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Rugs from Nepal
Story of a Rug from Nepal
The video is understood in all languages. It is subdivided into the below chapters. With the following text I want to comment the different steps a bit based on my own experience.
Carding

Carding
From an aspect of quality machine-spun wool is slightly better. However hand-spun wool gives more people an income.
Spinning

Spinning
Dyeing

Dyeing
After the coloring the yarn is dried in the sun. This is usually done on the flat roofs of houses.
Weaving

Weaving
Rug weaving is still done entirely by hand everywhere in Nepal in contrast to carpets from China which are nowadays nearly exclusively machine-produced.
I do not think that this core process of carpet making in Nepal will be replaced by machines in the near future as long as Nepal remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Machine production would simply be too expensive due to extremely cheap labor in Nepal. Sad, but true.
In the film you can see the use of yarn balls, an iron-rod, a hammer, a comb-beater and a pair of scissors. This is required for the unique technique of the Tibetan knotting. Carpet making is practiced in Nepal either in small manufactures or as a family business. When you stroll in Tibetan quarters in Kathmandu you can often hear the typical sound when the rod is hammered down.
The Tibetan weaving uses a vertical loom. Also this is unique, and not practiced in any other countries with a carpet making tradition like Iran or Turkey.
In the video you can see the "architectural plan" for the rug design that is attached to the loom in front of the worker. Thus they know when to take another yarn color. You may imagine the high skill that is required to make an old traditional design with rich elements - compared to a modern design that often has only a border element and otherwise flat areas.
Washing and Drying

Washing and Deying
This work is by the way always done by men. I have never seen women doing it. But I have every now and then seen a man sitting in front of a loom weaving.
Stretching

Stretching
Trimming

Trimming
Traditional or Modern Designs?
In the video you see mostly modern designs. Artelino offers you only traditional designs in traditional sizes of roughly 3 by 6 feet = circa 90 by 180 centimeters. These designs are made exclusively for us after old carpet patterns.
Dieter Wanczura
(May 2009)