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Before introducing the horizontal wefting, the successive, parallel vertical
warps on the loom are all on one level, determined by the horizontal loom
bars that they wrap around. When the wefting is introduced if it is put in
loosely with minimal tension, it literally snakes its way over and under
each warp across the loom. If, however, the wefting is pulled tightly from
either side, it will displace the warps through which it passes into two
levels, one upper, one lower. On the back of the rug, this bi-level
structure will appear to have a ribbed or corrugated surface with an upper
warp and a lower or 'depressed' warp. In cases were the wefts are pulled
absolutely tight, the depressed warps may not even show on the back of the
rug. Many city rugs, especially those made in Persia have this structure. It
results in a stiffer, denser weave that is less supple or flexible and which
will lie more flatly on the floor without buckling or wrinkling. This is a
highly desirable structure for room-sized rugs in high traffic areas. |
