History of Iranian handwoven carpet methods

The evidence obtained from the examination of the oldest Iranian hand-woven carpet, Pazyryk, indicates that Iranian weavers used the double-weft or “Lole-baft” method in carpet weaving since about 2500 years ago and during the Achaemenid period. The exact time of the emergence of the double-weft method is not known. But since the elements and motifs of the handwoven carpet have evolved and changed from broken motifs to semi-broken and round ones, it can be concluded that the single-weft method was common before the double-weft method. Because the weaving of geometric motifs was the result of the “Takht-baft” or single-weft method, and in the Timurid period, following the evolution of motifs and the tendency of weavers to turn motifs, they also created the double-weft method.

Read more about Pazyryk carpet in this article: What Do You Know about the World’s First Carpet, Pazyryk?

All the components of a carpet on the loom

Handwoven carpet weaving methods

The basis and foundation of handwoven carpets are warps. In such a way that if the warp of carpet is damaged, the whole handwoven carpet will fall apart. But wefts and piles are less sensitive than warps. It is true that the base of the carpet is warps, but it is the weft method that distinguishes the type of carpet texture. Handwoven carpets are woven in different regions of Iran with special weft methods. Carpets are divided into 3 general categories based on texture:

1. Single wefted or “Takht-baft”
2. Double wefted or “Lole-baft”
3. “Nim-lole”

As we said ,based on this, the carpets are divided into single-weft, double-weft types and “Nim-lole”. The carpets that are woven in the cities are usually double-weft carpets, and rural and nomadic carpets are usually single-weft carpets.

Single-weft or “Takht-baft” carpet:

This method of weaving is more common in nomadic and rural areas of Iran. As the name suggests, a thick type of weft is often used to weave single-weft carpets. This weft passes over the cross created by the warps and is beaten by the weaver either loosely or tightly on each row of the carpet. The thick weft is placed in the opposite direction of the previous row. Wefts in single-wefted carpets are thicker than urban woven carpets. In this method, the distance between the warps at the knotting place is at least equal to the diameter of the warp that is used.

The position of the warps in the single-weft

In this method, the angle between the warps is 170-180 degrees and the warps are almost parallel and side by side. If we look at the back of single-wefted carpets, the weft in these carpets is clearly visible from the back, and both arcs indicate a knot. These carpets are soft and flexible. The use of this method is common in Turkmen carpet, Bakhtiari carpet, Baluch carpet and some villages carpets.

Bilverdi rug with Takht-baft method

Double-weft or “Lole-baft” carpets:

This type of weaving is more common among urban carpets. In this method, a thin weft and a thick weft are used. First, the thick weft passes under the cross and is placed on the knots, and then the thin weft is passed over the cross and all are beaten together. In this method, the warps are completely stuck together at the knotting place, and they are placed upside down. The angle between the warps in this method fluctuates between 80 and 120 degrees. If we look at the back of these carpets, it is completely smooth and uniform, the wefts are hardly visible, and each arc represents a knot. The use of this method is common in Tabriz carpets, Qom carpets, Isfahan carpets, Mashhad carpets, Nain carpets, etc.

The position of the warps in Lole-baft

Ardabil rug with Lole-baft method

“Nim-lole” carpets:  

This method of weaving is also seen more in rural carpets. The “Nim-lole” method is not as common as in the past and the amount of carpets produced has decreased. In this method, two wefts with the same thickness are used for passing the wefts. These wefts are first passed under the cross and then on the cross on the knots of the carpet and beaten with a comb. In this way, the distance between the warps of the knot in the cross section of the knot is equal to half of the warp. The angle between the warps in this method fluctuates between 120 and 170 degrees. The knots on the back of these carpets are in the form of an arch and a semi-arch. In the past, Qashqai  carpets and Heriz carpets were woven in this way.

The position of the warps in the Nim-lole

Bakhtiari rug with Nim-lole mothod

Currently, in most regions of Iran, hand-woven carpets are woven in the double-weft method, and the single-weft method is popular only in some areas, which shows the authenticity of the carpet weaving tradition in Iran. Authentic Baloch carpets and Turkmen carpets are woven in the single-weft method and have geometric patterns, and Bakhtiari carpets are woven with the “Nim-lole” method, which have semi-rotating patterns.