Rug Glossary - Antique Rug Studio
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Abrash
A change in the color of a rug due to differences in the wool or dye batch. The color change runs across the rug and is most likely to occur at the top.
Boteh
Well known as “paisley”, this pear-shaped figure often used in oriental rug designs. The boteh may represent a leaf, bush or a pine-cone.
Chain Stitch
A crochet stitch used in rug construction that consists of successive loops to lock the final weft in place at the end of a rug.
Endless Knot
A buddhist emblem symbolizing long duration, often used with other symbols.
Field
The part of a rugs design surrounded by the border. The filed may be blank or contain medallions or an over-all pattern.
Fringe
Warps extending from the ends of a rug which are treated in several ways to prevent the wefts and knots from unravelling.
Gul
A medallion, either octagonal or angular in shape, used repetitively in Turkman designs to form an all-over pattern in the field.
Jufti Knot
A knot tied over four wraps instead of the usual two.
Kilim
A flatwoven rug.
Medallion
The large central design element of a rug. Typical shapes are diamonds, octagons and hexagons.
Mori
The weaving technique of certain Pakistani and Indian rugs.
Persian Knot
Also known as a single know, it is looped around one thread with only a half-turn around the other thread.
Pile
The nap of the rug or the tufts remaining after the knotted yarns are clipped.
Plain Weave
The simplest interlacing of warp and weft.
Prayer Rug
A rug with a representation of a mosque or arched prayer area. Columns may be shown supporting the arch, with a lamp hanging from the its apex.
Tapestry Weave
Any variety of weaves where the pattern is created by ground wefts that do not run from end to end.
Turkish Knot
Also known as a double knot, the yarn is tied around two adjacent warp threads.
Warp
Comprising the structure, parallel warp yarn runs the length of the rug, and are interlaced with wefts.
Weft
The yarn woven horizontally through the warps.
Weft-Faced
A rug where the weft is more closely spaced than the warp.
Whip Stitch
A stitch used to overcast, and to lock the final weft at the ends of the rug.