The present disclosure relates to: a washing machine capable of washing laundry automatically by a washing method suitable for the laundry; and a control method therefore. A control device for a washing machine according to embodiments of the present invention may comprise: a fabric detection unit for detecting the fabric texture of laundry received in a drum of a washing machine; a detection unit for detecting the weight of the laundry; and a control unit for determining the fabric type of the laundry on the basis of the detected fabric texture, and controlling the washing machine on the basis of the fabric type and the weight of the laundry.