Most of the people think that how to make an intricate design in best quality handmade carpet or what dying process to be used for color fixing, about materials and most of the important that what is the process of weaving handmade carpets. So I am going to describe here that what is the actual process has done for making handmade carpets.
Turning material into yarns-: This is the starting process or we can say the first process of weaving handmade carpet. When material arrives in a factory in the large bale, weavers use a hand machine which is called chakra for finishing and making yarn bundles.
Washing: - This is the second step. This process is important because when unprocessed materials come, those are dirty, contains dust and grease. So in the washing process, these are removed. Yarns are simply washed by detergent and it is then sun-dried for two or three days.
Dying Process: - This is a very important process because all looks of carpets are depended on yarn color. For handmade carpets they are using vegetable dye, Chemical dye. Vegetable dyeing process mostly uses to give indigo colors. Vegetable dye is not 100% fast. It means when you will wash the carpet, it will fade a bit. But the chemical dying process mostly used for fixing the colors. The yarn is hung onto a vertical pole and submerges into the dye. The dye is heated to the boiling temperature for a limited time. The time depends on the color combination such as for the dark color it takes more time as compare to light colors.
These all above process for same all type of handmade carpets but the weaving techniques are little different.
Hand knotted carpets- Before weaving the design artist has drawn the designs on graph paper. After that, they make foundation which is called hand loom. The columns of threads are called warp which is vertically stitched on the loom. Warp is mostly in cotton. The weavers make designs which are called weft. The weft is of wool, silk, cotton, chenille etc. After creating about ten wefts the weavers work fast. Using a piece of wool or silk, they take one or two warp in the same row and tie knots around them. The ends of knots called piles. Weavers work knots by knots until the pattern is complete. This is the most intricate weaving process. These carpets have very high durability due to knots and weaving technique. Hand-knotted carpets are very exclusive and also expensive as compare to all rug.
Hand Tufted Carpets- This type of carpet also called as cut pile carpets. The rug pattern is drawing on the primary backing of cloth. After that, the cloth is stitched on the frame. Then the craftsmen insert the material such as wool, silk or other into the primary cloth using the single needle tools (gun). When the tufting is completed then they cover primary backing with a hard material. The secondary backing is added for protecting the primary backing. After that, they bind the edges of the rugs to add strengths.
Trimming or finishings: When the weaving process has been done after that the carpets are trimming by scissor.
Washing Carpets-: After trimming process, the carpet is washed with cold fresh water and dried in shadows. This is very important for carpet care.
Final Touches- This is the last step when the rugs are ready they gave final touch by re-finishing and stretching, where it is necessary.