Symmetric Knots
At this point, the foundation work has been completed including securing the base, let’s examine closely the two types of knots before we begin the weaving process by tying knots by hand one row at a time.
Here, we will examine closely one of the two major knot types.


TURKISH (Symmetric) Knot
Knots are tied using the knife tool below. It has a hook on the tip which helps pick and lift warps to maneuver the wool to finish the knot.
The number of warps depends on the size of the rug. In this example, our rug will have 23 knots horizontally, 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)

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.





Video: Symmetric knot
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.
Symmetric Knots
We begin the weaving process by tying knots by hand one row at a time.
Here, we will examine closely one of the two major knot types.


TURKISH (Symmetric) Knot
Knots are tied using the knife tool below. It has a hook on the tip which helps pick and lift warps to maneuver the wool to finish the knot.
The number of warps depends on the size of the rug. In this example, our rug will have 23 knots horizontally, 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)

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.





Video: Symmetric knot
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.