How are handmade Kilims made?
Kilims add timeless beauty to your home. They are soft, elegant pieces that enhance your room interior and furnishings. Kilims are also used as prayer rugs. These rugs are made up of wool as their primary material, used with cotton wraps. This article discusses the techniques used to create rich-colored and attractive patterned rugs.
The Kilim rugs are made using a flat weave technique. This process involves interweaving several colored wefts and wraps, unlike the pile rugs or carpets where these are knotted together or pressure is applied to hold them in place. The most common way to weave Kilim is the plain weave technique. There are various ways to produce a beautiful and unique pattern in Kilim area rugs.
Plain weave method:
This style of making Kilim carpet is mostly used by weavers. In this, the wrap and weave are evenly placed. Every weave and wrap is equally visible. Another way is a weft-faced plain weave, in which wefts are closely packed with wraps spreading out. In this pattern, wefts are less prominent.
Slit weave method:
Kilims with diagonal and geometric patterns are woven using the slit weave technique. In this process the slit is created using two different colors, and the weave is discontinuous. The wrap is covered with tightly closed weft. Diagonal slit weaves represent a stronger structure as compared to vertical weaves. Each color block is completed before moving to the next one. In this way, bold and sharply patterned Kilims are made.
Such Kilims are reversible.
Dovetailing and double interlocking technique:
To create a stronger bond between the colors, techniques called dovetailing and double interlocking are employed. This method interlocks the weave between two colors and blurs the line. Dovetailing is also called a single interlocking technique. This is used when two different colored blocked wefts share a simple wrap between them. Double interlocking is used when two wefts are interlocked between two wraps.
Using these two techniques, high-quality, beautiful patterned kilims are produced.
Brocading:
It is another difficult method of making Kilims. This is used when a supplementary weft is woven into a Kilim to add a pattern to it. These extra wefts are woven on a standard weft to create a raised pattern on the Kilim. Two types of weaves are used in this technique; one is jimjim. Another weave used in brocading is called zili.
In the former type, threads are applied on the reverse side of the weave between the weft and the warp. The resulting weave that shows underneath is used to fill negative space. Later, wefts are wrapped around wraps in specific ratio patterns. It covers the entire surface and runs parallel to the wraps, creating a distinct appearance.
Each of the techniques described above has its rich history and traditions that are passed down to generations. Great skill is required to employ these weaving techniques that make every Kilim piece so fascinating and unique. An experienced weaver uses multiple weaves to produce kilims with religious meaning and historical events. Click ALLRUGO to view the latest variety of kilims and other types of carpets, including tribal, modern, and vintage area rugs.
