How much exactly do we know about carpets? Have you ever thought how a carpet is made or what do you need to know to choose the right one for your space? For sure, carpeting is not the most exciting theme when you go let’s say clubbing, but actually, there are so many interesting things that could be said.
In Living with Carpets we will talk about patterns, color combinations, textures and what makes a carpet such an important part of the interior. Some people put carpets in their homes just to be more comfortable, while others see it as one element of the artistic creations they collect.
A way to learn a lot about a carpet is just by running your fingers over it. You’ll find out whether the pile — the exposed top part of carpet we usually refer to as “carpet” — is composed of individual strands (cut pile) or closed loops (tufted). You’ll also be able to determine the density or face weight, of the pile. You may also find that what you thought was a monochromatic carpet is actually the result of an optical illusion where several different dyes combine to create what looks like one color.
However, let’s take a look at some more specific information – carpeting may be manufactured by several construction techniques:
Weaving: done on a loom
Tufting:
Here’s how it works: A needle pushes the carpet fibers through the underside of a piece of fabric called the carpet backing. A hook called a looper holds the fibers in place as the needle goes back down into the backing, forming the loop. It sounds a bit tedious, and it must have been before the advent of automated tufting machines. Today, these machines measure about 12 feet (3.65 meters) wide, with between 800 to 1,200 needles working to create carpet quickly and steadily [source: HowStuffWorks].
We’ve been decorating our homes with carpet since nomadic Middle Eastern tribes laid it down in their huts more than 2,500 years ago. And it’s okay if you don’t know much about how carpet is made, even if you’re standing or sitting on some right now. Carpeting is easy to take for granted. Living with Carpets will introduce you slowly to the amazing world of carpets.