How a Persian Carpet Is Made: Warp, Weft, Pile and Fringe
Almost every conversation about a Persian carpet eventually reaches a question the seller cannot answer honestly without looking at the carpet itself: what is it actually made of? A label such as "wool and silk" describes a category. It does not tell you which fibre forms the foundation, which forms the surface you walk on, or how the two are held together.
This guide explains the physical structure of a carpet in the order a specialist examines it. Once you can name the parts, every other question — knot density, material, condition, price — becomes much easier to ask precisely. It is the same sequence our showroom team in Dubai is trained to follow before describing any piece to a customer.
The six parts of a carpet
A hand-knotted carpet is not a single material. It is a structure built from several components, and they are frequently made of different fibres.
| Part | Persian term | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Warp | Chelleh | The lengthwise foundation threads held under tension on the loom. They run the full length of the carpet and carry its structure. |
| Weft | Pood | Threads passing across the warp to lock the knotted rows in place. |
| Pile | Porz | The raised surface formed by the cut ends of the knotted yarn — the part you see and touch. |
| Fringe | Risheh | Usually the exposed warp ends at the two ends of the carpet. Fringe can also have been repaired or added later. |
| Selvedge | Shirazeh | The finished long side edge. This is a structural finish, not the decorative border in the design. |
| Kilim end | — | A flat-woven section at one or both ends of some pile carpets. |
Why this matters when you buy
Two statements that sound almost identical can describe very different carpets. "Silk warp with silk highlights" tells you the foundation is silk and that silk appears in selected details of the pile — but the main pile may still be fine wool. A cotton foundation under a wool pile is completely normal and does not make the carpet "a cotton carpet".
So the useful question is never "is it silk?" It is: which part is silk?
Four constructions people often confuse
Hand-knotted pile carpet
Built through repeated hand knotting and weaving. Each knot is tied around the warp threads by hand, the weft is inserted and beaten down, and the pile is finished at the end. This is the construction behind our handmade carpet collection. Our guide to how Persian carpets are woven follows the process step by step.
Kilim
A flat weave with no raised knotted pile. A kilim is not a lower grade of carpet — it is a different textile structure altogether.
Gabbeh
A pile carpet, often presented through a simpler and bolder visual language. Because gabbehs look less formal than a classical city carpet, they are sometimes described as kilims. They are not. A gabbeh has pile; a kilim does not.
Machine-made carpet
Produced on machinery rather than by hand. This is a manufacturing category, not a judgement of quality — a well-made machine-woven carpet in the right fibre can be an excellent choice for a busy family room. Browse our machine-made collection to compare, or read our machine-made carpet guide.
One term deserves care: "handmade" is broader than "hand-knotted". Several textile products are made by hand without being hand-knotted pile carpets. If the distinction matters to you, ask which construction applies rather than accepting the general word.
A confusing detail: the kilim end
Many hand-knotted carpets finish with a short flat-woven band before the fringe. That band is a kilim end. Its presence does not make the carpet a kilim, in the same way that a hem does not make a shirt a different garment.
The kilim end also affects measurement. Recorded dimensions normally exclude loose fringe, but on some carpets a woven kilim end is included in the measured length. When the carpet has to fit a specific space, ask for the measurement of that actual piece rather than relying on a category name. Our guide to Persian rug sizes explains how carpets are measured.
How to examine a carpet in a showroom
- Ask a member of staff to show you the warp, weft, pile, fringe and side edge on one real carpet. Seeing them once is worth more than any diagram.
- Turn the carpet over. The back of a hand-knotted carpet shows the design clearly through the knots; a machine-made back looks noticeably more uniform and often shows a backing.
- Compare three pieces side by side — a hand-knotted carpet, a kilim and a machine-made example. The differences become obvious in comparison and almost invisible in isolation.
- Look at both ends of the carpet under the same light. Pile direction changes how colour reads, and a carpet can look lighter from one end than the other.
One rule applies in any showroom, ours included: never pull out yarn, tug a loose thread or cut a fringe to "test" a carpet. These are structural elements. A loose thread on the side edge is a repair question, not something to pull.
Edges, fringe and condition
The fringe and the side edge are structural, not decorative. Worn edges, broken fringe, loose knots and previous repairs all need experienced inspection rather than a quick verdict.
You may also notice leather fitted along the back of the side edge on some carpets. In our practice this reinforcement is normally fitted to kork-and-silk carpets from centres such as Tabriz, Isfahan and Nain, to help prevent the sides from curling. Its presence is not evidence of a past defect — it is often added as a preventive measure, and the service can be arranged for a carpet that needs it. See our guide to carpet repair and restoration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between warp and weft in a carpet?
The warp runs lengthwise and is held under tension on the loom; it forms the carpet's backbone and usually becomes the fringe at each end. The weft runs across the warp and locks the knotted rows in place.
Is a carpet with a cotton foundation lower quality?
No. Cotton is commonly and appropriately used in carpet foundations. A wool pile on a cotton foundation is still a wool-pile carpet, and cotton gives the structure useful stability.
How can I tell a hand-knotted carpet from a machine-made one?
Look at the back and the fringe. On a hand-knotted carpet the design is visible through the knots on the reverse and the fringe is a continuation of the warp. A machine-made carpet shows a more mechanically regular reverse, and its fringe is often attached rather than structural. If you are unsure, ask to see the two side by side.
Does a kilim end mean my carpet is a kilim?
No. A kilim end is a flat-woven finishing section on a pile carpet. The carpet is still a pile carpet.
Is a gabbeh the same as a kilim?
No. A gabbeh is a pile carpet with a simpler, bolder design language. A kilim is a flat weave with no pile.
See the structure for yourself
Reading about warp and weft takes five minutes. Understanding them takes one carpet and one person willing to turn it over for you. Our Dubai showroom keeps hand-knotted carpets, kilims, gabbehs and machine-woven pieces on the floor at the same time, so the comparison takes a few minutes in person.
Visit us in Al Barsha 2, Dubai, or send a photograph of a carpet you already own and we will tell you what we can see in it.
- WhatsApp: +971 56 322 0485
- Showroom: +971 4 250 2123
- Email: info@azimzadeh.ae
Azimzadeh has traded Persian carpets since 1969. Today our Dubai showroom is operated by Azimzadeh Carpet Trading LLC in Al Barsha 2, and we also have a branch in Tehran. This article reflects the terminology our own sales team is trained on. Specifications always describe the individual carpet, so confirm the details of any piece before you commit to it.
Next in this series: what raj really means, and why a higher knot count is not automatically the better carpet. Also useful: Persian carpet designs explained · caring for a Persian carpet.
