Among the highland Maya the favored loom was the backstrap loom. The Spaniards introduced the floor or treadle loom, the draw loom borrowed from the Chinese textile industries, and the Jacquard loom brought to Guatemala in the late 19th century. The backstrap loom requires two sticks to which the warp threads are attached, a strap for the back, and some rope. Additional sticks are for shed rods which leave openings for the thread to be woven between the warp threads. To be able to weave, one end of the loom is tied to a post or tree and the other end is attached to a strap that goes around the weaver s hips.
Tension is created by movement of the weaver s body.
There are tow shed rods used in the weaving process. The first is used as a batten inserted in a space created by pushing the shed stick forward. Into the open shed the weaver inserts the weft, which is pushed into place with the batten. Sometimes a comb is used in this action for a tighter beating of the weft. This process is continued until the desired length of the weave is completed.