Guiding Height in Armenian Soumak Carpet Weaving

One area I manage throughout the weaving process is the carpet’s height and overall evenness. I make small adjustments along the way so one side doesn’t quietly outpace the other. Ideally, the carpet grows evenly, no matter where you measure—from the edge, the middle, or anywhere in between.

Height is one of those things that can drift slowly if you’re not watching. By the time you notice it, the work may already be asking to be corrected.

To stay on track, I rely on a few simple practices.

I. Stepping back

After completing one or two rows, I pause. I slow down. I step back two or three feet and let my eyes take in the whole piece, checking that the top line feels straight and balanced. It’s also a good moment to stand up, stretch a little, and give your body a break.

It’s easy to develop tunnel vision while weaving—to focus on the next row and forget the larger picture. That’s why stepping back matters.

By asking, How is the carpet looking overall?, you create space to notice small shifts before they turn into real problems. More often than not, that pause alone is enough to bring the work back into balance, while there’s still time to do so.

II. Measuring deliberately

I use a simple ruler (or tape measure) and measure up from the base of the carpet at several points. There’s something grounding about returning to a physical measurement; it brings clarity when the eyes grow tired. I also place the ruler along the top edge. Is it straight? Are there gaps beneath it?

III. Marking the loom (or warp)

One of my teachers suggested marking height guides on the warp or the sides of the loom frame, using pencil or paint, so progress can be monitored as the carpet grows.

A note of caution: if you mark directly on the warp, be very careful—those marks should never show through the wool. (Try pencil which can be erased.)

These small checks help me stay present with the work, rather than rushing ahead.

When something is off

If I measure from the bottom to the top and find I’m off by more than two millimeters, I pause and ask why. Often it comes down to subtle differences: thread thickness, tension, or how firmly the rows are compressed after each pass.

The carpet is always giving feedback. You just have to listen, look—and sometimes even feel with your fingers.

So how do I make adjustments?

One technique I love in Armenian Soumak weaving combines knots—similar to those used in Armenian rug weaving, though technically different—with wrapping methods more commonly found in flatwoven carpets. When it comes to adjusting height, the wraps are key. During the wrapping rows (not the knot rows), a weaver can add extra wraps as needed. This small change offers a surprising amount of control, allowing the carpet’s height to be guided gently, little by little.

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Weaving teaches you to notice small changes as they happen, to respond rather than react, and to make corrections before imbalance takes hold. The carpet grows the same way anything worthwhile does: row by row, through patience, attention, and care. When you slow down enough to listen, the work shows you exactly what it needs.

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