Editing Loom (section)

===Rigid heddles===
[[File:WARP-FACED TAPE ON A RIGID HEDDLE.jpg|thumb|upright=1|alt=A rigid heddle. Widthwise slots do not quite reach either long edge, and a row of small circular holes lies between the slots, along the lengthwise midline. Warp threads pass through both slots and round holes. It heddle is carved from a solid wood plank. The long sides have a protruding triangular area, making the heddle hexagonal; the top and bottoms points are surmounted by flat knobs. The triangular areas have simple, rough incised carving.|A rigid heddle on a backstrap [[inkle loom]], unspanned.]]

Rigid [[heddle]]s are generally used on single-shaft looms. Odd warp threads go through the slots, and even ones through the circular holes, or vice versa. The shed is formed by lifting the heddle, and the countershed by depressing it. The warp threads in the slots stay where they are, and the ones in the circular holes are pulled back and forth. A single rigid heddle can hold all the warp threads, though sometimes multiple rigid heddles are used.

Treadles may be used to drive the rigid heddle up and down.
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