Anatomy of an Armenian Sumak Carpet
One of the great joys of learning Armenian Soumak carpet weaving has been seeing several different regional techniques firsthand. Each has its own character, but one particular method has become a favorite of mine. I wanted to take a moment to share why I’m so drawn to it and to break down some of the details so you can better understand how it is constructed.
I remember once speaking with one of my teachers, Diana, about this style of Armenian Soumak. I told her I loved it because it feels like a bridge between a rug and a carpet. It uses knots—like a pile rug, though they are formed differently—and it also uses wrapping techniques reminiscent of flatwoven carpets, though those wraps are distinct as well.
The result is a structure that combines the strengths of both approaches: texture, durability, and a fascinating inner architecture.
If you enjoy working with knots, this style may especially appeal to you. And if you are curious about how this type of carpet is built from the inside out, take a look below.
I know the details below may look complicated at first glance. To be honest, this technique is much easier to understand when you can sit down at a small frame loom with an experienced teacher for a few minutes. Still, diagrams like this can be helpful for beginners as a reminder of what should be happening and what the finished structure should look like—assuming the teacher is using this exact style of Soumak.
Now a word on the sequence or flow of the weaving. One way it could break down is like this…
- Row 1: (from Right to Left) Knots
- Weft (from Right to Left)
- Row 2: (from Left to Right) Wraps
- Weft (from Left to Right)
- Repeat above…
Now let’s take a look at an actual Armenian Soumak carpet up close. At first glance, each row may appear to be the same. It can be difficult to tell that one row is made up of knots on each warp, while the next row is formed with wraps on each warp—but that is exactly what is happening.
Question: Why do you not see the weft?
Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.