Preparing Raw Materials
- Shearing Wool: The first step is shearing wool from sheep (usually in spring). In some regions, goat hair or silk is also used.
- Washing: Raw wool is washed with water and natural substances (like plant ash) to remove grease and impurities.
Spinning Yarn
- Traditional Spinning: Cleaned wool is spun into yarn by hand or using traditional spinning wheels. The thickness of the yarn is determined at this stage depending on the type of carpet (thicker or finer yarn).
Dyeing Yarn
- Natural Dyeing: Yarns are colored with natural dyes extracted from plants, roots, tree bark, and insects like cochineal. These dyes are long-lasting and become more beautiful over time.
- Color Fixation: Dyed yarns are dried and then fixed to ensure color stability.
Preparing the Loom
- Loom Installation: The loom (vertical or horizontal) is set up for weaving. It holds the warp threads in place.
- Warping: Warp threads are arranged carefully on the loom. Accurate warping is essential because it forms the foundation and strength of the carpet.
Carpet Design
- Pattern Drawing: The carpet design is drawn on graph paper or followed from mental patterns (common among nomadic weavers).
- Design Elements: The main design, borders, color scheme, and knot density are determined.
Weaving the Carpet
- Knotting: Wool or silk yarns are knotted onto the warp threads using specific knots (Persian or Turkish).
- Weft Insertion: After each row of knots, one or more weft threads are passed through the warp and beaten down with special tools to secure the knots.
- These steps are repeated row by row until the carpet pattern is complete.
Finishing the Carpet
- Shearing Pile: The surface of the carpet is trimmed with special scissors for uniformity.
- Washing: The carpet is washed with water and soap to make it clean and bright.
- Drying: The carpet is dried in shade or mild sunlight to maintain its shape.
- Repairing (if needed): Any defective or incomplete areas are restored.