Explaining the entire process of Persian carpet making

1. Drafting process

The making of all Persian carpets begins with deciding on the design of the carpet to be woven.

• Nomadic carpets: They are often woven freely by the weaver without a blueprint, relying on their own sensibilities, giving them a rustic, one-of-a-kind charm.
• Urban Workshop carpets: To achieve more intricate designs, professional designers draw blueprints (drafts) on graph paper. Each square corresponds to a knot, and the colors and patterns are precisely specified. This forms the basis for complex and beautiful patterns.

This initial design process will shape the artistry of the finished carpet.

2. Dyeing process

Next comes the dyeing process that creates the rich colors of Persian carpets.

1. Washing: First, the wool or silk threads used as the material are thoroughly washed to remove oil and dirt.
2. Dyeing: The yarn is dyed using natural dyes (derived from plants, insects, and other natural sources) or chemical dyes. Craftsmen use their years of experience and intuition to bring out beautiful colors, such as the time and temperature for soaking the yarn in the dye, and the use of mordants to help the color fixate. The appeal of natural dyes is that they deepen in color over time.
3. Washing (Soaping): Finally, the excess dye is washed away and the color is stabilized.

Only yarn that has undergone a careful dyeing process can achieve the beautiful colors and durability of Persian carpets.

3. Weaving process

Before weaving begins, there is a very important process called the "weaving table." This is the process of creating the top and bottom edges of the carpet.

The warp threads are threaded through the loom. This is what will later become the fringe. It may look unimpressive, but this loom plays an important role in stabilizing the overall shape of the carpet and preventing the edges from fraying. It is only with a solid foundation that the beautiful pile can be woven.

4. Hand weaving process

Now, we come to the most distinctive feature of Persian carpets, the "hand weaving" that creates that comfortable feeling of floating underfoot! This is the process that creates the fluffy pile on the surface of the carpet.

• How to tie: Using the Persian knot or Turkish knot method mentioned above, each pile thread is tied to the warp threads by hand.
• Tying, cutting and securing: Once you have finished tying, cut off the excess thread with a knife, pass the weft thread through and hammer it in with a comb to secure the knot.

This painstaking process is repeated hundreds of thousands, even millions, of times until countless individual pile fibers stand densely, pointing upward, on the surface of the carpet.

This is how the "floating feeling" is created!

Persian carpets are known as high-quality hand-woven carpets, but have you ever experienced the unique, soft feeling you get when you stand on one, as if you are floating in the air?

"Why does it feel so good even though it's just a carpet?" "How are they made?" The secret to this comfort lies in the traditional manufacturing process that is unique to Persian carpets.

This "pile structure, with each individual pile standing densely upward" is the secret to the comfort of Persian carpets! The countless pile tips support the entire sole of your foot like a soft cushion or a dense brush, dispersing your weight. The elasticity of each pile also gently pushes back from below... This is the true nature of that unique, luxurious feeling that is sometimes described as a "floating sensation."

This is a special comfort that cannot be achieved simply by having a long pile, but by hand-weaving each strand individually.

5. Unloading from the loom

The process of unloading a Persian carpet from the loom is a crucial and delicate moment that marks the completion of months, sometimes years, of meticulous weaving. This is also called "hataoroshi," and it is not just about removing the carpet from the loom, but also preparing it for the next stage of the finishing process.

The process of unloading a Persian carpet is roughly as follows:

1) Finished weaving (making the kilim part)

Once all the pile threads of the carpet body have been knotted, the warp threads are not immediately cut. First, a few centimeters of flat-weave, pile-free material (called "kilim") is woven into the top and bottom edges of the carpet, that is, the base of the fringe, to prevent them from unraveling.

2) Edge reinforcement (prevents fraying)

To prevent the woven kilim parts from unraveling, the edges are reinforced with strong stitches such as chain stitches or overlock stitches, which firmly secure the structure of the carpet itself.

3) Cutting the warp threads (unloading the loom)

After all of the above preparations are complete, the top and bottom warp threads that secure the carpet to the loom are finally cut using special scissors or knives.

• Careful with silk : Silk thread is very delicate, slippery and expensive, so the work is done with great care to avoid loosening the knots and damaging the thread.

• Birth of the fringe : At this point, the bundles of warp threads cut at the top and bottom of the loom become the "fringe" of the carpet.

4) Condition after unloading

When a Persian carpet comes off the loom, it is not yet a "finished product." At this point, it looks like this:

• The pile length on the surface is uneven.

• It is covered with fine lint and dust produced during the weaving process.

• There may be some distortion in the overall shape.

• The natural luster of silk has not yet been fully brought out.

6. Shirring process

A freshly woven Persian carpet is first dried, and then the entire shape is adjusted. The carpet is carefully ironed from the back, and sometimes even nailed to a board to stretch it taut, correcting any slight distortions that may have occurred during the weaving process down to the millimeter. This gives the carpet a dignified and beautiful appearance.

And now it's time for the first "magic cut" - shearing! This is the process of trimming the pile on the surface of the carpet using special fan-shaped blades and dedicated machines to evenly and beautifully trim it, just like a skilled barber would trim a customer's hair. This is the moment when the craftsman's skill really shines.

Why is this shirring so important?

• The design becomes clear and vivid! By making the pile height perfectly uniform, the outlines of the carpet's design and patterns, which previously looked a little blurry, become surprisingly sharp. The carpet's appearance becomes vivid and three-dimensional, just like a sharply focused photograph.
• The luster of silk and wool is brought out to the fullest! The evenly trimmed pile reflects light beautifully. This allows the natural luster of the material to blossom, and the color and shadows change depending on the angle from which you look, creating an indescribably beautiful look.

The slightest difference in the amount of scraping or the angle of the blade can completely change the impression of the carpet, so the craftsman's many years of experience and well-honed sense are all that is needed. It is this extra step that gives Persian carpets an aura of art, more than just rugs.

7. Carpet washing process

After the Persian carpet has been beautifully cut using shirring, it moves on to the "washing" process. You might be a little worried, thinking, "Wait, are they going to wash such a big carpet with lots of water?" But don't worry. Here too, the wonderful wisdom and techniques that have been passed down in Persia since ancient times are behind the process.

Our skilled craftsmen use plenty of water, soap (often natural and gentle on the carpet fibers), and large brushes to scrub the carpets boldly yet carefully.

This "washing" has several important meanings.

• Say goodbye to invisible dirt and excess dye! Fine dust particles hidden in the weave, fiber debris from shearing, and even traces of excess dye remaining on the threads are thoroughly washed away here. This makes the original colors of the Persian carpet more vibrant and also makes it more hygienic.
• It feels gentler and softer to the touch! Washing loosens the fibers to the right degree, making the carpet fluffier and more supple. It leaves you feeling refreshed, just like after a soak in a hot spring, refreshing your body and mind.
• The weave tightens, increasing stability! As the carpet absorbs moisture and dries, the weave tightens just enough, making the carpet more stable and durable.

Of course, you can't spin-dry a carpet in a washing machine after washing it. That's where a large iron spatula similar to a hoe comes in. With this, you rub the surface of the carpet repeatedly, carefully squeezing out the water little by little. Of course, you need to use just the right amount of pressure so as not to damage the precious pile.

And finally, they are sun-dried in plenty of sunlight. In particular, in the Qum region of Iran, where Persian carpets are produced, the air is very dry and the water there contains a moderate amount of salt, making it the perfect environment for making carpets softer and more beautiful. During the dry summer months, when the humidity is below 10%, the carpets dry quickly and produce the best possible finish. It's true that they have the blessings of nature on their side.

Qumu water makes carpets exceptionally soft

Persian carpets, especially silk carpets, become supple as if reborn after undergoing this "washing" process... One of the secrets that has been passed down through the generations is the "quality of the water in Qum."

The holy city of Qum, located in central Iran, is said to contain a trace amount of salt in the water of this region, in an exquisite balance that is like a magical work of nature. This special water acts gently on silk and wool fibers, giving carpets an incredibly soft, unique, melting texture that cannot be replicated anywhere else.

The effect is so great that it is not uncommon for even the finest Persian carpets woven in other famous production areas such as Tabriz and Isfahan to be transported all the way to Qum, where only the "washing" process is entrusted to specialized craftsmen. That is how special and irreplaceable the significance of the water of Qum and the washing techniques that have been cultivated there over the years is for the quality of Persian carpets.

8. Re-shirring

After washing, the Persian carpet is thoroughly dried in the sun. It's finally finished! You'll want to applaud, but the artisans' magic isn't over yet. At this point, they have to shear it again (by hand)!

It's no wonder that some people are surprised and ask, "What?! They have to shave again?" However, this is precisely the manifestation of the artisans' obsessive commitment to perfection, which determines the quality of Persian carpets.

The first shearing sets the rough pile height, and after the fibers have settled in the wash, the final adjustment is made with the utmost care, down to the millimeter, in the second shearing. Even the slightest unevenness in height or even a single protruding pile can blur the beautiful pattern and ruin the feel.

There is no manual for determining the perfect finishing touches. It is truly a matter of relying solely on the craftsman's "intuition" and "experience" cultivated over many years, as well as the sharp sense of his fingertips. The pile is carefully and meticulously arranged to make the carpet's surface smooth and the pattern appear as beautiful and vivid as possible. This is truly the "finishing touch," not the final brushstroke, but "one scrape with soul put into it."

9. Fringe and edge decoration

Now, we are finally at the final stage of the process. The pattern, which can be considered the "face" of the carpet, has been finished to perfection. However, the area around it, that is, the fringe and edges, must also be beautifully and sturdily finished in order for the carpet to be truly complete.

• Fringe processing: The ends of the warp threads of the carpet are carefully tied one by one to prevent fraying, creating a lovely and elegant tassel that looks lovely. The way the fringe is processed actually reflects the characteristics of each production area and workshop, as well as the individuality of the craftsman.
• Edge reinforcement: The left and right edges of a carpet are prone to wear and tear through daily use. Here, threads of the same material as the carpet itself (or similarly strong threads) are tightly wrapped around the edges multiple times along the warp threads to reinforce the edges. This prevents the carpet from losing its shape and makes it sturdy enough to withstand decades of use.

It is said that with any great work of art, "the attention to detail determines the overall quality," and this is certainly true of Persian carpets. By carefully carrying out this final finishing touch, not only is the carpet beautiful to look at, but it also embodies "genuine quality" that allows you to use it for a long time with peace of mind.

summary

It takes an incredibly long time and effort to weave a Persian carpet. The subsequent processes include hand-shaving (shirring), washing, re-hand-shaving, and final finishing. Only after these careful and meaningful processes are completed can a Persian carpet be magically transformed from a simple piece of fabric into a one-of-a-kind work of art that exudes a breathtaking brilliance and a mysterious aura that never ceases to draw people in.

It is only thanks to this accumulation of careful, mind-boggling handiwork that

• A comfortable feeling of floating as if you were floating in the air
• Deep colors that remain beautiful even with the passage of time
• Incredibly durable enough to last for generations
• By hand carving, the hidden patterns emerge clearly and three-dimensionally.
• Washing washes away all the excess, leaving the fabric clean and fresh, and the texture softer and more supple.
• Re-hand-scraped to give it a perfectly smooth finish and the highest possible luster.
• The final tassels and edge treatment give the product not only beauty but also true durability that will last for a long time.

This is what gives Persian carpets their unique charm.

If you ever have the opportunity to touch a Persian carpet, be sure to take the time to savor the feel it gives you under your feet. Behind that soft, fluffy feel are countless knots, the artisans' generous time and skill... When you think about this, your attachment to carpets will surely grow even stronger.

[For advice on choosing a Persian carpet, click here]

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