Oriental rugs - the weaving process

If you’re thinking of buying an Oriental rug, you might like to read the following information based on how the Oriental rug is woven.

The basic principles and techniques of Oriental rug weaving have changed little since ancient times. The materials most commonly used to weave Oriental rugs are sheep's wool, cotton or silk. However, most Oriental rugs are woven with a wool pile and a cotton foundation. Wool quality depends on factors such as the animal's breed and diet, local climate and the shearing season.

The weaving of the Oriental rug is performed on either a horizontal or vertical loom:

Vertical looms - primarily used to weave classical city carpets, are constructed of either wood or metal and consist of two horizontal beams supported by two rigid side pieces.
Horizontal looms - are the more primitive of the two loom types. Typically used by nomadic people, their design allows for easy transportation. The horizontal loom lies flat and close to the ground. It is staked down on four corners with two wooden beams tied at either end.

Oriental rugs are either knotted or flat woven, or a combination of both. Rugs are often made to varying degrees of technical distinction using a variety of weaving techniques and materials.

The Knots Used in Oriental Rug making:

There are two fundamental styles of knots used to weave Oriental rugs: the Turkish knot (also called the Ghiordes or Symmetrical knot) and the Persian knot (also known as the Senneh or Asymmetrical knot). The decision to use one or the other of these knots in the Oriental rug making process, is a matter of tradition; neither has any advantage over the other.
Turkish knot - the yarn is passed between two adjacent warps, brought back under one, wrapped around both forming a collar, then pulled through the centre so that both ends emerge between the warps.
Persian knot - is used for finer rugs.  The yarn is wrapped around only one warp, then passed behind the adjacent warp so that it divides the two ends of the yarn.  The Persian knot may open on the left or the right, and rugs woven with this knot are generally more accurate and symmetrical.
Other knots which can be used when making an Oriental rug include the Spanish knot looped around single alternate warps so the ends are brought out on either side, and the Jufti knot which is tied around four warps.
Using the appropriate colour yarn, the weaver ties knot after knot around the base of two adjacent warp strings and then cuts the yarn with a knife, thereby producing the pile. After each row of knots is completed, one or more weft threads are inserted and beaten down with a comb. The fringe is formed by the cutting of warps at both ends of the Oriental rug. For reinforcement, the sides, calle d selvedge, are bound or overcast with yarn. The roughly cut pile is given a final shearing to create a uniform pile height. Finally, the rug is washed to eliminate dust and dirt that may have accumulated during weaving.

The Oriental rug-weaving process often takes months or even years to create the masterpiece that will transform and enhance your home. For Further information on maintaining Oriental rugs, please contact Karel Weijand on 01252 726215 or email: carpets@karelweijand.com