the Handweaver

There are many different traditions of hand knotted rugs.  The types that are made for this website are produced by knotting the yarn onto a warp on a hand loom.  There are one or two rows of plain weave between each row of knots.  These rows of plain weave form the base of the rug and hold the knots in place.  In traditional Oriental carpets the pile length is very short and there are a high number of knots per square inch and only one or two rows of plain weave between each row of knots.  In Scandinavian rya rugs and flossa rugs the pile length is much longer, there are fewer knots per inch and there may be up to 8 rows of plain weave between each row of knots. 

 

The Handweaver rugs are either rya type with a long pile, or Oriental rug type with a shorter pile and the rows of knots close together so that the pile stands erect.  The Oriental type rugs have a more detailed pattern, such as the Celtic knot design rug shown on the loom on the left.  

 

The knots are tied by hand using two or more strands of yarn at a time like the rya technique but there are only one or two rows of plain weave between the rows of knots so that the pile stands up like the Oriental technique. 

 

 

In the photo on the right you can see the knot is tied around two threads of warp.  The knot is then pulled tight and the yarn cut to the correct length.  This type of knot does not come undone easily so it is ideal for a hand knotted rug.  There are other types of knots that are faster to tie but not as secure as this double symmetrical knot.  The result is a thick pile, securely held in place and a rug that will last for very many years.  These rugs are made by hand in the same way as ancient traditional crafts, using a traditional hand loom and unique designs.

 

The technique used by the Handweaver is the same as that described for ancient carpets by the Textile Curator of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

 

The design of the rug is transferred to a sheet of graph paper and the position of each knot is mapped out on the grid.  It takes experience to calculate how many knots are needed to produce the target size of the finished rug.  A different density of knots is used according to the pattern and the thickness of the yarn used.  The pile length is also decided by the design and the thickness of the yarn.  Carpet yarn which is 80% wool and 20% nylon is used because wool has a natural springiness and is easy to keep clean, and nylon adds resistance to wear.  Then the number of warp threads required is calculated.  Linen warp is used for most rugs because it forms a good firm base on which to weave the rug.

 

A woven product consists of the warp and the weft.  The warp is the threads that run vertically through the rug.  Think of the warp as the skeleton of the finished product.  It is stretched tightly on the loom so that all the threads are parallel and at the same tension.  The weft is the threads that run horizontally and pass over and under the warp.  Think of the weft as the muscles and skin of the finished product.  On a simple loom made by winding the warp round a frame, the weaver has to pass the weft around the warp by lifting up the warp threads with the fingers.  The floor loom which I use has a system of harnesses holding heddles through which the warp is threaded (see picture on the right) after tying to a beam at the back of the loom.  The warp is then threaded through a reed to keep the threads evenly spaced.  Foot-operated levers (treadles) cause the rise and fall of the harnesses.  This enables the weaver to lift up certain threads to make the pattern by pressing down the levers with the feet.  This leaves the hands free to pass the weft on a shuttle through the gap created (see picture on the left showing the shuttle being passed through the space in the warp threads).  This speeds up the process and ensures accuracy in the weave.   

 

The required number of warp threads are each measured to the correct length and then arranged on the loom so that they are all parallel, by threading each one through the correct heddle and then through the slots in the reed.  The threads are then tied tightly to a beam at the front of the loom.  The loom is now ready for weaving.

 

Before the rows of knots can be tied, it is necessary to weave a header of plain weave to produce a firm base for the rug.  When the rug is taken off the loom, this header is turned under and hemmed by hand.  The knots are each tied by hand in the different colours according to the design graph prepared for the rug.  One or two rows of plain weave are woven between each row of knots and pressed firmly into place.  When this has been done, the knots are cut to the correct length.  At the end of the rug another header is woven in plain weave to finish the rug. This too is turned under when the rug has been taken off the loom and hemmed by hand.

 

In traditional Oriental rugs the header is often not turned under but finished by tying the warp threads to form a fringe.  The Handweaver uses the hem finish because it suits modern homes.  However rugs with a fringe finish can be produced to order using the custom rugs option.

 

There are no knots at the very edge of the rug because this would make the rug curl up.  Instead a binding is made at the side edges by weaving a length of yarn around the outer two threads of warp at each side of the rug.  This yarn then also passes in between the rows of knots.  The result is a strong, firm edge to the sides of the rug.  This edge is woven during the hand knotting process and not added afterwards.

  

When the rug is taken off the loom, the threads of warp are knotted to prevent the headers from unravelling, the headers are then turned under the rugs and hemmed by hand, ensuring that the knots of warp are tucked inside the hem for neatness.  The rug is then checked all over for flaws and any threads which are not the correct length are cut.  The rug is then vacuumed to remove the fluff.