Antique Rug Supplies

soumak rugs

Soumak Stitch Design

In designing woven wool rugs, there are so many different patterns and techniques to choose from. The decorative technique of soumak stitch can be traced back to 2000 BC, the date of some linen fragments found in Switzerland. Later examples of the technique have been found in Egypt, Peru and Persia and it has also been used by many primitive people, including the inhabitants of New Caledonia and Guiana.

In appearance, soumak is decorative, forming a ridge raised above the level of the plain weave. It is worked on the flat warp, that is, when there is no shed open.

In soumak, there are basically two wefts. One is the ground weft that weaves with the warp to make a normal tapestry structure and the other is the soumak weft, which crosses the warp at intervals, wrapping round the warp more in the manner of embroidery than weaving.

The simplest form is in the fraction of two over one soumak. This means the weft is carried over two warp threads and under one but there are other variations over which it can be worked four over two, in which the weft goes over four and under two, three over two, six over three and nine over three. The closest texture is given by two over soumak and this is most used in woven wool rugs. The other variations give very much longer floats (the threads which are not woven or caught into the structure), and would be impractical for floor rugs.

Method of working soumak

1. Make two rows of plain weave.

2. Pass the soumak weft over two warp threads and back under one, coming out between the weft and the plain weave.

3. Continue in this manner across the warp. This will make a band of raised weft that slants from bottom right to left.

4. Make two rows of plain weave.

When weaving back from the other direction, pass the weft in the same manner, coming out between the soumak and the plain weave. This makes a band slanting from bottom left to top right. The two rows seen together make a series of ‘v’ shapes pointing to the left. By working in the opposite direction, the reverse shapes are made. Soumak can be worked in bands across the whole width of the rug or can be used to make blocks.

Starting and finishing the ends of the soumak weft for the woven wool rugs is achieved by weaving the end of the thread into the same shed as the next plain weave weft, for a short distance. The soumak should not be woven to the selvedge; instead, work in the same way as for the selvedge when making tufts.

Colin Scott is a hand weaving enthusiast. For more great tips on mohawk Asian home woven rugs and weaving hand wool rugs visit his websites.

silk kilim

300yr old Silk Kilim auction

For some of us a rug can be an investment and not just a home accessory. Good traditional rugs will gain value with time and become pieces of art. You might have heard of the most famous Fine Art Auction – Christie’s. In the 80s they displayed a 3.5 x 6.5m 300 year old Iranian (Persian) rug for…2.5 million US$! Even a small 300 year old silk kilim, measuring 1.5 x 2.2 m went for 1.4 million! This would be the time to check your grandmother’s attic in the hopes that your ancestors were sensible enough to buy a Persian or an Afghan rug 200 years ago and pass it on from generation to generation.

Unfortunately, most of us are not that lucky – our grandmother’s rugs are not antique and we can’t afford to buy handmade rugs that took years to be weaved. Don’t despair, there are plenty of stunning machine made classic collections on the market, which are very reasonably priced and recreate the all time favourites – Persian, Afghan, Kazak and Turkish designs. But firstly, let’s look at why in this modern day and age traditional rugs are still what we all want.

* Traditional rugs will never go out of fashion – modern rugs ranges come and go, this season it is the purple or grey rugs which are fashionable, but wait for as little as 6 months and it will be red or black or white rugs taking over the world
* You will never get bored of a traditional rug – you can change the colour scheme of your room, redesign the look, go from classic furniture to modern – your rug will still look exactly right for your decor
* Traditional rugs offer you the best value for money as they will last for much longer than just a year or two.

If I sparked your interest in traditional rugs browse through a great selection of rugs for all tastes and budgets at http://www.MyRugStore.co.uk

soumak rug

12 types of carpet – which one is right for you?

The carpet market is a huge market, with lots of types to select from. Here are 12 different types of carpet and what they will offer you and your home.

Woven

Woven carpet is produced on a loom that is very similar to woven cloth, being cut pile. There are numerous different colored yarns being used and the whole process is capable of producing very intricate patterns from designs that are pre-determined. Generally, woven is the highest quality of carpet available.

Tufted

This type of carpet is produced on a tufting machine by using either a single colored or sometimes a non colored yarn. If non colored is being used, then the carpet will be dyed or printed with a design as a separate process. Carpets that are tufted can either be cut pile, loop pile, or a combination of both. Machines can produce a lot more meters of carpet than weaving, and they are usually at the lower end of the market.

Needlefelt

The needlefelt type of carpet is a bit more technologically advanced. They are produced by electrostatic attraction of individual fibers that form a unique carpet with extremely high durability. You can normally find needlefelt carpet in the contract market such as in hotels or other places where there is always going to be a lot of traffic.

Flatweave

The flatweave carpet is created by interlocking warp and weft threads. The types of oriental flatwoven carpet include soumak, plain weave, and tapestry weave. This type is not well known in the North American region, although it is very popular in the orient and Japan.

Hooked rug

This is a simple construction of rug that is handmade by pulling strips of cloth such as wool or cotton through the meshes of a very sturdy fabric. Now, this type of rug is generally known as a handicraft.

Knotted pile

With knotted pile carpets, the structural weft threads will alternate with a supplementary weft that will rise from the surface of the weave at a perpendicular angle.

Cut and loop piles

The cut and loop pile combines both looped and cut fibers. They provide a variety of surface textures for medium durability. Cut and loop carpets are available in either solid or different colors. The several different layers in this carpet can hide dirt and footprints in formal and informal areas.

Saxony

Saxony consists of tightly twisted cut piles that are heat set straight. They consist of two or more fibers that have been twisted together in a yarn, and they provide a very soft texture for informal as well as formal areas. They will show each and every footprint and even marks from vacuum cleaners.

Textured saxony

Textured carpet is the best selling and it works well in informal areas due to the very soft feel. They are tightly twisted and texture headset for medium durability. They also offer a multi colored look that will hide tracks and footprints.

Plush/velvet

Both plush and velvet are lightly twisted and offer a uniform color. They are very soft and offer more level than textures. This type of carpet is ideal for formal areas due to it’s luxurious appearance.

Frieze

Frieze is a highly twisted cut pile type of carpet that is suited for high traffic areas. It has short fibers that will tend to curl in different directions at the surface to hide footprints and vacuum marks.

Level loop pile

The level loop pile is constructed by weaving even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both ends. This type of carpet is durable as well as track resistant, due to the strong loops. Higher loops in the carpet will create a more luxurious look. They are also great because they will prevent dirt from filtering on into the carpet.

Choosing the right carpet to match your needs can be a very challenging task. Learn how to buy carpet for your lifestyle.