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A
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Abrash (Arbrush)
Inadvertent variations in color found within a field of color in
an area rug. Abrash usually appears as tonal stripes running
horizontally across the rug. Subtle instances of abrash are
caused by natural variations in yarn diameter caused by
hand-spinning, while heavier appearances of abrash are caused by
switches of the dye batch. Since abrash is a natural effect of
hand-weaving, and is sometimes an intentional attempt by the
weaver to add interest to monotonous open-field backgrounds, it
is generally seen as a desirable feature of tribal rugs.
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Asymmetrical Knot
A type of Oriental pile rug knot where only one of the two warps
are entirely encircled. (See also Persian Knot.)
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Aubusson (Aubuson)
Style of rug that originated in France in the 15th century.
Aubusson evolved into several main styles over the course of the
next four centuries, including popular Antoinette, Josephine and
Maison patterns. Aubusson were originally flat-weave rugs,
usually featuring a floral medallion and pastel colors, but
today these rug patterns have been adapted for pile rugs.
B
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Backing
The fabric that makes up the backside of the carpet.
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Bamboo Rugs
Bamboo rugs or mats are woven from natural bamboo fibers. Bamboo
is cut into strands for woven designs and into wide strips for a
hardwood floor effect.
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Berber
Term popularly used to refer to a natural colored look of
carpeting. This style has been developed commercially by carpet
manufacturers. Berber is more accurately or traditionally
defined as a group of North African tribespeople who crafted
rugs of handspun yarn from the undyed wool of local sheep.
gBidjar
A rug design that originated in the Bidjar region of Iranian
Azerbaijan. Originally, the design was Kurdish and featured
hundreds of trees. It was really accountable for earning this
region its famous reputation. Commercial Bidjar rugs are machine
made and feature a characteristic diamond-shaped medallion. They
are considered the most durable carpets in history, because most
are guaranteed to last over 300 years. This has earned the
Bidjar the name: "The Iron Rug of Persia." Both types of Bidjar
are still only made in limited quantities
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Binding
Band or strip sewn over a carpet edge to protect, strengthen or
decorate it.
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Bleeding
Transfer of fiber dyes from carpet or other fabrics by a liquid,
usually water, with subsequent redepositing on other fibers.
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Burn Test
The material content of a rug can be tested by burning a small
tuft of the fiber. Cotton has a vegetable smell when burned,
while wool and silk will smell like burning hair.
C
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Carding
Process of arranging and smoothing wool fibers by pulling them
between two spiked paddles
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Cloudband
Originally a Chinese design, this pattern resembles a swirling
band of clouds. Cloudbands also appear frequently in Persian rug
designs.
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Cross-woven
Cross-woven rugs are made on the Wilton loom. This technique
incorporates fringes into the rug rather than requiring them to
be sewn on afterwards. Cross-weaving is done from side to side,
rather than top to bottom, which allows the use of more colors
in addition to delicate details and an elegant abrash look.
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Cut Pile
Cut-pile is a smooth finish created by cutting off the tops of
the wool loops. The cut loops are then twisted to make tufts of
yarn that stand erect, creating a soft even surface. Also known
as 'velour' or 'velvet' pile.
D
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Denier
Measurement of linear density (mass in grams of 9000 meters of
the measured yarn or fiber). Large fibers or yarns have high
deniers, thin yarns have low deniers.
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Density
Refers to the amount of pile yarn in the carpet and the
closeness of the tufts. The more densely or tightly packed the
yarn is, the more luxurious the pile will feel and the better
the rug will wear.
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Dhurrie (Dhurie)
Inexpensive flat-woven rugs from India, usually made of wool or
cotton. Type of Kilim.
E
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Embossed
Carved pile around a design or motif that augments the look of
the pattern.
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Embroidery
Needle-work embellishments that decorate a fabric or textile.
F
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Flat Weave
Rugs without pile or knots. Flat weave rugs are made on a loom
and threaded through the warps. Kilims, Dhurries and the
original Aubusson are good examples of flat woven rugs.
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Fringe
Warp threads that extend beyond the end of the rug
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Foundation
An interlaced combination of warp and wefts in the rug's body..
K
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Knot
Oriental rugs are made with two basic kinds of knots, Persian
Senneh and Turkish Ghiordes. Persian Senneh are complex
asymmetrical knots. Turkish Ghiordes are symmetrical knot. Both
knots vary with different tribal and regional traditions. (See
Persian Knot and Turkish Knot for more details.)
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Knot Count
Number of knots per square inch of rug
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Knotted Pile
Weaving style that involves wrapping tufts of wool or pile
around the warps. They wool or pile is then tied around each
individual warp strand to erect the pile at a 90 degree angle to
the floor.
L
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Loom
A frame or machine for interlacing at right angles two or more
sets of threads or yarns to form a rug.
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Loop Pile
Loop pile is a hard-wearing surface, designed to minimize
tracking. Loop pile is the same as cut pile before it is
trimmed.
M
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Multi-Level Loop Pile
Varied heights of yarn loops that create a three dimensional
effect.
N
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Nap
Surface or pile of a rug.
P
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Pendant
A small, floral design that extends from the top and bottom of a
medallion in the center of a rug.
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Persian Knot
Knot that is tied onto two warp strands, wrapped around one and
looped behind the other. (See also Asymmetrical Knot.)
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Pile
The surface of a rug composed of an infinite number of loops of
warp threads, or else of an infinite number of free ends of
either warp or of weft, or filling, threads that stand erect
from the foundation. In a looped pile rug the loops are uncut;
in a cut pile rug the same or similar loops are cut, either in
the loom during weaving or by a special shearing tool.
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Ply
Number of yarns spun together to form a tuft of pile.
Measurement of the yarn's thickness.
R
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Runner
Long, narrow rug used primarily for hallways and stairways.
S
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Sarouk (Serouk)
Beautiful factory woven carpets from central Iran and Iranian
Azerbaijan, manufactured for export
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Soumak Weave
Complex reversible rugs that are woven with a weft-wrapping
technique. Extra wefts of dyed wool are added to create a
pattern, like a brocade.
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Selvedge
The edge on either side of a woven rug so finished as to prevent
raveling.
T
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Tip Shear
Cut pile rugs where some of the loops of yarn are left uncut.
This finishing style is desirable since it minimizes tracking
and flattening effects.
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Tone-on-Tone
Two or more tones of the same color in a rug. This look is
achieved either by mixing yarns of different tones or by using
the same color of yarn in a rug with both cut and looped pile.
V
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Velour
Cut-pile with a velvety surface.
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Verneh
Rug featuring a motif of interlocking birds.
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Village Rug
Rugs made by a group of people in shifts, working around the
clock. Most large tribal carpets are made in this manner.
W
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Warp
Vertical strands of weave that extend through the entire length
of the rug. The warps are the yarns onto which the knots are
tied and the wefts are woven.
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Weave
To make a rug on a loom by interlacing warp and weft threads.
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Weft
Also called filling, in woven rugs, the widthwise, or
horizontal, yarns carried over and under the warp, or
lengthwise, yarns and running from selvage to selvage. Filling
yarns are generally made with less twist than are warp yarns
because they are subjected to less strain in the rug weaving
process and therefore require less strength.
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