Oriental Area Rugs can be crafted from a variety of Rug Materials, including wool, cotton, and silk.
WOOL-In the vast majority of Oriental Rugs, pile is made from the wool of sheep. Though characteristics and quality differ based on location, strategy, sheep breed, climate conditions, and the shearing process, wool remains a popular choice for rug-makers across the rug belt. In the spring, a finer wool quality is produced. The lowest possible grade of wool used in carpet weaving is “skin wool.” This wool is removed chemically from dead animal skin. Oriental Area Rugs also take advantage of fibers from camels and goats. Goat hair is used for borders because the material is more resistant to abrasion. Camel wool is used in special cases, but may be dyed black.
COTTON-Cotton is another popular choice for Rug Materials. It can be spun more tightly and efficiently than wool because it tolerates more tension. This makes it a superior material for the foundation of a rug.
SILK-Silk is perhaps the most expensive of all Rug Materials available for carpet weavers. More often than not, when silk is used in carpet pile, it simply highlights special design elements. There are, however, a number of all-silk carpets from Kashan, Qum, Nain, and Isfahan in Persia, Istanbul, and Turkey. Rugs made entirely from silk tend to be coarsely woven.