Flat Weave Rugs

How Flat Weave Rugs Are Made

A flat weave rug is, as its name implies, a woven rug made on a loom, much like a hand knotted rug. A flat weave, however, does not use any knots to create the pattern. Instead, it uses a tight weave of warps (vertical strands) and wefts (horizontal strands) to create both the design and the foundation simultaneously. So while a hand knotted rug uses ordinary thread for the foundation and colored threads knotted around the foundation strands to make the rug, a flat weave rug is strictly a colorful foundation. It therefore has no “pile” (the cushioned part of a hand knotted or hand tufted rug) and is lighter in weight.

As a result, flat weave fabrics have always been used for purposes other than floor covering and carpeting. Flat weaves are used for blankets, both on beasts of burden and people, pillow cases, table settings and draped over furniture, among other uses. Without a pile, flat weave rugs and carpets gather less dust than knotted and tufted versions. They are also easy to clean after liquid spills or stains. This makes flat weaves a favored type of rug for households with allergy sufferers and children.

Flat weave rugs are made by many different cultures and are categorized based on their usual country of origin. Kilims are from Iran and Turkey and their environs, both historic and modern. Dhurries come from India, both ancient and present day. Soumaks are made in specific sectors of the Caucausus region and farther south. More details about these types of rugs can be found in subsections of this part of our website. Specific examples of flat weave rugs, used for flooring and other types of coverings, are available at our Sacramento storefront at 737 56th Street.