Heddles

Heddles are components of weaving looms that guide warp threads and enable shed formation. Each heddle is a narrow loop of material—typically wire, cord, or flat tape—with a hole or eye through which a warp thread passes. Heddles are mounted on harnesses (shafts) or on a rigid heddle, and a group of heddles on a shaft corresponds to one warp position.

When certain shafts are raised and others lowered, the warp threads attached to the heddles move, creating a shed. The weaver then passes the weft through the shed to weave. By selecting different heddles in various shafts, a wide range of weave structures can be produced, from simple plain weave to twill, satin, or pattern weaves.

There are two broad forms. Traditional looms use individual heddles mounted on each shaft; higher-end looms may have many heddles per shaft to allow more complex lifts. Rigid heddle looms use a single piece of heddle with slots and holes that guide warp threads and simultaneously form the shed, simplifying set-up and maintenance.

Heddles require regular maintenance to prevent wear, misalignment, or breakage. Warp threads should be sized appropriately to reduce abrasion, and heddles should be inspected for kinks or corrosion on wire types. Replacing damaged heddles and ensuring proper tie-ups are part of loom upkeep.