Warp
Wool, cotton, or silk strands of fiber attached to a Loom vertically for the entire length of a rug. Warps comprise the main structure of the rug, and are the yarns upon which the knots are tied.
Washing
A treatment which a rug undergoes to tone down its color and gain a softer texture. Sometimes washing imitates the effects of aging.
Weave
Technique used in weaving. Pile weave and flat weave are the two.
Weft
(Woof) Wool, cotton, or silk strands of fiber that are woven through –and run parallel to—the warps. The weft threads hold the pile knots in place.
Weft-Faced
A rug where the weft yarns spaced more closely than the warps.
Weld
A source of yellow die, this European plant has long spikes of small yellowish-green flowers.
Wilton
A British center manufacturing machine-loomed rugs, dating back to 19th century. Modern Wilton rugs were the first type to be made on a computerize machine.
Wool
Wool is the most frequently used material in handmade rugs. It is obtained from the hair of sheep, goats, and other domesticated animals.
Worsted
Key sign of a worsted yarn is straightness of fiber, which is achieved by blending, combing, and then tightly twisting (worstening) the fiber, before spinning the wool into yarn. This process greatly improves yarnquality, and is used for the more.
Woven Carpets
Rugs made on the looms, where the pile and the backing thread are woven simultaneously, creating strong tufts and anchors. Examples of woven carpets are Wilton and Axminster.
Worn
Rugs with discoloration, foundation damage, pile wear, or fading are considered worn. Worn rugs, however, may have antique value, and thus, a solid resale value.
