot hold-down clamps, and how to use them to keep the loom from sliding into you when you are ‘beating’ each weft (horizontal) row. page 17 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 22: Color Change In Your Warp
(starter) peg, so that the entire length of your band will have that color in that ‘end’. Putting on the foot hold-down clamps Why clamps are included with every Kairos loom: Two clamps are enclosed with your loom and are used to keep your loom from moving around while you weave.
Page 24 Getting Started – QuickStep Guide After Core Weaving Cycle practice done: After 1 Practices After weaving several more picks (rows): page 20 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 25: Practice - Core Weaving Cycle
8. IMPORTANT! If, due to some practices by you, the shed opening is NOT in the DOWN position, push the shed opener handle up, which will open the shed in the DOWN position. page 21 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 26: Core Weaving Cycle - Starting Position
(movable) warp yarns, with the movable warp yarns BELOW the anchored warp yarns (see picture at lower right). Anchored Warp Threads DOWN (Lower) Unanchored Shed Opening Warp Threads page 22 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 27: Core Weaving Cycle - Initial Fully Guided Steps
2. Pull the weft thread (shuttle end) to the right, until you have just a ½” – 1” weft loop at the left side of the band. Small Loop page 23 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 28 – trapped - row, pushing it against the previous row. WHY – This sets your new pick (row) softly against the previous row, and helps to keep your new row parallel to all previous rows. page 24 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 29 4. Change shed to UP opening (pull shed opener handle down) - locks that new row (pick) in. 5. Push the shuttle from left to right, but stop half way through the shed opening. page 25 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 30 7. HARD BEAT the new pick. With the shuttle’s thin edge against that trapped weft row, pull the shuttle towards you so it firmly pushes the trapped new row against the previous row. page 26 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 31 5. Gently BEAT the new pick Use the shuttle’s thin edge against that trapped weft row, to gently pull the new pick against the trapped row against the previous row. page 27 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 32 4. Push the shuttle from left to right, but stop half way through the shed opening. 5. Gently BEAT the new pick 6. Close up the ½” – 1” loop 7. HARD BEAT the new pick . page 28 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 33: Continue With Independent Weaving
To use this circle diagram, identify the last step you completed, then continue weaving with the next step (going clockwise) – round and round you go, weaving your band! page 29 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 34 1. Repeat the previous Practice for as many additional picks (rows) as you want to weave in your practices band. Pre-Warp + Your 1st Practice Rounds Your New Independent Weavings page 30 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 35: Actions To Complete Your Band
Actions to Complete Your Band Advancing the Warp Why you need to advance the warp? After you have woven 8”-10” on your Kairos inkle loom, Shed Opening you will typically need to advance your warp to continue Too Small for weaving.
Page 36 Peg #1 (Starting Peg), and the entire open shed weaving space available for you to continue to weave. See pictures to the left and lower left. page 32 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 37 AND, how to connect your new shuttle thread to the end of the last of your previous weft thread that you have woven into the band. page 33 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 38: Reloading The Shuttle & Connecting New Weft To Old Weft
‘beat’ – snug the current row (pick) against the previous pick. It is also the ‘carrier’ of all the weft yarn you will use to weave – moving back and forth between alternating shed openings. page 34 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 40 NOTE: Leave the extra ends of the old and new weft threads until you finish weaving your band – when you will trim them back to the edges. page 36 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 41: Finish Weaving Your First Band
NOTE: The following section provides you with some tips and tricks to keep in mind as you continue to weave this first band. page 37 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 42: Section 3: Weaving Tips & Tricks
2. If the weft thread doesn’t slide, it is locked into place in – Must Change already because of shed change; you can start with Shed Opening your next pick without needing to change the shed opening. page 38 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 43: How To Obtain Even Selvedge (Aka 'Selvege)
– snugged up against the band edge – but edge of band not so tight as to create an indentation in the edge. page 39 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 44: Signs Of Weaving Selvedges Too Tight Or Too Loose
You would want to measure at least at two points in your band; (1) in the middle of your weaving, and, (2) at your last completed pick. page 40 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 45: Section 4: Finishing Your Band
3. Leaving the heddles on, carefully lay the band out on a table and proceed to cut in the front of the knot. 4. Slide the heddles off their loom peg, to be reused for the next band you weave. page 41 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 46: Finishing Your Band
Twist the fringe - If you have a fringe twister, you can twist the groups of thread and knot at the ends • Macramé fringe techniques - Macramé your fringe into an interesting design. page 42 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 47: Section 5: Care Of Your Loom
This section will continually expand, so you might want to come back fairly often just to check in to see what might have been added since your last visit. page 43 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 48: Section 6: Appendices
RECOMMENDATION: First choice would be a linen thread; it can be hard to find. The heddles we provide with your Kairos inkle loom are made of linen. Second choice would be #8 cotton. page 44 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC...
Page 49 The reason is that a square knot, when one of the ‘legs’ of the knot is pulled in one particular direction, the square knot is transformed into ‘two half-hitches’, which can pull apart. page 45 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...
Page 50 NOTE: In reality, we tie many heddles, one at a time, and push each down until we have a stack of them, which we then remove as a single group. Faster than removing each one after each is done. page 46 Kairos Inkle Looms LLC Copyright 2021-2023, all rights reserved...