| Abrash |
A change in the colour of a rug due to differences in the wool or dye batch. The colour change runs across the rug and is most likely to occur at the top. |
| Boteh |
A pear-shaped figure often used in oriental rug designs, characteristic of the paisley pattern. The boteh may represent a leaf, bush or a pinecone. |
| Chain Stitch |
A crochet stitch used in rug construction that consists of successive loops to lock the final weft in place at teh end of a rug. |
| Dhurrie |
A flatwoven rug from India, usually made of cotton or wool. |
| Endless Knot |
A buddhist emblem symbolizing long duration, often used with other symbols. |
| Field |
The part of a rug’s 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 in Turkoman designs. It is often repeated to form an all-over pattern in the field. |
| Jufti Knot |
A knot tied over four wraps instead of the usual two. |
| Kilim |
A tapestry-like woven rug.
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| Medallion |
The large enclosed portion of a design, usually in the center. Typical shapes are diamonds, octagons and hexagons. |
| Mori |
The weaving technique of certain Pakistani and Indian rugs. |
| Perisan Knot |
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 mosque or arched prayer area. Columns may be shown supporting the arch with a lamp hanging from the arch’s apex. |
| Soumak |
A flatwoven rug made from a technique that produces a herringbone effect. |
| Tapestry Weave |
Any variety of weaves where the pattern is created by gound wefts that do not run from end to end. |
| Turkish Knot |
Tied around two adjacent warp threads. |
| Warp |
Comprising the structure, parallel warp yarns run the length of the rug and are interlaced with wefts. |
| Weft |
The yarns woven horizontally through the warps. |
| Weft-Faced |
A rug where the weft yarns are more closely spaced than the warps. |
| Whip Stitch |
A stitch used to overcase and to lock the final weft in the rug ends. |