weft and warp

Two sets of thread or yarn which make up a piece of woven fabric. During the weaving process the warp threads are stretched from the back to the front of the loom. The weft threads are inserted across the loom at right angles to the warp; the weft threads going under and over the warp threads. Traditionally, the weft is held in a shuttle and one weft thread is inserted at a time, which limits the speed, but in some looms the weft is inserted in continuous waves across the loom.

Fabrics made by machine knitting can be weft-knitted or warp-knitted.