Stages of production of kilim yarn
In the past, the simplest materials were used to weave kilims because they were neither equipment nor special raw materials. They used materials such as wool, cotton, animal hair, silk, etc. to make kilims. Each tribe that weaved kilims had all the raw materials of weaving within the area in which they lived and were self-sufficient.
Our intention in writing this article is to acquaint you, dear readers, with the process of producing traditional kilim yarn. First of all, it is necessary to mention that the positive or negative feature of the kilim depends on factors such as the type and material of the fabric, how it is spun, the choice of color, the texture method and the final finishing. You may be interested to know that historians, by analyzing a series of items such as: various raw materials, weaving methods, dyeing, etc., find out the age and origin of kilims.
The use of fleece has been used in Iranian weaving for a long time. Before we talk about Chinese wool, we will tell you some interesting points:
It is better to make wool from healthy sheep alive.
The product of each sheep wool is from one to three kilograms.
Porcelain wool is usually done after the end of winter cold.
Not all types of wool can be used to make yarn.
Farmers call the practice of Chinese wool chere and this is a common term among them. The first step in preparing wool is to sort it by color. Fleece colors are very diverse in different breeds and include colors such as light brown, garlic brown, black, cream and red.
After picking the wool, it should be combed with the help of a tool called a bow and a fist. When the wool is cleaned of any foreign materials such as dust and excrement, due to the contact of the wool with the bow, the wool swells and a batting operation is performed.
Note: Wool should not be taken in too much fat and moisture as this will cause the wool to become dry and brittle and lose its quality.
At the end of the batting stage, the wool spinning process begins to turn the wool into yarn or cream. Spinning is a very difficult job and is usually done by everyone in the family. In some parts of Iran, such as the great Qashqai tribe, women do this. Spinning wool is done using a device called a spinning spindle. The spinner wraps the battered wool around the wrist of one hand and pulls it open with the fingers of the other hand. The spun wool is wrapped around the spindle rod, and the spinner occasionally untie the thread from the spindle rod and shoots it.
After spinning and turning the wool into yarn or cream, the spinning begins. By taking 2 or 3 strands of yarn from different coils and shining them together. When 2 or 3 strands of yarn are twisted from right to left, it is called left twist, and if it is left from right to right, it is called right twist.
The last stage is dyeing. Some plants and fruits are colored. Below we have listed some examples of coloring plants along with the color that is obtained from them in the form of a list.
Ronas plant = red color
Asparagus = yellow and orange
Sumac plant = light green color
Pomegranate and walnut skin = light dark brown colors and cream and pea colors and even black
The use of natural colors in the kilim makes it long-lasting, polished and shiny.
From the time a farmer starts picking wool until he turns it into yarn, he works hard, but today most of this work is done by industrial machines in the factory. But where is the kilim that is woven by the artist hands of the people of the tribe and the machine kilim that is woven by the industrial machines in the factories.