<P> There are two secondary motions, because with each weaving operation the newly constructed fabric must be wound on a cloth beam . This process is called taking up . At the same time, the warp yarns must be let off or released from the warp beams . To become fully automatic, a loom needs a tertiary motion, the filling stop motion . This will brake the loom, if the weft thread breaks . An automatic loom requires 0.125 hp to 0.5 hp to operate . </P> <P> A simple loom which has its roots in ancient civilizations consists of two sticks or bars between which the warps are stretched . One bar is attached to a fixed object, and the other to the weaver usually by means of a strap around the back . On traditional looms, the two main sheds are operated by means of a shed roll over which one set of warps pass, and continuous string heddles which encase each of the warps in the other set . The weaver leans back and uses his or her body weight to tension the loom . To open the shed controlled by the string heddles, the weaver relaxes tension on the warps and raises the heddles . The other shed is usually opened by simply drawing the shed roll toward the weaver . Both simple and complex textiles can be woven on this loom . Width is limited to how far the weaver can reach from side to side to pass the shuttle . Warp faced textiles, often decorated with intricate pick - up patterns woven in complementary and supplementary warp techniques are woven by indigenous peoples today around the world . They produce such things as belts, ponchos, bags, hatbands and carrying cloths . Supplementary weft patterning and brocading is practiced in many regions . Balanced weaves are also possible on the backstrap loom . Today, commercially produced backstrap loom kits often include a rigid heddle . </P> <P> The warp - weighted loom is a vertical loom that may have originated in the Neolithic period . The earliest evidence of warp - weighted looms comes from sites belonging to the Starčevo culture in modern Serbia and Hungary and from late Neolithic sites in Switzerland . This loom was used in Ancient Greece, and spread north and west throughout Europe thereafter . Its defining characteristic is hanging weights (loom weights) which keep bundles of the warp threads taut . Frequently, extra warp thread is wound around the weights . When a weaver has reached the bottom of the available warp, the completed section can be rolled around the top beam, and additional lengths of warp threads can be unwound from the weights to continue . This frees the weaver from vertical size constraints . </P> <P> A drawloom is a hand - loom for weaving figured cloth . In a drawloom, a "figure harness" is used to control each warp thread separately . A drawloom requires two operators, the weaver and an assistant called a "drawboy" to manage the figure harness . The earliest confirmed drawloom fabrics come from the State of Chu and date c. 400 BC . Most scholars attribute the invention of the drawloom to the ancient Chinese, although some speculate an independent invention from ancient Syria since drawloom fabrics found in Dura - Europas are thought to date before 256 AD . The draw loom for patterned weaving was invented in ancient China during the Han Dynasty . Chinese weavers and artisans used foot - powered multi-harness looms and jacquard looms for silk weaving and embroidery; both of which were cottage industries with imperial workshops . The Chinese - invented drawloom enhanced and sped up the production of silk and play a significant role in Chinese silk weaving . The loom was later introduced to Persia, India, and Europe . </P>

When was the loom and textile weaving invented