The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Carpets And Rugs
In hand weaving these papers are read directly by the weaver. In machine weaving they are handled in various ways. The design shown in Figure 21, Plate I, would be read by a hand weaver one tuft at a time in rows across the design.
In all machine-made carpets the colors are set up one row at a time, although some processes set up the horizontal rows and others the vertical. This subject will be treated under each individual type of carpet.
The cross-section paper on which the design is laid out for the weavers is called the design paper, and many times the word "paper" is used synonymously with square inch. For instance, a 7 x 12 paper means that in a square inch there are seven loops or tufts of pile per inch of width and twelve per inch of length; that is, 84 loops, tufts or points per square inch. More will be said of these subjects in connection with the processes to be described later on.
In order to present an actual example, the design shown in Figure 21, Plate T, was laid out on cross-section and the ways this design would be handled for the various types of carpet are set forth in the caption.
Weaving
The weaving of a carpet is a purely mechanical operation. It is the only one of the four factors above mentioned that has been improved in modern times. As far as Oriental weaving is concerned there has been absolutely no change for hundreds of years, but the machine-made carpet has been continually unproved.
In order to follow the description of weaving in connection with the various types of carpets, it is necessary to understand the fundamental principles of weaving. This can best be done by considering the simplest form of loom, which is virtually the type used by the Orientals.
