Heddles are made out of rods or cords, each with an eye through which the warp thread is drawn. Individual warp threads are drawn through heddles taken through a set of reeds and tied on beams located on both ends of the hand loom. The heddles separate the warp into two sections which allows the weft threads to pass between them easily. Checks the stripes are created by segmenting the warp and weft yarn. For weaving motifs, looms are equipped with “dobby” or “jacquard” setting which help in lifting segments of warp yarn into the weft.

An essential feature of a loom which produces shed openings, through which the weft threads are inserted during the weaving process. In Southeast Asia it usually consists of a wide rod (heddle rod) to which selected sets of warp threads are attached by loops of yarn. These loops of yarn are sometimes also known as heddles.