The Process of Persian Rug Production

The process of Persian rug production is time consuming and attractive at the same time. The techniques used in these carpets belong to the country of Iran and Iranian artists. In addition, the delicacy and beauty of the final product arise the curiosity of everybody about the weaving steps.

The process of Persian rug production has been described below:

The First Step of Persian Rug Production: Preparation of Raw Materials

Weavers use natural fibers in the process of Persian rug production. In some cases, they provide their required fiber from whole sales. But mostly, they have access to the fibers without intermediary, through the spinning and dyeing workshops beside their rug-weaving workshops.

Woolen fibers, having the highest usage in Persian rug production, is a type of Protein fiber cut from sheep body. The wool cut from alive sheep in the spring has the highest quality. On the contrary, the wool cut from dead sheep is separated from the skin with chemical and has a low quality. So, it is not used in rug weaving.

Silk fibers have an old record in Iran rug-weaving art. It has been admired in the books of many historians and tourists such as Herodotus and Jean Chardin.

The Second Step of Persian Rug Production: Dyeing

On the second step, the fibers are dyed traditionally with natural colors. Because natural colors are processed under sun, washing or rubbing; and give a special beauty to the rug.

Different stages should be performed to dye the fibers. First, the silk skeins are opened and plunged into the color container. This stage is repeated frequently until the fibers are evenly dyed. Finally, the skeins are taken out, washed, and dried.

The Third Stage of Persian Rug Production: Loom Set-up

Loom is the main frame in rug weaving and includes warp, weft, and four thick poles. Loom is the foundation of rug and come to horizontal and vertical types, but vertical looms are more common.

Warp

The fibers stretching vertically from upward to downward of the loom are called warp. They are usually made of cotton, but they may be woolen or silky too. There are some points that should come into consideration. For example, all the warps should have the same distance from each other and the same draft. Setting the warps draft, so-called warp winding, affects the quality of the carpet.

Weft

Weft, which is usually made of cotton, is referred to horizontal fibers that cross through the warps. While weaving, every row is beaten up by comb to increase the carpet resistance.

Pile

Pile refers to the cotton or silk thread, which is knotted around warp and makes patterns of the rug.

The Fourth Step of Persian Rug production: Carpet Designing

Prior to weaving step, the carpet design should be prepared. This step has a high artistic importance according to which all the patterns of the carpet is located in details. In addition, the exact length and width of the rug is calculated. Then all the patterns you have on your mind are located on a graph paper, in a way that every small square represents a knot.

The Fifth Step of Persian Rug production: Weaving

Weaving, also known as knitting, is the most important step in the process of Persian rug production. In this level piles, or knitting thread, are knotted around the warp in different styles.

knitting styles, the most important of which include Persian and Turkish Knots, have a high importance in this step. Most of Iranian tribes use Persian knots to weave rugs. But in the western regions of Iran, especially Azerbaijan, Turkish knot is more common.

Rug weaving is usually performed in two manual and weaving hook method. weaving hook method is more common in the west of Iran. In this method a metal tool is used to cut the thread and cross it through the warp and weft.

The Last Step of Persian Rug production

The last step of Persian rug production is performed after the rug is woven and includes leveling, washing, darning and packing.

The first stage after weaving is leveling the piles. Then the carpet is washed to fix the color and clean the carpet. Since some parts of the carpet may hurt while weaving, darning is of the most important acts to do. In the end, carpet is packed.

Participation of Men and Women in the Process of Persian Rug Production

It is mentionable that the majority of Persian weavers of Iran are women. Since this career takes much patience and delicacy, women have a better performance in this arena. On the other hand, dyeing process is mostly men’s responsibility.