Persian Rug Weaving Techniques

Pile refers to the material or fibre used in weaving the rug.

Persian rug weaving techniques. The beginning of carpet weaving remains unknown as carpets are subject to use deterioration and destruction by insects and rodents. A good quality 9x12 has more than 1 5 million hand tied knots 12960 feet of warp and about 24000 feet of weft all of which require approximately 200 man days 10hr day man to weave. Before we begin to look at the flatweave weaving techniques however it is important to clarify what makes it unique by understanding the common pile rug or knotted weaving technique. The main materials used in persian rugs are wool silk and cotton.

Flat woven rugs are made by tightly interweaving the warp and weft strands of the weave to produce a flat surface with no pile. The oldest carpet in the world today was unearthed in an archaeological find in the pazyryk valley and dates to 5 bc. The craft of weaving an oriental rug the complex process of weaving and finishing a hand knotted carpet includes at least 50 steps and utilizes about 300 people. Woven rugs probably developed from earlier floor coverings made of felt or a technique known as flat weaving.

Whilst the materials used designs and knotting techniques are extremely varied across these regions and even within these regions one aspect of them is always consistent. Some pieces are so extraordinary that they are even used to adorn walls. Plain weave tapestries are artistic objects that have a unique history and development. This technique is commonly used interchangeable with a regular persian knot and is almost never used by itself to make a rug.

Programmed rugs can only be made using loomed tufted hooked and flatweave techniques. The development of carpet weaving as the art that it is today was the work of several great leaders in persian rug history cyrus the great was struck by the beauty of the oriental rugs being produced in babylon when he conquered it in 539 bc. This proves that woven tapestries are much older. Programmed rugs use the exact same techniques as discussed above but made using a machine.

There s no denying that persian rugs are the most exquisite type of floor coverings. Overview of hand knotted persian rugs with their elaborate patterns amazing weaving techniques and outstanding craftsmanship persian rugs have firmly cemented their top position as the most coveted rugs around the world. Rug weaving has been a tradition long held in the homes of many families across asia specifically in iran afghanistan india pakistan turkey china. Persian rug pile detail.

Cotton is used for both warp and weft in most rugs however some tribal rugs use wool in their foundation and intricate silk rugs often use silk as a foundation as well as pile. In these plush rugs knots are made on the warps and then cut before moving onto the next forming the pile effect which also carries. In several excavations in anatolia woven tapestries dating back to 6500 bc were found. Another type of persian carpet is a flat weave rug known as a kilim.