Adding Warps to a Loom
Step 1: Adding Warps
3 major steps in weaving a rug: 1) building a foundation, 2) weaving and 3) finishing the rug. Adding warps is the first step in building a foundation. Adding warps is the first step in building a foundation.
I will now show step-by-step what is required to weave a rug. There are, of course, different ways to construct a rug using a loom; I will mainly be describing the necessary steps that are universal to rug weaving. The intent is for you to have a fundamental understanding of all the necessary steps, even if different regions take varying paths in order to reach the same goal.
We will begin with some illustrations to introduce the concepts. We will end up weaving an actual rug on a loom.
Yarn is wrapped vertically up and down the loom (first picture). I am using two strings to help separate the warp yarn as it progressively goes from right to left (first picture). Replaced the strings with two sticks (second picture) to demonstrate how alternating warps are run on either side of the strings.
If you refer to Figure 11 (below), I am using nails to insure the warps are spaced correctly for my demonstration. In actuality, the warps are wrapped around the upper and lower beam. Weaving experts ensure proper spacing before the weaving begins.
Note: For demonstration purposes, in some pictures I will use white and blue colored warp yarns to represent the right and the left warps, respectively. This is intended to help viewers recognize each knot is tied on two warp strings.
The number of warps depends on the size of the rug. In this example, our rug will have 23 knots horizontally (refer to Design lesson), so we’ll need 27 pairs of warps. (We add 2 extra pairs of warps on both side which will become the selvedge. 23+4=27)
Video:
If you are curious to learn more, my eBook The Art of Oriental Rugs - A Weaver's Perspective shows you: 1) how to identify a weave** and how different techniques produce “recognizable” variations in different regions, 2) maps with geographical views of where rugs are woven in the country of Iran and how the regional weaves influence each other, and 3) 750+ close-up pictures of weaves from 170+ rug-weaving regions in Iran and around the globe. I’ve written a book I wish I had when I first started in the rug business. This, I humbly hope, will be seen as an indispensable addition to any library.
Adding Warps to an Oriental Rug
Step 1: Adding Warps
3 major steps in weaving a rug: 1) building a foundation, 2) weaving and 3) finishing the rug. Adding warps is the first step in building a foundation. Adding warps is the first step in building a foundation.
I will now show step-by-step what is required to weave a rug. There are, of course, different ways to construct a rug using a loom; I will mainly be describing the necessary steps that are universal to rug weaving. The intent is for you to have a fundamental understanding of all the necessary steps, even if different regions take varying paths in order to reach the same goal.
We will begin with some illustrations to introduce the concepts. We will end up weaving an actual rug on a loom.
Yarn is wrapped vertically up and down the loom (first picture). I am using two strings to help separate the warp yarn as it progressively goes from right to left (first picture). Replaced the strings with two sticks (second picture) to demonstrate how alternating warps are run on either side of the strings.
If you refer to Figure 11 (below), I am using nails to insure the warps are spaced correctly for my demonstration. In actuality, the warps are wrapped around the upper and lower beam. Weaving experts ensure proper spacing before the weaving begins.
Note: For demonstration purposes, in some pictures I will use white and blue colored warp yarns to represent the right and the left warps, respectively. This is intended to help viewers recognize each knot is tied on two warp strings.
The number of warps depends on the size of the rug. In this example, our rug will have 23 knots horizontally (refer to Design lesson), so we’ll need 27 pairs of warps. (We add 2 extra pairs of warps on both side which will become the selvedge. 23+4=27)
Video:
If you are curious to learn more, my eBook The Art of Oriental Rugs - A Weaver's Perspective shows you: 1) how to identify a weave** and how different techniques produce “recognizable” variations in different regions, 2) maps with geographical views of where rugs are woven in the country of Iran and how the regional weaves influence each other, and 3) 750+ close-up pictures of weaves from 170+ rug-weaving regions in Iran and around the globe. I’ve written a book I wish I had when I first started in the rug business. This, I humbly hope, will be seen as an indispensable addition to any library.