Simple looms A loom is any machine or device that holds the threads and helps you weave them. You stretch out one set of threads, the “warp”, parallel on the loom. Another thread, the “weft”, goes over and under the warp threads, back and forth, again and again, to create the woven fabric.

What did the Jacquard machine do?

The Jacquard machine (French: [ʒakaʁ]) is a device fitted to a loom that simplifies the process of manufacturing textiles with such complex patterns as brocade, damask and matelassé. The resulting ensemble of the loom and Jacquard machine is then called a Jacquard loom.

How did loom punch cards work?

The loom is controlled by a system of stiff punch cards and hooks. Each row of holes punched in the cards corresponds to one row of thread in the design. When the hooks align with one of the punched holes, they are able able to pass through the hole with a thread, thus creating the required stitch to form the pattern.