In tapestry weave, the weft threads are brought over and under the warp threads only in the limited area of each separate color, so small shuttles are used, and if an area is too small for a shuttle then a needle is used and embroidery stitches are employed to cover that small area.
緙絲則不然：做為緯絲的色絲並不貫穿到底，而是利用一種像柳葉般的小竹梭，依圖案需要局部地緙，每遇一種顏色，就要換梭；有時遇到極細密的花色，根本無法下梭，就得用針引絲，反覆地織；如遇圖案必需，也可和經線作 45 ° 角的變化。