Carding
Like all of the steps used in creating the rugs. Carding
is one process performed entirely by hand. One handful
of wool is placed between two metal tools brushed and
gently combed until the fibers are roughly aligned. It
is labor intensive process that has been traditionally
used to prepare for spinning.
Spinning
The spinning is done with the practiced hand on the
wooden wheel It is the balance between the wheel and the
hand that is too delicate to yield a mechanically
uniform product; hence, it provides rich organic texture
of the resulting yarn more perfect for making Tibetan
carpets.
Dyeing
The Tibetan traditional process for dyeing begins in
huge copper vessels, the wool is dyed in small lots by
hand. The pigments for vegetable dyes are provided
mostly from Tibet and metal complex dyes from Swiss.The metal complex dyes enable more color consistency as
well as they are light fast and never bleed. Moreover it
has provided a large scale of spectrum color.
The yarn has to be dried in the sunlight after dyeing.
Weaving
Carpet weaving is performed by hand, knot by knot in a
Tibetan Traditional method known as Senna Loop or Double
Knotting system, each knot results in a single point
of color in the pile of the finished carpet. In this
technique, each knot is made around two warp cotton
threads, then the wool is looped around a metal rod, placed
vertically across the loom, when a given row of knot is
completed, they are beaten and cut, the rod freed and
pile exposed, weaver at the loom knot row after row
creating a dense luxurious fiber. Once the weaving is finished, carpet is cut down from
the loom
Trimming
Initially, large scissor so called Khap- Shu (in
Tibetan) is use to cut down the pile to make the surface
even. Later, long pointed small scissors are use for
sculpting between different colors enhancing the clarity
and vitality of the design in the carpet.
Washing
Washing is a process where the carpet is washed in an
advanced process that gently clears, soften and ages
each rug, enhancing its glaze and high lightning its
color. A resin finished is also applied, enhancing the
wool natural resistance to stain and dirt.
Stretching
The carpet has to be stretched to make the edge
straight, square and to bring the original loom stage
size, if it is under size and twisted anywhere. Hence It
provides better appearance of the carpet.