The Washington herald., 1908-07-26

round or octagonsL rev0lve on iron piv-
ots. OF on the reduced and rounded end
OF the beam. The beams are OF various
diameters. from 70 70 "A inches. The ends
OF the two beams are strengthened by
Iron bands one-sixteenth Of an inch thick
Through the iron bands are pierced holes
about inches in diameter 10 receive
an iron bar in winding on the warp and
IN keeping II taut To the bars are at
tached. above and below, chains which
are brought toward each other Dy double
screw. the ends Of which are held IN
cTOss-bar at the open end Of the swivel,
which has reverse threads to take the
screw By a small iron bar this is loosen
ed OF tiEhtened as the work requires.
The warp is Arst switched on iron bars
that ere inserted IN hooks IN the beam.
either outside or sunken in grooves. When
the warp Is properly distributed with ref
erence 10 the number Of knots 20 the
square inch. 81 is firmly and uniformly
frightened. At the ends Of the warp IS
round cord OF the same material as tie
warp, but six OF eight times as large as
the warp threads. This becomes the
firm and strong edge Of the rug. A sin
gle spool lies nesr this edge cord, and as
the weaving progresses the yarn on this
spool IS passed round the cord evenly and
smoothly. 50 as 10 make a pretty finish
and 70 iupart 6rmEess and strength 20
the rug Between each thread OF the
warp passes what Is called the ''gulU-'
These cords are fve times the size Of the
warp. and held in position by bamboo
poles the width of the rug
These poles are tlghtened or sIackened
by strong cords fastened 10 the ends Of
short bamboo sticks Two feet Ions. which
-.-- a "a -r-srr~ ~
the rug and are supported BY rude
brackets bolteG 10 the uprights. BY pull
ing the short bamboos Up OF down the
pressure OF the front OF back warp
threads IS regulated. This pressure Is
changed al certain lines marked on the
warp and according 10 the pattern Of the
rug. IN front Of the lower beam y which
the warp is wound. and on the lower one
OF which the rug is wound as the work
progresses. Is a plank ? BY Il inches.
which IS generally covered with ourlap-
On this plank the wesvers kueei OF squat
while al work
Over this plank and about fourteen
inches below the upper beam IS suspended
a bamboo pole an inch in diameter and
the fun width Of the rug. To this are
suspended spOols on which the yarn used
IN the rug is wound the ends OF yarn
hanging down within convenient reach OF
the weavers- These spools are arranged
with reference 70 the ccIcrs IN the rug
IN most rugs about fifteen or sixteen
colors are used These may be. however,
repeated often enough TO make Il neces-
sary 10 have IN making q large-slzed rug
as many as hfty-six spOois-
weavers at Their Work
The weavers take their positions. one TO
each two feet on the plank described.
with the head weaver either al the end
Or center Of the rug Before him he
tucks in the warp the -'taltn' or wesv-
ing books. which contain characters or
symbols Ia kind OF shoTthand) indicating
the colors TO be used and the number OF
knots 70 be tied 20 the square inch The
head weaver pronounces in a sing-sOng
tone Of voice these symbols. which are
I repeated by all the weavers at the loom
who are engaged n making the same
thing Thus the work goes on to a kind
I OF rhythm and with & rapidity and pre-
cision that is remarkable.
The knot Is tied by passing the end
/ OF the yarn through the front warp,
I back around the rear warp. and then
bringing Il forward deity, when it IS
cut OF with a knife which turns back
/ Ike a small sickle OF crescent, the edge
I being on the back OF the crescent and
very sharp The knife is held IN the
right hand and is operated by the third
and fourth fingers This leaves the FIRST
I and second fingers free to pass the yarn
{ through and tie the knot The first and
/ second fingers Of both hands are used n
I tying the knots. and a fast weaver will
I tie knot q second. the average weaver
/ tying about forty or for1y-f1ve knots q
minute. One little boy not over i've years
/ Of age was able 70 tie twenty knots n 6
2 haN l.
strong enough 10 force the tsut threads
I Of the warp aside to enable him 10 seize
the rear thread and pass his yarn through
and around TO form the knot. The more
knots tied the more difficult the work
and the greater the cost Of the rug.
Design After Old Rugs.
The design Of the old Persian rug IS
produced IN exact colors. and represents
a section Of the end and the sides OF
the entire rug. In fact. II is a Perfect
photograph Of the design and colors. OF
the old rug. This enables the practical
designer TO work Up the fulI-size draw
ing for use IN directing the "talin'
writer. or the one who makes the
I weaving book" from which the head
weaver reads. to direct the number OF
men and boys at work on the rug.
The design OF an old Persian rug was
obtained from the State Printing Works.
I Vienna. and from this was made a full
size drawing on scaled paper in &c
co7dance with the quality Of the rug
( The drawing shows the number Of knots
per square inch. IS being the lowest
and 400 the highest The former is made
with a coarse warp, cotton or jUte. II
Indian generally Of cotton, and the wool.
OF pile, IS OF the ccarser woods. loosely
spun. while the latter has a fine cotton
or wool warp. and the pile is OF fine
wool. generally Cashmere wool, or silk
The finer the material used the more
knots 70 the square inch.
/ Weavers work during the winter
--7-tHs eight and during the summer
s5- 2. The custom IS
la- esr1 "- for himself a
'aFs- aE lone he quits foI
| Il. -. nod Weaver set