Glossary
Carpet & Rug Terminology
The words used to describe how carpets and rugs are made — explained simply.
- Warp
- The lengthwise foundation threads held under tension on the loom.
- Weft
- The threads woven across the warp to bind the structure.
- Pile
- The raised surface of the rug; can be cut, loop, high or low.
- Knot density (KPSI)
- Knots per square inch in a hand-knotted rug — higher density allows finer detail.
- GSM
- Grams per square metre — a measure of a carpet's weight/pile mass.
- Yarn count
- A measure of yarn thickness/fineness used in the rug.
- Backing
- The base layer, especially in tufted rugs, that holds the tufts in place.
- Latex
- A coating applied to the back of tufted rugs to secure the pile before finishing.
- Carving
- Trimming the pile at design edges to add relief and definition.
- Flatweave
- A rug with no pile, woven flat and usually reversible.
- Broadloom
- Carpet produced in wide widths, common for wall-to-wall installation.
- Cut pile
- Pile where the yarn loops are cut for a soft, defined surface.
- Loop pile
- Pile where loops are left uncut for a textured surface.
- Saff
- The prayer-row layout used in mosque carpets.
- Lab-dip
- A small dyed sample approved to confirm a colour before production.