Weaving the Sun & Stars: An Armenian Sumak Carpet
“Weaving the Sun and Stars is a quiet conversation between tradition and intuition. Handwoven in Armenia using the Sumak technique, this piece draws on ancient symbols of suns and stars while tracing my own journey through wool, wood, and time. Each thread carries devotion, experimentation, and a deep reverence for the hands and histories that shaped it.“
The Hand-Woven Carpet
This carpet is the result of two months of dedicated work on a wooden frame loom. Woven using naturally hand-dyed wool from Woolway, this carpet utilizes the Armenian Sumak technique, which is one of five weaving styles I had the privilege of learning during my studies in Armenia. This project required me to wear several hats throughout the process: designer, weaver, woodcarver, and project manager.
The Inspiration & Design The Sumak technique is a personal favorite because it allows for incredible detail and intricate patterning. This specific design was inspired by a carpet made by one of my teachers, Hasmik Mirzabekyan. I fell in love with her design the moment she shared it in our class and vowed to create my own version. The symbology can get pretty deep, and I could not get agreements on what these motifs are defined as, so I am going to call them “suns” and “stars.”
The Process While Hasmik’s original was woven in the shulal technique, I chose to execute mine in the sumak technique. Getting the colors right took some trial and error; I experimented with several palettes that didn’t quite work visually and even tried this design using shulal technique. Ultimately, I decided to lean into a minimalist combination of red, white, and black (with a touch of gold). I’m thrilled with how the high contrast brings the motifs to life.
The Hand-Carved Border
To complement the textile, I carved a custom top border out of cherry wood. The patterns are inspired by the Armenian woodcarving styles I studied with local masters at the open-air markets in Yerevan.
This part of the project was a steep learning curve. It involved a lot of self-teaching and experimentation to get the motifs just right. While I’m already dreaming of how I’ll change the border shape for my next piece, the process taught me invaluable lessons about the harmony between wood and wool.
