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Weave refers to the technique used in making handmade rugs. There are three major techniques: pile
weave, flat weave and hand-tufted.
Pile Weave
Pile weave or knotted weave refers to the method of weaving used in most rugs. In this technique the
rug is woven by creation of knots. A short piece of yarn is tied around two neighboring warp strands
creating a knot on the surface of the rug. After each row of knots is created, one or more strands of
weft are passed through a complete set of warp strands. Then the knots and the weft strands are
beaten with a comb securing the knots in place. Even though all pile rugs are woven with knots,
different weaving groups use different types of knots. The weaving process begins at the bottom of the
loom and moves upward as the horizontal rows of knots and wefts are added.
Every single knot is tied by hand. A rug can consist of 25 to over 1000 knots per square inch. A skillful
weaver is able to tie a knot in about ten seconds, meaning 6 knots per minute or 360 knots per hour.
That means it would take a skillful weaver 6480 hours to weave a 9x12-foot rug with a density of 150
knots per square inch. If we divide this number by 8-hour working days, that means it would take one
weaver 810 days (approximately two and a half years) to weave such a rug. A rug as large as a 9x12 is
usually woven in a workshop or master workshop setting by two or three weavers, so the above time
can be reduced by half or third. Imagine if the knot density is even higher! Handmade rugs are
functional and exceptional works of art created with great patience.
weave, flat weave and hand-tufted.
Pile Weave
Pile weave or knotted weave refers to the method of weaving used in most rugs. In this technique the
rug is woven by creation of knots. A short piece of yarn is tied around two neighboring warp strands
creating a knot on the surface of the rug. After each row of knots is created, one or more strands of
weft are passed through a complete set of warp strands. Then the knots and the weft strands are
beaten with a comb securing the knots in place. Even though all pile rugs are woven with knots,
different weaving groups use different types of knots. The weaving process begins at the bottom of the
loom and moves upward as the horizontal rows of knots and wefts are added.
Every single knot is tied by hand. A rug can consist of 25 to over 1000 knots per square inch. A skillful
weaver is able to tie a knot in about ten seconds, meaning 6 knots per minute or 360 knots per hour.
That means it would take a skillful weaver 6480 hours to weave a 9x12-foot rug with a density of 150
knots per square inch. If we divide this number by 8-hour working days, that means it would take one
weaver 810 days (approximately two and a half years) to weave such a rug. A rug as large as a 9x12 is
usually woven in a workshop or master workshop setting by two or three weavers, so the above time
can be reduced by half or third. Imagine if the knot density is even higher! Handmade rugs are
functional and exceptional works of art created with great patience.
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Flat Weave
Flat weave refers to a technique of weaving where no knots are used in the weave. The warp strands
the patterns. The weft strands are simply passed (woven) through the warp strands. Some examples of
this weaving method can be seen in kelims, soumaks and brocades. These weavings are called flat
weaves since no knots are used in the weaving process and their surface looks flat.
Kilim
Kilims are the most well-known group of flat-woven rugs. They take less time to weave; as a result,
they are generally less expensive than pile (knotted) rugs. However, in the recent years they have
become more popular and their prices have relatively increased.
The main difference between kilims and pile rugs is that in keiims the weft strands create the colorful
patterns. No rows of knots are added. The weft strands, unlike a pile rug, are discontinuous. They do
not pass through the warp strands from selvage to selvage (edge to edge). The weft strands are passed
through a few warp strands; then, they loop back around when they reach a section where a new color
weft is needed.
Soumak
Soumak weaving is another method of flat weaving. This rug weaving technique is used by the
Caucasian weaving group. They have been using this unique method of flat weaving for generations.
The Soumak technique refers to a method of flat weaving where the wefts are passed over two or four
warps and back under one or two warps
Brocade
Brocading is also a form of flat weaving. Brocades already have a foundation (a warp and a weft). The
foundation is patterned by additional colored weft strands, which can be continuous or discontinuous,
and are passed through the already existing warp and weft strands.
Flat weave refers to a technique of weaving where no knots are used in the weave. The warp strands
the patterns. The weft strands are simply passed (woven) through the warp strands. Some examples of
this weaving method can be seen in kelims, soumaks and brocades. These weavings are called flat
weaves since no knots are used in the weaving process and their surface looks flat.
Kilim
Kilims are the most well-known group of flat-woven rugs. They take less time to weave; as a result,
they are generally less expensive than pile (knotted) rugs. However, in the recent years they have
become more popular and their prices have relatively increased.
The main difference between kilims and pile rugs is that in keiims the weft strands create the colorful
patterns. No rows of knots are added. The weft strands, unlike a pile rug, are discontinuous. They do
not pass through the warp strands from selvage to selvage (edge to edge). The weft strands are passed
through a few warp strands; then, they loop back around when they reach a section where a new color
weft is needed.
Soumak
Soumak weaving is another method of flat weaving. This rug weaving technique is used by the
Caucasian weaving group. They have been using this unique method of flat weaving for generations.
The Soumak technique refers to a method of flat weaving where the wefts are passed over two or four
warps and back under one or two warps
Brocade
Brocading is also a form of flat weaving. Brocades already have a foundation (a warp and a weft). The
foundation is patterned by additional colored weft strands, which can be continuous or discontinuous,
and are passed through the already existing warp and weft strands.
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Hand Tufted
A hand-tufted rug is created without tying knots into the foundation, but rather by pushing wool or
arcylic yarn through a primary backing, creating a 'tuft'. Then, using a latex glue to hold the 'tufts' in
place, a rugmaker will apply a secondary foundation, or 'scrim', which is then covered by a third and
final cloth backing to protect your floor. The final step involves shearing the tops of the looped tufts to
create the pile. The height of the pile is determined by how much yarn is cut off, and how far the
initial loop was pushed up.
Hand-tufted rug makers use a tool called a 'tufting gun' which holds the yarn, to push through the
primary backing which is stretched in place on a frame. This method of rug making is less time
consuming than hand-tying each knot, but still requires a high level of craftsmanship to efficiently and
accurately portray the intricate designs. The design is determined by transferring a pattern onto the
primary foundation, this acts as a template showing the craftsman where to push through each
colored tuft.
Hand-tufted rugs can be made faster than hand-knotted rugs, therefore they are generally less
expensive than their hand-knotted counterparts. The tufting method creates a highly durable and
beautifully accurate handmade rug that will weather foot traffic for years to come.
A hand-tufted rug is created without tying knots into the foundation, but rather by pushing wool or
arcylic yarn through a primary backing, creating a 'tuft'. Then, using a latex glue to hold the 'tufts' in
place, a rugmaker will apply a secondary foundation, or 'scrim', which is then covered by a third and
final cloth backing to protect your floor. The final step involves shearing the tops of the looped tufts to
create the pile. The height of the pile is determined by how much yarn is cut off, and how far the
initial loop was pushed up.
Hand-tufted rug makers use a tool called a 'tufting gun' which holds the yarn, to push through the
primary backing which is stretched in place on a frame. This method of rug making is less time
consuming than hand-tying each knot, but still requires a high level of craftsmanship to efficiently and
accurately portray the intricate designs. The design is determined by transferring a pattern onto the
primary foundation, this acts as a template showing the craftsman where to push through each
colored tuft.
Hand-tufted rugs can be made faster than hand-knotted rugs, therefore they are generally less
expensive than their hand-knotted counterparts. The tufting method creates a highly durable and
beautifully accurate handmade rug that will weather foot traffic for years to come.