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A
| Abrash or Rageh |
| Abrash is a term that refers to slight variations
in the colour and tone of large colour fields
in hand-made Persian rugs. This can come about
when there is a break in the rug-making process
due to the nomadic rug-maker changing locations.
It can also happen when a rug-maker waits for
a new ‘crop’ of wool or when there is a change
to the availability of certain plants that are
used for making dyes. These slight differences
add charm and authenticity to a hand-made Persian
rug. |
| Acrylic |
| Acrylic is a man-made fibre that is used as
a lower-priced alternative to wool. |
| Afshan |
| Afshan means scattered and it is the Persian
name for the all-over layout. A rug with an
all-over layout does not have a central or dominant
design. Instead, the motif is spread symmetrically
throughout the rug. |
| Age |
Age simply indicates how old a rug is, and
which major classification the rug belongs in:
Contemporary - rugs less than 25 years old
Semi-antique - rugs between 25 and 100 years
old
Antique - rugs over 100 years of age |
| Aniline Dyes |
| These were the first synthetic dyes used in
dyeing rug materials. First developed in the
1850’s, aniline dyes faded quickly from exposure
to light and water. Because of this, they were
replaced with Chrome dyes in all rug-making
countries. |
| Antique Wash |
| This is a process that uses a chemical wash
on a rug to imitate an antique look. |
| Anti-Static |
| A rug treatment that effectively reduces the
effects of static electricity build-up in a
rug. |
| Arabesque |
| This refers to detailed patterns of intertwining
branches, flowers, leaves and vines that could
be woven in either geometric or curved patterns. |
| Art Deco |
| Art Deco was a style of architecture and interior
design, popular from about 1925 to 1940, which
had geometrical designs and bold colours as
the main characteristics. |
| Art Nouveau |
| This style of art, architecture and decoration,
from the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s, featured
leaves and flowers with flowing lines. |
| Art Silk |
| Also known as false silk, art silk is an artificial
yarn made from cotton, rayon or polyester. It
resembles real silk and is soft to the touch.
It is often used as an alternative to real silk
because art silk is less costly. |
| Asymmetrical Knot (Top figure on right) |
Also know as the Persian knot or the Senneh
knot, it allows a finer weave to be created.
It is made by wrapping the yarn around one
warp strand and then looping the yarn behind
the second warp strand. This single knot is
used in Iran, India, Turkey, Egypt and China.
The symmetrical knot or Turkish knot is also
shown.
A skilled rug-maker can make an average of
5,000 to 6,000 knots per day. The knot count
(knots per square inch) can be anywhere from
16 to over 500, so you can see why it takes
many weeks or even months, to complete a rug,
depending on the size. For example: a 4' by
6' rug, with 100 knots per square inch, has
a total of 345,600 knots. It takes 60 to 70
days to make a hand-knotted rug that size
with 100 kpsi.
The more complex the pattern or design, the
higher the knot count. The knot count will
usually be the same throughout the rug. |
| Aubusson |
| Aubusson is a style of rug that originated
in France during the 15th century. The names
of the more popular patterns include Antoinette,
Josephine and Maison. |
| Axminster |
| This term can refer either to a type of carpet
or a type of loom. The loom originated in the
town of Axminster, England during the industrial
revolution. This loom offered greater flexibility
with colours and designs than other looms. |
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B
| Background Colour |
| As the term implies, this is the most dominant
colour in a rug. The most widely used colours
for the background of a rug are various shades
of red, blue, beige and yellow. |
| Berber |
| Berber is a term that is used to describe
carpeting with a certain look. The name Berber
refers to a group of North African tribespeople
who made rugs of handspun yarn from the un-dyed
wool of sheep. |
| Blend |
| Blends or blended rugs are made using more
than one type of fibre. It may be a wool and
cotton blend or it might be a blend of natural
and synthetic materials. |
| Border Colour |
| The dominant colour in the border of a rug,
usually a shade of red, blue, beige, yellow
or green. |
| Braided Rugs |
| This refers to rugs made from braided yarn,
or sometimes from strips of used cloth, which
is why some braided rugs are also known as ‘rag
rugs’. The braids are usually sewn into concentric
circles or ovals, although they can be made
into a square or rectangular shape. |
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C
| Carding |
| Carding is the process of arranging wool fibres
and smoothing them by pulling the fibres between
a pair of spiked paddles. |
| Cartouche |
| This is a design element that has an inscription
or a date. |
| Chrome Dyes |
| These are colourfast dyes using potassium
bichromate to create a bond between the dye
and the yarn. |
| Cloudband |
| This was originally a Chinese design. The
pattern resembles a swirling band of clouds,
hence the name cloudband. This design can also
be seen quite often in Persian rugs. |
| Colour Symbolism |
| Colours have symbolic meaning or value in
many countries or cultures. The traditional
and/or religious meanings can have an impact
on the choice of colours used in many handmade
rugs. |
| Combing |
| This process of organizing carded wool fibres
in a parallel arrangement prepares wool for
spinning. |
| Condition |
| A rug’s level of quality with regard to several
attributes determines the condition of the rug.
Fine, average and worn are the classifications
of condition in the handmade rug industry. For
example, a handmade rug classified as fine is
in excellent shape with no holes, tears or stains.
Also, no repair work has been done on the rug. |
| Contemporary |
Contemporary rugs are non-traditional styles
of rugs that include shag and braided rugs,
as well as pile-weave rugs with modern or
geometric patterns. This term can also be
used to describe a rug if that rug is less
than 25 years of age.
Go to Rug Finder and See Hundreds of Contemporary
Style Rugs
Select any desired aspect (style, colour,
material, size, etc.) and narrow it down,
one option at a time, until you have a rug
that's just right for you! |
| Cotton |
| A natural material produced from the boll
or seedpod of the cotton plant. Cotton fibres
are soft and fluffy. The fibres can be spun
and used for the backing on rugs or for fringe
on the ends of a rug. Also, mercerized cotton
can be used as pile to make a rug. |
| Cowhide Rug |
| These are rugs made from high quality cowhides
or chromium tanned cowhides. They are available
in a variety of patterns and colours. |
| Cross-Woven |
| The cross-woven method incorporates fringes
into the rug instead of sewing the fringe on
afterwards. Cross-weaving is done from side
to side, rather than from top to bottom, as
with other woven rugs. This method allows for
the use of more colours and delicate details. |
| Cut-Pile |
| Cut-pile, also known as velour or velvet pile,
is a smooth finish that is created when the
tops of the wool loops are cut off and then
twisted to make tufts of yarn that stand erect.
This makes for a soft, even surface. |
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D
| Denier |
| This is a measurement of linear density. Large
yarns or fibres have high deniers, while thin
yarns have low deniers. |
| Density |
| This refers to the amount of pile yarn and
the closeness of the tufts. When a rug has yarn
that is tightly packed, or more densely packed,
it will have a more luxurious feel. |
| Dhurrie |
| This is a type of flat-woven rug from India.
Dhurries are a type of Kilim or Kelim and are
usually made from wool or cotton. |
| Dyes |
| Dyes are used to give a desired colour to
rug-making materials. As with types of materials,
there are two types of dyes - natural and synthetic.
Natural dyes include plant dyes, animal dyes
and mineral dyes. Synthetic dyes were introduced
in the mid to late 1800’s. |
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E
| Embossed |
| This refers to carved pile around a motif
or design that enhances the look of the rug
pattern. |
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F
| Faux Silk |
| See Art Silk. |
| Field |
| The field of a rug is the center or main area
of a rug. The field contains a central medallion
or other motif and is surrounded by the border. |
| Flat Weave |
| This refers to rugs without pile or knots.
Flat weave rugs are made on a loom where the
rug-making material is threaded through the
warps. Good examples of flat woven rugs are
Kilims, Dhurries and the original Aubosson rugs. |
| Flattening |
| Flattening is the term used when the piles
of a rug get flattened due to heavy traffic
or from being under furniture. Vacuuming and/or
cleaning can help restore the height of the
pile. |
| Flokati |
| Flokati refers to traditional Greek rugs that
are hand-woven from the wool of sheep. Flokati
rugs come in gram weights ranging from 1400
to 4000 grams. A higher gram count means that
the rug will be more plush as well as more expensive. |
| Foundation |
| The foundation of a rug, consisting of an
interlaced combination of warps, wefts and pile.
The foundation is the basic structural element
that holds the rug together. |
| Fringe |
| Warp threads extending beyond the end of a
rug is called the fringe. |
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G
| Geometric |
| The basic term for rug patterns that are created
with straight lines. |
| Guard Stripes |
| These are stripes of colour that adorn a rug’s
border and separate the border from the field. |
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H
| Hand-Knottted |
| Hand-knotted rugs take the longest time to
make and they are the most expensive type of
rug. To make a quality hand-knotted rug, the
weaver loops wool or silk around the warps,
one at a time, creating a thick pile. Then,
cotton yarn is woven through the warps to hold
them together. The cotton yarns are usually
tied off to make a decorative fringe. |
| Hand-Made |
| Hand-made rugs can either be hand-knotted
or hand-tufted. In general, hand-made rugs cost
more than machine-made rugs. |
| Hand-Tufted |
| Hand-tufted rugs are made similar to hooked
rugs with the exception of the loops being cut
to create a flat surface. Some tufted rugs feature
a combination of looped and cut pile, which
makes for an interesting three-dimensional effect. |
| Hand-Woven |
| This refers to rugs that are woven on a hand
loom. |
| Heat Set |
| This is a process of applying heat to twisted
yarns to help maintain their strength. |
| Herati Pattern (See diagram on right) |
This pattern is a small rosette surrounded
by feathery leaves.
It is believed to have originated in the
town of Herat, located in the northwestern
part of Afghanistan.
Part of the pattern represents the small
fish that come to swim in the reflection of
the moon. |
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K
| Kashmir |
| Kashmir rugs are made in the Islamic region
of India from silk or mercerized cotton. They
are woven with Persian knots and have ornate
patterns. |
| Kilim or Kelim |
| The name for the most well-known group of
flat-woven rugs. They are created using no knots.
A simple weaving process is used where the weft
strands are passed through the warp strands.
Often described as tapestry-like rugs. |
| Knot |
| Knots are used in pile-woven and, of course,
knotted rugs. The two main types of knots are
asymmetrical and symmetrical. The Persian/Senneh
knots are asymmetrical, while the Turkish Ghiordes
knot is symmetrical. Both types of knots can
have variances between different regional and/or
tribal traditions. |
| Knot Count |
| This simply refers to the knots contained
per square inch of rug. |
| Knot Density |
This is the overall number of knots used
in making a handmade rug.
Rug density can have an impact on its longevity
as well as its value. In general, a higher
density rug will wear better than a lower
density rug.
Here's an easy way to check for density...
Try to wiggle your fingers all the way to
the bottom of the rug fibres. Usually, the
more difficult it is to do that, the denser
your rug is.
There is not yet a full agreement on a standard
for knot density, but many rug experts have
been using the following to classify knot
density.
(kpsi = knots per square inch)
Up to 250 kpsi: Coarse
250 to 300 kpsi: Medium Fine
300 to 450 kpsi: Fine
450 to 500 kpsi: Very Fine
Over 500 kpsi: Extremely Fine |
| Knotted Rugs |
| Knotted rugs are made by hand on either a
horizontal or a vertical loom. This rug-making
method involves wrapping tufts of wool or pile
around the warps. The wool or pile is tied around
each individual warp strand to make the pile
stand perpendicular to the floor. |
| Kork |
| Kork is name for the fine wool that is taken
from the belly of a sheep. |
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L
| Layout |
| The layout of a rug is the overall configuration
of objects or designs contained in a rug. |
| Line Count |
| The line count is the number of horizontal
knots included in one foot of a rug. A higher
number indicates a better quality of rug. |
| Loom |
| A basic structure used in the making of rugs
that allows two or more sets of threads to be
interlaced at right angles. The loom holds the
strands tight for weaving and knotting. Looms
can be horizontal, vertical, mobile or fixed. |
| Loop Pile |
| Loop pile and cut pile are the same before
the cut pile gets trimmed. Loop-pile is a long-lasting
surface and it minimizes tracking. |
| Luser |
| Luser is a term for the brightness and sheen
of rug fibres or yarns. |
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M
| Maintenance |
| This refers to a few things that should be
done that help your rugs to stay looking their
best and allow them to age well. Vacuum rugs
on a regular basis, rotate rugs end-to-end to
let them wear more evenly, immediately remove
stains or spills following recommended guidelines
and clean the rugs accordingly. Some rug types
can be cleaned at home, while others require
professional cleaning. |
| Medallion |
| This is a large design in the center of some
Oriental and European styles of rugs. |
| Medallion and Corner |
| This is a special layout with a full medallion
in the middle of the rug and quartered medallions
in the corners of the rug. |
| Motif |
| The motif of a rug can be a single form or
an interrelated group of forms that comprise
a large part of the overall design or a rug. |
| Multi-Level Loop Pile |
| Yarn loops of varied heights that create a
three-dimensional effect. |
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N
| Nap |
| The nap is the direction that the pile of
the rug faces. |
| Nomadic Rugs |
| Rugs made by sheepherders who usually live
in tents and move around between valleys in
winter and mountain pastures in summer are called
Nomadic Rugs. In general, these rugs are of
a smaller size because they have to be finished
in time for the seasonal move. |
| Nylon |
| Nylon is a strong man-made (synthetic) fibre
that has the ability to accept and hold dyes
well. |
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O
| One-Sided |
| This is a rug layout with the design being
oriented in one direction, rather than looking
the same from either end. Pictorial rugs and
some prayer rugs are examples of one-sided rugs. |
| Oriental |
| Oriental means “of the Eastern World” or the
region of the world reached by early European
explorers after they circled around Africa.
It is still in use even though it is considered
by many to be an out-of-date word. |
| Oriental Rugs are One of the Traditional
Styles You'll See at Rug Finder |
| Select any desired aspect (style, colour,
material, size, etc.) and narrow it down, one
option at a time, until you have a rug that's
just right for you! |
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P
| Pattern |
| The pattern is the way that lines are used
in the design of a rug to form shapes. There
are three main classifications of patterns;
curvilinear, geometric and pictorial. |
| Pendants |
| In a medallion layout, pendants are small
floral extensions at the top and bottom of the
medallion. |
| Persian Knot |
| See asymmetrical knot. |
| Pictorial |
| A pictorial rug is one that has a pattern
resembling (you guessed it) a picture. It can
feature people, animals, mountains, a river,
trees or almost anything at all. |
| Pile |
| Pile is the surface of a rug having cut or
uncut loops that stand at right angles to the
foundation of the rug. Pile also refers to the
material or fibre used for weaving rugs. The
common pile materials are silk, wool and cotton. |
| Pile Height |
| This is the height of the pile, measured in
tenths of an inch, between the top surface of
the rug backing and the top of the pile’s surface. |
| Pile Weave |
| The method of weaving where a rug is woven
by creating knots is called pile weave or knotted
weave. It is the weaving method used to make
most rugs. |
| Pile Weight |
| This refers to the weight of the pile yarn
per square yard of the rug (or carpet). |
| Plush |
| Plush is the name given to a cut pile rug
where the tuft ends blend together. |
| Ply |
| This is the number of yarns that are spun
together to form a tuft of pile. Also, the measurement
of the yarn’s thickness. |
| Point |
| A point is one tuft of pile. |
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R
| Rageh or Abrash |
| Rageh is a term that refers to slight variations
in the colour and tone of large colour fields
in hand-made Persian rugs. This can come about
when there is a break in the rug-making process
due to the nomadic rug-maker changing locations.
It can also happen when a rug-maker waits for
a new ‘crop’ of wool or when there is a change
to the availability of certain plants that are
used for making dyes. These slight differences
add charm and authenticity to a hand-made Persian
rug. |
| Resilience |
| This is the ability of a rug to recover to
its original thickness after it has been crushed
under objects or from heavy traffic. |
| Rosette |
| This is a motif that looks like a round flower. |
| Rug Pad |
| Material placed under a rug to help provide
softness, support and a non-slip walking area.
A rug pad also helps to reduce noise in a room
and extend the life of a rug. A rug pad might
also be called a cushion or an underlay. |
| Runner |
| A runner is a long, narrow rug that is used
mostly for hallways or stairways. A runner is
usually 2 ½ to 3 feet wide and anywhere from
6 to 20 feet in length. |
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S
| Selvedge (also spelled selvage) |
| This refers to the edge on each side of a
woven rug that is finished to protect the rug
from becoming unraveled. |
| Semi-Worsted |
| This is a combing process that removes shorter
fibres. The result is a yarn with a more lustrous
look. |
| Silk |
| Silk is the most expensive of the rug materials.
It comes from the cocoon of silkworms. |
| Soumak |
| This refers to a group of rugs where no knots
are used in the weaving process. |
| Spandrels |
| These are corner designs in the field of a
rug. They are often arc-shaped. |
| Static |
| Static is the build-up of an electric charge
created when someone walks on a rug or carpet.
It can happen on both natural and synthetic
materials. Static is affected by humidity. |
| Symmetrical Knot (Bottom figure on
right) |
| This is made by passing the yarn over two
adjoining warp strands and then each end of
the yarn is wrapped behind one of the warps
and brought back to the surface between the
two warps. Turkish and Kurdish tribes use this
double knot in Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran.
It might also be used in some European rugs.
A skilled rug-maker can make an average of 5,000
to 6,000 knots per day. The knot count (knots
per square inch) can be anywhere from 16 to
over 500, so you can see why it takes many weeks
or even months, to complete a rug, depending
on the size. For example: a 4' by 6' rug, with
100 knots per square inch, has a total of 345,600
knots. It takes 60 to 70 days to make a hand-knotted
rug that size with 100 kpsi. The more complex
the pattern or design, the higher the knot count.
The knot count will usually be the same throughout
the rug. |
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T
| Tapestry |
| The term tapestry refers to a weft face weave
that has rather complicated designs. Sometimes,
the term is used generically as a name for a
woven wall hanging, even when it is not a true
tapestry. |
| Tea Wash |
| A process that is used to give the colours
of a rug an antique look. |
| Textured Loop Pile |
| This gives a rug loops of differing pile height,
resulting in a unique sculptured look. As with
a level loop pile, this is long-lasting and
minimizes tracking. |
| Tip Shear |
| This is when some of the loops of yarn on
a cut pile rug are left uncut. A rug made this
way has the advantage of being able to minimize
the effects of tracking and flattening. |
| Tone-on-Tone |
| A look created when two or more tones of the
same colour are used on a rug. This is accomplished
by mixing yarns of different tones or by using
the same colour of yarn on a rug that ends up
with both cut and looped pile. |
| Transitional |
| This refers to a wide range of rug designs
that fall in between the traditional European
and Oriental designs and the newer contemporary
rug designs. Good examples would be rugs with
a floral or botanical design. |
| Tribal Rug |
| Rugs woven by North African or Middle Eastern
tribal peoples. It can also refer to rugs made
by others that use the traditional styles and
patterns of the original tribal rug makers.
Sometimes, the term "tribal" is used
to describe rugs made by ANY nomadic group. |
| Tufted Rug |
| A process of punching tufts of wool through
the base fabric of a rug to create a less costly
version of a hand-knotted rug. |
| Turkish Knot |
| See symmetrical knot. |
| Twist |
| This is when yarn is wound around itself to
create a neat, well-defined strand. |
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W
| Warp |
| Vertical strands of weave that run the entire
length of the rug is called the warp. The warps
are the yarns that onto which the knots are
tied and the wefts are woven. |
| Washing |
| Washing is a chemical treatment for wool rugs
that gives the rug a soft texture and tones
down the colours. Washing can sometimes re-create
the effects of aging. There are some purists
who say the rugs should be allowed to age naturally,
without the wash. |
| Weave |
| The basic term for making a rug on a loom
by interlacing warp threads and weft threads.
The two major weaving methods are pile weave
and flat weave. |
| Weft |
| Strands of yarn that run the width of a rug
crossways between the warp threads. The weft
threads hold the pile knots in place. |
| Wool |
| Natural fibres from the hair of animals such
as goats and alpacas, but mostly from sheep.
Wool is used more often than other types of
pile materials in the making of handmade rugs. |
| Worsted Wool |
| The term for wool that has been combed and
worsted before being spun into yarn. This removes
the shorter pieces of wool and improves the
quality, allowing it to be used on more intricate
patterns. |
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