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Use this glossary of carpet and rug terms to aid you in your online shopping, compliments of www.sterlingcarpetshops.com
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y
Acrylic
Synthetic fiber used 100% or blended for woven, tufted or knitted carpets
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Aniline Dye
A basic direct dye made from coaltar derivatives, first used in carpets around 1860 and prevalent in the Middle East by 1880. Pink, violet, blue, and green were among the first colors in widespread use. The dyes are fugitive and fade to unattractive shades. They were banned by the Persian Government from 1903, although they continued to be used in other countries.
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Anti-static
(Protection) Process or products used to prevent the accumulation of charges of static electricity (induced by friction from shoe soles) on carpets.
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Antimicrobial
A chemical treatment added to carpet to reduce the growth of common bacteria, fungi, yeast, mold and mildew.
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Antistatic
The ability of a carpet system to dissipate an electrostatic charge before it reaches the threshold of human sensitivity.
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ANTRON ©.
A Du Pont brand name for polyamide 6.6 continuous filament yarn and fiber.
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ANTRON STAINMASTER ©
Treated Antron fiber to resist staining.
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Appearance retention
The ability of the carpet pile to retain its appearance and texture uniformity in use.
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Arabesques
Repetitive interlaced and intricate pattern derived from Arab designs based on plant and stem motifs.
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Asymmetrical Knot
Also known as the Persian knot or Senneh knot. The yarn only encircles one warp of the pair and is described as being open to the left or to the right.
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Attached Cushion
A cushioning material, such as foam, rubber, urethane, PVC, etc. adhered to the back side of a carpet to provide additional dimensional stability, thickness and padding.
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Auto clave
An apparatus using superheated steam under pressure to induce set (or twist) into yarns.
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Average Pile Yarn Weight
Mass per unit area of the pile yarn including buried portions of the pile yarn. In the U.S., it is usually expressed as ounces per square yard.
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Axminster gripper
A carpet in which tufts of yarn are inserted at the point of weaving by means of grippers. The colors are selected by jaquard operated carriers that present the appropriate ends of yarn to the grippers before the tufts are severed from the yarn.
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Axminster spool
A carpet in which the yarns for each weft-wise row are wound on a separate spool according to the design. The tufts are severed from the yarns presented at the point of weaving, after insertion in the backing structure.
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Back coating
See Latexing
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Backing
Term designating the underside of the carpet which forms the base for the carpet pile and may be a combination of yarns, fiber and latex.
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Beam
Large horizontal cylinders on which warp backing yarns and, in some instances pile yarns are wound.
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Beat up
The number of rows measured in direction of manufacture e.g. rows per inch or rows per decimeter. See also PICKS
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Berber
A term originally used to describe carpets hand woven by North African tribes with naturally pigmented wools from local sheep. The term is now commonly used to describe carpets made from natural colored wools having a home spun appearance.
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Berber
Loop-pile carpet tufted with thick yarn, such as wool, nylon or olefin. Often having random specks of color in contrast to a base hue, this floor covering has a full, comfortable feel, while maintaining an informal, casual look. Currently, this term has expanded to describe many level or multi-level loop carpet styles.
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Binding
A band or strip sewn over a carpet edge to protect, strengthen or decorate the edge.
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Bleeding
A term describing loss of colors when wet due to incorrect dying or from the use of poor quality dyestuffs. Staining of lighter shade fabrics will occur when in contact with colors which bleed.
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Blend
A combination of two or more types of fiber spun into yarn. Also a fabric containing a mixture of two or more fibers or yarns
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Bobbin
A spool on which pile yarn or backing yarn is wound
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Bonnet cleaner
A method used to clean carpets where a damp spinning mop head is moved over the floor absorbing soil. Not recommended for Brintons carpets due to flattening and untwisting effect
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Bow
Curvature of the weft in a fabric. The fabric (or carpet) is said to be warp or weft bowed depending on which set of backing yarns is curved.
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Broadloom
A term to describe a wide width of seamless carpeting. Most broadloom carpets are either 3.66m (12ft), 4 meter (13ft 1.5ins) or 5 meter (16ft. 3ins).
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Broadloom
A term used to denote carpet produced in widths wider than 6 feet. Broadloom is usually 12 feet wide, but may also be 13'6" and 15 feet wide.
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Brussels weave
A loop pile carpet woven on a wilton loom over unbladed wires.
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Bulked continuous filament (BCF)
Continuous strands of synthetic fiber formed into yarn bundles of a given number of filaments and texturized to increase bulk and cover. Texturizing changes the straight filaments into kinked or curled configurations.
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Bulked continuous filament yarn
A continuous synthetic yarn composed of a bundle of textured filaments. The number and the count of the filaments can be varied to give varying properties to the yarn.
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C.A.D.
Computer Aided Designs are generated on a computer and colored as required. The designs can be scaled for any loom type and the size adjusted for any repeat.
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Cabled yarn
Two or more folded yarns wrapped together in one or more operations
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Card
See JACQUARD
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Cartouche
Oval, occasionally rectangular, decorative shape enclosing a design motif.
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Chain warp
Backing yarns which run warp wise ( in the direction of manufacture) in the carpet thereby securing the position of the weft yarns.
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Color banking
Working from an agreed common bank of colors to maximize production efficiency
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Color catching
Planning several designs to work from a common planted creel (see creel).
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Color fastness
Measurement of the durability of colors, e.g. fastness to light, to shampooing, to rubbing and wet fastness.
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Construction
The manufacturing method (i.e. tufted, woven) and the final arrangement of fiber and backing materials as stated in its specification.
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Continuous filament yarn
A yarn composed of one or more filaments that run the whole length of the yarn.
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Count
Numbering system for expressing the specific length or length per unit mass of yarn.
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Cradle
The part of a loom that holds the jacquard cards (see jacquard).
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Creel
A frame device which holds the cones or cheeses of yarn which are fed to the point of beaming or weaving.
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Crimping
Operation which consists of crimping the filaments of a yarn to increase bulk.
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Crossover
A manufacturing technique which enables cut or loop pile incorporating patterns and designs like those of woven carpets to be obtained directly on a tufting machine fitted with moving needle bars.
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Cushion
Any kind of material placed under carpet to provide softness and adequate support when it is walked upon. Carpet cushion provides a softer feel underfoot and provides added acoustical and insulation benefits and longer wear life for the carpet. In some cases, the carpet cushion is attached to the carpet when it is manufactured. Also referred to as "padding" or "underlay," although "cushion" is the preferred term. Cushion under most residential carpet should be a thickness no greater than 7/16".
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Cut/loop
Carpet made up of areas of loop pile and areas of cut pile. These areas can be at different or the same height.
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Cut and Loop Pile
A carpet fabric in which the face is composed of a combination of cut ends of pile yarns and loops.
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Cut Pile
A carpet fabric in which the face is composed of cut ends of pile yarn.
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Cut pile velour
Carpet made from tufts cut to the same height, then sheared to give a smooth, flat carpet surface.
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Delamination
Separation of the secondary backing or attached cushion from the primary backing of the carpet.
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Delustering
Process which consists of decreasing or eliminating synthetic fiber brightness/sparkle by adding an inorganic product to the polymer during production.
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Density
Refers to the amount of pile yarn in the carpet and the closeness of the tufts. In general, the denser the pile, the better the performance.
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Depressed Warp
Technique of weaving when alternate warps or groups of warps lie on different levels, increasing the thickness and giving the back a ribbed texture.
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Dimensional Stability
The ability of the carpet to retain its original size and shape, e.g. a secondary backing adds dimensional stability to carpet.
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Dimensional stability
The resistance of a carpet to dimensional changes induced by temperature and humidity changes, mechanical actions such as walking forces and wet treatments.
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Direct Glue-Down
An installation method whereby the carpet is adhered to the floor.
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Double Glue-Down
An installation method whereby the carpet cushion is first adhered to the floor with an adhesive, and the carpet is then glued to the cushion.
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Dying - differential
This technique enables a carpet to be dyed in several colors in the same bath by making use of the different dyeing affinities of the yarns.
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Dying-piece
The dyeing of carpet after tufting but before back coating.
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Dying-solution
A process in which the powder or chips of polymer are dyed prior to melting for extrusion. Also called MELT DYEING.
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Dying-space
Production of multi colored yarns by application of colorants at intervals along yarns by printing or blanking off areas before dyeing.
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Dying-stock
The dyeing of staple fibers at the fiber stage prior to spinning.
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End out
Missing end from a carpet pattern.
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Face to face wilton
Carpets manufactured as a sandwich in which the pile is woven between two sets of backing materials (substrates) at the same time. The sandwich is then cut to produce two carpets (top and bottom).
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Fading
Loss of color caused by the action of light or by contaminants in the atmosphere.
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Felting
The process of matting together various types of hair or fibers to form a continuous fabric or felt.
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Field
The main part of a carpet contained within the borders.
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Filament
A single continuous strand of natural or synthetic fiber.
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First fade
Loss of color (usually loss of natural yellow) from wool yarns.
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Flame resistance (classification)
Carpet classification comparing flame resistance properties. British standards are BS 4790 and BS 6307. USA standard is ASTM E 648. German -DIN 4102 Nordic - NT 007, French- NFP 92-501 & 506.
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Flocking
Electrostatic process used to make flocked carpets by sticking millions of very short polyamide fibers vertically to an adhesive backing.
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Flock
Mass of short cut natural or synthetic textile fibers.
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Fluffing
Appearance on carpet surface of loose fiber fragments left during manufacture; not a defect, but a characteristic that disappears after carpet use and vacuuming. Sometimes called "fuzzing" or "shedding."
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Foam
Layer of aerated latex or other polymers applied to the primary backing of the carpet, which can then act as an underlay.
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Frames
Trays or creels from which pile yarns are fed into the point of weaving in Axminster or Wilton looms.
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Frieze pile
Pile produced using a highly twisted yarn which, with a sufficiently high pile height, will give a special "curly" effect to the pile.
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Frieze
Pronounced "free-zay," this tightly twisted yarn gives carpet a rough, nubby appearance.
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Fuzzing
Hairy effect on fabric surface caused by fibers slipping out of the yarn with wear or wet cleaning.
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Gauge
The distance between two needle points expressed in fractions of an inch. Applies to both knitting and tufting.
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Gauge
The space between the needles of a tufting machine, expressed in fractions of an inch. e.g. 1/8th gauge = 8 needles per inch.
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Grinning
A term used to describe a condition where the backing shows between the rows of pile yarns.
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Ground color
The background color in a carpet design.
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Guard Stripe
A narrow stripe between borders, or between border and field.
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Hand
The tactile aesthetic qualities of carpet and textiles, how it feels to the hand.
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Hand tufting
A carpet made by knotting tufts into a substrate by hand (most common types are Persian and Turkish)
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Heather yarn
Carpet yarn made from a mix of more than one fiber color giving a flecked, multicolored effect (Brintons Heather Berber from the Bell Twist collection)
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Heat setting
Process which consists of using high temperature to stabilize the yarn.
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Heat setting
The process that sets the twist by heat or steam, enabling yarns to hold their twist over time. Important in cut pile carpet. Most nylon, olefin and polyester cut pile carpets are heat-set.
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hi/lo pile
Pile made from two or three loop heights which can make up a pattern, or a texture.
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Indoor/Outdoor Carpet
A term synonymous with outdoor carpet.
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Jaspe
Jaspe carpet is traditionally produced using pile yarns which have been dipped to different levels during the hank dye process. This produces varying tones of the same color which results in a flame like effect when woven into carpet.
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Knot Count
The number of knots per square decimeter or inch, which determines the density or gauge of a carpet. as a rough guide the following table may be useful; Very coarse up to 500 per square decimeter (33 per square inch) Coarse 500-1000 per square decimeter (33-66 per square inch) Medium 900-1800 per square decimeter (60-120 per square inch) Fine 1800-2500 per square decimeter (120-166 per square inch) Very fine 2500-4500 per square decimeter (166-300 per square inch) Fine silk carpets have a knot count 15,000 or more per decimeter squared (1,000 per square inch)
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Knuckling
Knuckling occurs when one leg of a tuft curls over during weaving. This knuckled leg then stands 'proud' of the pile surface after carpet has been vacuum cleaned.
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Latex
A back coating used on carpet to give stability, better handling quality and improved tuft anchorage. Brintons use low volatile emitting EVA lattices. LATEXING is the process by which the back coating is applied.
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Level Loop
A carpet construction in which the yarn on the face of the carpet forms a loop with both ends anchored into the carpet back. The pile loops are of substantially the same height and uncut, making a smooth, level surface.
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Level loop pile
Flat surfaced pile composed of loops of equal height.
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Loop Pile
Carpet style having a pile surface consisting of uncut loops. May be woven or tufted. Also called "round wire" in woven carpet terminology.
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Luster
The sheen of a fiber or yarn. Synthetic yarns and fibers are produced with different lusters: bright, semi-bright, semi-dull and dull. Similarly some wool is more lustrous than others.
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Man-made fibers
Chemically produced artificial and synthetic fibers.
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Micro seams
A type of heat bond tape used for joining carpet. See also Silvaseam
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Miter Joint
A junction of two pieces of carpet (or other material) at an angle. Most miter joints involve pieces at right angles to one another with their ends cut at 45 degrees to form the joint.
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Moisture content
The weight of water contained in a material which is usually expressed as a percentage. See also REGAIN
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Monofilament
Yarn consisting of a single filament.
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Monomer
A single molecule with one component part. The term monomer means that the molecule can be polymerized.
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Mottled
This effect is achieved using yarn ends of different colors.
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Multifilament
Yarns made with many fine continuous filaments or strands.
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Needle punch carpet
Layers of loose fibers are felted together with downward pointing barbed needles to form a flat textured or embossed surface which is then bonded to a backing.
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Needling
Process used in the manufacture of needled carpets and floor coverings. Superimposed webs of fibers are stitched with barbed needles in a rapid backwards and forwards movement so as to interlink the fibers together.
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Non-woven carpet
A carpet industry term to describe carpets which have not been produced using a traditional weaving technique.
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Nylon
See polyamide
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Out of square
When the warp and weft yarns in a textile (carpet) are not exactly at right angles to one another
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Over tufting
Manufacturing process which consists of tufting over a previously tufted cloth with yarns of different colors or dye affinities to create decorative effects.
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Picks
The weft threads are inserted across the loom and through the warp threads. These wefts lock in the yarn which forms the surface tufts or loops. The number of picks per inch indicates the closeness of the weave and hence quality of the carpet.
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Pile Crush
Loss of pile thickness by compression and blending of tufts caused by traffic and heavy furniture. The tufts collapse into the air space between them. This may be irreversible if the yarn has inadequate resilience and/or the pile has insufficient density for the traffic load. Frequent vacuuming will lift the pile for longer carpet life.
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Pile density
This expresses pile compactness and can be measured in different ways. The most common are:
1. The number of tufts per dm2 or m2.
2. The weight/volume ratio.
3. The pile weight above back/pile height above back expressed as g/cm3
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Pile height above backing
Height of the pile located above the backing, expressed in millimeters. Also known as Effective Pile Height (EPH).
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Pile reversal
Visual effect which is caused by the reflection of light from the side of the tufts on some areas of a cut pile carpet in which the pile orientation has been disturbed or altered. Pile reversal creates shaded zones (dark & light) depending on the position of the observer. See also SHADING
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Pile
The surface of a carpet consisting of the fiber/yarn.
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Pile
The visible surface of carpet consisting of yarn tufts in loop and/or cut configuration. Sometimes called "face" or "nap".
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Pile weight
The pile weight is expressed in two ways:
1. The pile weight above backing is the usable weight of the material located above the backing. Also known as Effective Pile Weight (EPW)
2. Total pile weight also includes the material contained within the backing.
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Pill - pilling
Terms used to describe the accumulation of small balls of fibers on the surface of the carpet. They occur during wear and are held in place by entanglement with the surface fibers still locked into the backing.
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Pilling
A condition of the carpet face (which may occur from heavy traffic) in which fibers from different tufts become entangled with one another, forming hard masses of fibers and tangled tufts. Pills may be cut off with scissors.
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Pitch
The number of ends across a loom usually expressed as ends per inch.
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Plain Weave
A simple weave pattern in which the weft passes alternately over and under each warp. Often used to finish the ends of carpets.
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Plied yarn
Yarn formed by twisting together two or more already twisted singles yarns.
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Plush
Luxuriously smooth-textured carpet surface in which individual tufts are only minimally visible and the overall visual effect is that of a single level of yarn ends. This finish is normally achieved only on cut-pile carpet produced from non-heat-set singles spun yarns by brushing and shearing. Sometimes called "velvet-plush."
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Ply
1. A single-end component in a plied yarn. 2. The number that tells how many single ends have been ply-twisted together to form a plied yarn, e.g. two-ply or three-ply.
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Polyamide - nylon
The most widely used synthetic fiber for tufted carpets. It can be used 100% or blended. There are two main types of polyamide, 6.6 and 6, Brintons blended and 100% nylon pile yarns are 6.6.
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Polyester
Synthetic fiber used 100% or blended usually for tufted carpets and needled floor coverings.
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Polypropylene
Synthetic fibers used 100% or blended for carpets and needled floor coverings. Also frequently used in woven and non-woven carpet backings.
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Power Stretcher
A carpet installation tool used to stretch carpet for installation with a tackless strip. According to industry standards, residential carpet, installed over cushion with a tackless strip, must be power-stretched to prevent wrinkles and ripples.
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Primary backing
A woven or non woven fabric in which the yarn is inserted by the tufting needles.
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Secondary backing
Fabric laminated to the back of the carpet to reinforce and increase dimensional stability.
In woven carpet, the backing is the "construction yarns" which are interwoven with the face yarn.
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Primary backing
Woven or non-woven fabric support into which the tufts making up the pile are implanted in the tufting process.
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Printing
Technique used to print designs and colors on cut pile, loop pile or cut/loop pile carpets after tufting.
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Regain
The weight of moisture present in a textile material expressed as a percentage of the oven dry weight, see also MOISTURE CONTENT
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Regenerated yarn
Yarn which contains a proportion of fiber re-cycled from the yarn manufacturing processes. Brintons regenerated yarn is the 70% wool 30% nylon blend.
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Resilience
Ability of carpet pile or cushion to recover original appearance and thickness after being subjected to compressive forces or crushing under traffic.
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Resilience
The ability of a carpet to resist flattening.
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Round wire
A wire used to produce low loop wilton carpet.
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Saxony
A cut-pile carpet texture with twisted yarns in a relatively dense, erect configuration. The effect is well-defined tuft tips.
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Saxony pile
Cut pile made with relatively highly twisted yarn, giving a carpet with good tuft definition and a grained appearance.
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Seam Sealing
Procedure of coating the trimmed edges of two carpet breadths to be joined with a continuous bead of adhesive in order to prevent fraying and raveling at the seam.
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Seams
In a carpet installation, the line formed by joining the edge of two pieces of carpet by the use of various seaming tapes, hand sewing or other techniques.
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Secondary backing
A fabric which forms an additional stabilizing layer in the substrate of a textile floor covering and one which often forms the final coating or layer.
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Selvedge
A term used to describe the longitudinal edges of a fabric which are formed during weaving.
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Selvedge
The finished side edges of a rug or carpet.
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Serging
A method of finishing edges of area rugs by use of heavy, colored yarn sewn around the edges in a close, overcast stitch.
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Shading - pile reversal
An irreversible localized change in orientation of the pile of a textile floor covering, the boundaries of which often assume a rough, matted texture due to the confluence of pile lying in normal and reverse directions. This phenomenon has different names in different countries e.g. Watermarking or pooling. See also BRINSET.
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Shading - temporary
A reversible localized change in orientation of the pile of a textile floor covering during normal use, it is sometimes described as a normal characteristic of certain cut pile textile floor coverings.
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Shading - tracking
This is a gradual change in appearance of a textile floor covering from edge to middle of a narrow band caused by repeated walking on the same area which may result in a localized change in pile orientation and may be irreversible.
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Shading
A change in the appearance of a carpet due to localized distortions in the orientation of the fibers, tufts or loops. Shading is not a change in color or hue, but a difference in light reflection.
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Shading
A term commonly used to describe the change in appearance of a textile floor covering due to localized alterations in the orientation of the fibers, tufts or loops. This is not a real change in hue, but a difference in light reflection, which can occur as temporary shading, tracking or pile reversal further defined as follows.
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Shag pile
Cut pile with thick, long twisted yarn tufts in an "open" structure.
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Shearing
The finishing process of cutting the pile of a carpet to a uniform length.
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Shedding
The process in which short loose fibers work their way to the top of a cut pile carpet and appear as fluff on the surface. Also known as FLUFFING.
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Shot
See Pick
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Shuttle
A yarn package carrier which is passed through the shed to insert weft during the Wilton weaving process.
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Silva seam
A popular method of heat seaming carpet. See also Micro seam
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Sisal
Originally made of vegetable fibers, the carpet industry has recently captured the look of natural sisal and jute with the gentler, more comfortable synthetic alternatives. Wool and synthetic alternatives are almost worry-free and offer a variety of interesting textures, patterns and prints.
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Skew
A condition in which the warp and weft yarns although straight are not at right angles to one another. The effect is due to the fabrics structure and is not a distortion imposed during subsequent processes after weaving.
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Sliver
Fibers formed into a continuous band without twist.
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Soft velour
Cut pile made with very fine spun yarns giving a soft and silky handle.
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Soil Retardant
A chemical finish applied to fibers or carpet surfaces that inhibits attachment of soil.
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Space dying (on yarn)
Technique for printing colored zones on yarns in a uniform or non-uniform way so as to obtain multicolored yarns.
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Spike resistant carpet
A thicker carpet such as Ax 1078 or 1178 used in areas for Golf Clubs where spiked shoes may be worn.
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Spinneret
Plate perforated with tiny holes through which the molten polymer is forced under pressure to produce fiber filaments.
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Sprouting
Is a term used to describe tufts which inadvertently become raised up from the normal pile surface of the carpet. They can be caused by inadequate tuft anchorage or by poor fitting techniques.
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Sprouting
Protrusion of individual tuft or yarn ends about the pile surface. May be clipped with scissors.
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Spun yarn
Staple fibers (wool or synthetic fibers) assembled using spinning techniques to make yarns.
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Stain release treatment
Anti-soiling treatments e.g. Scotchgard or Guardsman, these are not recommended for Brintons 80/20 wool/nylon carpets.
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Staple fiber (synthetic)
Fibers produced by cutting a large bundle of continuous filament (tow) into pre-determined lengths. Staple fiber is transformed into spun yarn for weaving and tufting, and into fiber webs for needling, or very short fibers for flocking.
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Staple length
Measurement of the length of the individual fibers in spun yarn.
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Staple
Short lengths of fiber that may be converted into spun yarns by textile yarn spinning processes. These spun yarns are also called "staple" yarns. For carpet yarns spun on the common, modified worsted systems, most staple is six to eight inches long. Staple fiber may also be converted directly into non-woven fabrics, such as needle punched carpet.
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Stipple
Yarn which has been plied with two or more ends of different colored single yarns to give a mottled effect.
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Stitches
Stitches per inch. Number of yarn tufts per running inch of a single tuft row in tufted carpet.
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Stitch rate
This expresses the number of tufts or loops per meter or decimeter of carpet length. Used by tufted carpet manufacturers.
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Stretch-In
Installation procedure for installing carpet over separate cushions using a tackless strip; properly performed with a power-stretcher.
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Stuffer
A warp yarn used to give stability to the construction of the carpet and support the pile. It lies between and separates the upper and lower shots of the weft.
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Tackless Strip
Wood or metal strips fastened to the floor near the walls of a room containing either two or three rows of pins angled toward the walls on which the carpet backing is stretched and secured in a stretch-in installation.
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TACTESSE©
Brand name formerly used by ICI to describe some of their polyamide 6.6 fibers.
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Tex system
A system of measuring linear density (mass per unit area of yarn). The unit Tex is the mass in grams of one kilometer of yarn. For example R 600/2 Tex means that 1000 meters of yarn weighs 600 grams.
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Texturisation
Process which gives to synthetic yarns elasticity and good bulking properties. It can also be used to modify yarn configuration.
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Texturising - throwing
Twisting a yarn to ensure the cohesion of the filaments of which it is composed.
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Tip shearing
Pile made by loops of different pile heights which are subsequently sheared. The shearing then cuts the highest pile to the desired degree.
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Tone on tone
A term used to describe colored patterning produced using different shades or degrees of light and dark of the same basic color.
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Total height
Total carpet thickness including the backing.
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Tuft Bind
Force required to pull a tuft from the carpet.
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Tuft density
The number of tufts in a carpet is expressed in dm2 or in m2. This is obtained by multiplying together the number of tufts across the width by the number of tufts down the length per dm or m.
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Tufted
Carpet manufactured by the insertion of tufts of yarn through a carpet-backing fabric, creating a pile surface of cut and/or loop ends.
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Tufting
Method of producing tufted carpets in which a number of needles arranged across the width of the machine stitch yarn into a primary backing cloth, which is fed through the machine. Once the pile has been created, it is held in place by subsequent latex backing.
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Twist
A type of carpet which uses yarn with a higher twist than usual to create a textured surface. Best quality Twists are ones which use two-ply yarns twisted tightly together to produce a carpet with exceptionally hard-wearing properties.
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Underlay
Carpet cushion under rugs.
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Velvet
Plain or patterned cut pile carpet produced using normal (low twist) yarns giving a smooth level surface.
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Warp
The vertical threads of a carpet. The warp is strung on the empty loom and provides the framework for weaving.
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Weaving
Traditional method of carpet manufacture in which the backing and the pile are made at the same time. There are several kinds of woven carpets, but principally Wilton and Axminster (including Jacquard).
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Weft
The Horizontal continuous thread woven into the warp. One or more shoots of weft thread usually separates the rows of knots which are tied to the warp.
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Wilton - brussels
A loop pile carpet woven on a WILTON loom over wires.
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Wilton - face to face
Two carpets are woven simultaneously in the weaving process. Yarn passes up and down between two sets of backing yarns one on the top and one on the bottom. Blades slit the whole structure into two CUT PILE carpets.
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Wilton - jacquard
Carpets woven on a jacquard loom using two to five frames each of a different color. Additional colors can be obtained by substituting (planting) other colors in any frame.
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Wires
A metal strip or rod inserted during the weaving process between raised pile warp threads and the backing of the carpet to form loops above the structure. If required the loops can be cut by a blade on the wire as it is withdrawn from the weave.
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WOOLMARK© and WOOLBLENDMARK©
Brand name for carpets using 100% or 80% Pure New Wool.
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Worsted - spun
This is a term applied to yarn spun from staple fiber processed on worsted spinning machinery. The fibers are more parallel to each other than in woolen spun yarns. This description is not fiber content dependant.
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Woven
Carpet produced on a weaving loom in which the lengthwise yarns and widthwise yarns are interlaced to form the fabric, including the face and the backing.
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Yarn finish
A treatment which consists in coating yarns and fibers lightly with finishing oil to make them run well during further processing.
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Yarn Ply
The number of single yarns twisted together to form a plied yarn.
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Yarn structure
The make-up of a continuous filament or spun yarn, i.e. the count and number of filaments. The make up determines, for example, appearance, handle and wear.
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