Heddle - String Heddles

String Heddles

Traditionally heddles were made of cord. Cord deteriorates, however, and creates friction between the warp and the heddle. Today cord heddles are used mainly by historical reenactors. They are also used to lessen the weight of the shafts.

A very simple string heddle can be made with a series of five knots, and five loops. Of these loops, the important ones are the two on the ends and in the center. The loops on the ends are where the shaft goes through the heddle, and the center loop is the eye. The knots are placed around these key features- the eye is made to be in the center, and the end loops are just big enough for the heddle to slide along the shaft. String heddles can also be crocheted, and come in many different forms.