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It is easiest of all to finish warps simply
with overhand knots. A common solution in modern commercial production, this is not among
the best of end finishes, as neither warps nor wefts are given more than minimal
protection.
Meshwork made with additional offset rows of overhand knots provides more security and is
decorative as well. Knots can be tied with either large or small groups of warps--the
knots either closely set or widely separated. Alternately, square
knots may be used for the meshwork, as in macramé.
Knotted meshwork has often been combined with rows of soumak wrapping--particularly on
Caucasian rugs. |
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Kuba Knotted-Pile Rug. Caucasus
47" x 64" (185 cm x 64 cm)
STRUCTURE: Symmetrical knots; H: 7, V: 11, 77 per square inch (H: 28, V: 43,
1204 per square dm). Slight warp depression.
YARN SPIN: Z.
WARP: 3-ply ivory wool.
WEFT: Tan/brown wool plied with white cotton; 2 shots between knotted rows.
PILE: 2 wool singles.
ATTACHED SELVAGES: 3 free-floating warp units (3,2,1), interlaced with 3-ply faded
blue cotton that extends 2 warp pairs into the knotted foundation.
END FINISHES: Knotted meshwork with 3 rows of
offset overhand knots. Three rows of soumak (2/1), countered, light blue
cotton.
[MM-107. M. Mallett] |
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Knotted meshwork makes a fragile but decorative end finish on this Kuba rug. (Front)
Three rows of blue cotton soumak wrapping and a couple of plain-weave picks separate the
meshwork and knotted pile. Compare the front with the back side below: the
front of the soumak has diagonal spans, the back has short wrappings. Twining, which
is often used as part of an end finish, looks the same on both sides, and is often done
with two contrasting colors. The two structures should not be confused.
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Northeast
Caucasian Knotted-Pile Rug
5' x 8' (152 cm x 245 cm). Dated 1914. Cyrillic
inscription.
STRUCTURE: Symmetrical knots, H: 29/dm, V: 44/dm, 1276 knots
per sq. dm. (82 per square inch). No warp depression.
YARN SPIN: Z.
WARP: 2-ply ivory wool.
WEFT: Two 2-ply ivory or mixed ivory and brown wool yarns; one
shot.
PILE: 2 wool singles.
ATTACHED SELVAGES: 3 warp units (2,2,1), the outer pair free
floating, the inner pair irregularly interlaced by the ground wefts,
and one warp integral with the ground weave. 2-ply blue wool selvage
yarns extend erratically into the pile area and interlace the first
two ground warps.
END FINISHES: 5 rows of soumak,
countered (4 blue and 1 white); meshwork of staggered overhand
knots.
[FB-103. Filiberto Boncompagni] |
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Rows of countered soumak in blue and white wool finish this rug, then
groups of warps are knotted in a loose meshwork.
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Kurdish
Knotted-Pile Rug. Western Iran
45"x 93" (177 cm x 366 cm)
STRUCTURE: Symmetrical knots, H: 7, V: 11, 77 knots per square inch. No warp
depression.
YARN SPIN: Z.
WARP: 2-ply light tan wool.
WEFT: 2 red wool singles, 2 shots.
PILE: 2 wool singles.
SELVAGES: Overcast with red wool.
UPPER END FINISH: Obliquely wrapped band; warp ends
finished on the underside with two rows of overhand knots, offset. Balanced plain weave
with 2-color, 3-span twining.
LOWER END FINISH: Twined heading cord, followed by 3-strand twining. Plain-weave
band with 2-color, 3-span twining. See photo on the Heading Cords page.
[MU-100. Mesut Ulusoy] |
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The warp ends that emerged
on the inside edge
of an obliquely wrapped band have been finished
with two rows of offset overhand knots on this
Kurdish rug. Back view.
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With the wrapped band
folded upward, we can
see part of the simple knotted meshwork
underneath.
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