The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Carpets And Rugs

Materials

Machine-made carpets differ considerably in structure from the Oriental and among themselves may be divided into several distinct types. However, all machine-made carpets have warp, weft and pile, in which respect they are similar to the Oriental carpets. In addition to these three elements machine-made carpets often have material inserted to increase the bulk or to stiffen the structure. Such threads are known as stuffers, fillers or floats. Sometimes they are inserted as warp and sometimes as weft, depending upon the type of carpet. The warp threads always run lengthwise; of the carpet or rug, the weft threads run across. The pile may be attached to either the warp or weft, depending upon the type of the carpet; the stuffers, fillers or floats may run either lengthwise or crosswise of the carpet depending upon the type.

The materials used in a carpet are determined by the functions they are to perform in the structure. Some are chosen for stiffness and bulk, others for strength, others for flexibility, others for appearance, and still others for resistance to wear. Almost without exception, wool is used for the pile, cotton for the warp, jute for the weft. Both jute and cotton are used for fillers, linen is sometimes used for the weft.

In American-made carpets the percentage of wool is approximately 44, jute 35, cotton L6, linen 4, and all others 1 per cent. These figures are only approximate, but they represent fairly closely present-day practice.

Preparation of Wool

Wool is such an important factor in the manufacture of a carpet, that many carpet mills buy their wool in the fleece and perform all the operations necessary to convert it into suitable weaving material in their own plant. Therefore, it is proper to consider preparation of the wool as one of the important stages in the making of a carpet.

It is beyond the scope of this book to describe the actual processes, but it seems worth while to mention the various stages through which the wool passes merely to give an idea of the amount of labor involved.