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Rugs 101 - Information Center for Oriental Rugs
Weaving and Construction - page 2
Tools
In order to operate the loom, the weaver needs a number of essential
tools: a knife for cutting the yarn as the knots are tied; a comb-like
instrument for packing down the wefts; and a pair of shears for trimming
the pile.  In Tabriz the knife is combined with a hook to tie the knots which
lets the weavers produce very fine rugs, as their fingers alone are too
thick to do the job.

A small steel comb is sometimes used to comb out the yarn after each
row of knots is completed.  This both tightens the weave and clarifies the
design.

A variety of instruments are used for packing the weft.  Some weaving
areas in Iran known for producing very fine pieces use additional tools.  
In Kerman, a saber like instrument is used horizontally inside the shed,
and in Bidjar a heavy nail like tool is used.  Bidjar is also famous for their
wet loom technique, which consists of wetting the warp, weft, and yarn
with water throughout the weaving process to make the elements thinner
and finer.  This allows for tighter weaving.  When the rug is complete and
dried, the wool and cotton expand to make the rug incredibly dense and
strong.

A number of different tools may be used to shear the wool depending on
how the rug is trimmed as the rug progresses or when it is complete.  
Often in Chinese rugs the yarn is trimmed after completion and the
trimming is slanted where the color changes, giving an embossed
three-dimensional effect.

The Knots
Two basic knots are used in most Persian and Oriental rugs: the
symmetrical Turkish or Ghiordes knot (used in Turkey, the Caucasus,
East Turkmenistan, and some Turkish and Kurdish areas of Iran), and
the asymmetrical Persian or Senneh knot (Iran, India, Turkey, Pakistan,
China, and Egypt).

To make a Turkish knot, the yarn is passed between two adjacent warps,
brought back under one, wrapped around both forming a collar, then
pulled through the center so that both ends emerge between the warps.

The Persian knot is used for finer rugs.  The yarn is wrapped around only
one warp, then passed behind the adjacent warp so that it divides the
two ends of the yarn.  The Persian knot may open on the left or the right,
and rugs woven with this knot are generally more accurate and
symmetrical.

Other knots include the Spanish knot looped around single alternate
warps so the ends are brought out on either side and the Jufti knot which
is tied around four warps instead
A weavers tools include a knife, combs, hammers,
and scissors.  Most tools are homemade to be
customized for the weaver.
The Persian or Senneh knot is asymmetric and may
be open to either the right or left. These four Persian
knots are open to the right.
Persian Jufti Knot
Jufti or "false" knots can be either Persian or
Turkish style. Jufti knots are tied around four
warps instead of the normal two.
Turkish Jufti Knot
Jufti or "false" knots can be either Persian or
Turkish style. Jufti knots are tied around four
warps instead of the normal two.
Turkish or Ghiordes knots are symmetric. This
example shows four Turkish knots.