Flatweave Kilims Rugs

Kilims are flat tapestry-woven carpets or rugs produced from the Balkans to Iran. Kilims can be purely decorative or can function as floor covering.

 The name 'kilim' or 'kelim' is Turkish, and comes from the Persian gelim to spread roughly'. Various forms of the word are used in the Balkan languages (e.g. Greek κιλίμι). In Kurdish, they are called 'berr'.

Kilims are produced by tightly interweaving the warp and weft strands of the weave to produce a flat surface with no pile. Most kilim weaves are "weft-facing", i.e., the horizontal weft strands are pulled tightly downward so that they hide the vertical warp strands.

When the end of a colour boundary is reached, the weft yarn is wound back from the boundary point. Thus, if the boundary of a field is a straight vertical line, a vertical slit forms between the two different colour areas where they meet. For this reason, most kilims can be classed as "slit woven" textiles. The slits are beloved by collectors, as they produce very sharp-etched designs, emphasizing the geometry of the weave. Weaving strategies for avoiding slit formation, such as interlocking, produce a more blurred design image.

The weft strands, which carry the visible design and colour, are almost always wool, whereas the hidden warp strands can be either wool or cotton. The warp strands are visible only at the ends, where they emerge as the fringe. This fringe is usually tied in bunches, to ensure against loosening or unravelling of the weave.

Because kilims are cheaper than pile rugs, beginning carpet collectors often start with them. Despite what many perceive as their secondary status to pile carpets, kilims have become increasingly collectible in themselves over recent years, with quality pieces now commanding high prices.