Almost all pre-industrial textile cultures, alongside the basic heddles, have used and still use, according to the desired pattern, a certain number of additional small heddles to embellish their fabrics. For example, the looms used in the Indochinese area to weave the Sari silk garment can employ more than two thousand small heddles, while in Sub-Saharan Africa only a few of them are used.

Working with the small heddles on table looms was impossible until recent times. The traditional rigid heddle, by trapping half of the warp threads in a loop, was making impossible this kind of production and it was therefore necessary to equip large special looms (see the pictures above for some examples). Today, thanks to the patent of the Tubular rigid heddle, it is possible to work with the small heddles even on small table looms, making this technique available to everyone with considerable savings in space and money. How is it possible? Because of the simple feature of being an open comb that does not trap the warp threads.

If the Tubular rigid heddle is particularly suitable for those approaching the art of weaving, it is at the same time recommended also for those who want to experiment with more complex techniques.