Soumak

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A decorative flat-weave technique in which yarn is wrapped over several warp threads to create a raised, textured pattern, especially in Caucasian rugs
2. A method of weaving rugs and textiles by wrapping coloured yarn across warp strands, producing a bold, embossed design
3. The traditional Caucasian craft of wrapping thick wool around multiple warps to form a durable, sculpted surface on woven rugs

Etymology: Soumak is a weaving technique rather than a thing, though the name is often applied to the rugs and bags made with it. Instead of knotting pile onto the foundation as in most carpets, the weaver wraps weft yarns over several warp threads in a sequence, which builds raised, textured patterns on a flat-woven ground. The method is associated with the Caucasus and neighboring regions, and it is much faster than knotting. The name's origin is uncertain. It is generally thought to come from a Turkic source, and some scholars link it to the town of Shemakha (Şamaxı) in present-day Azerbaijan, a centre of rug production. That connection remains unproven, so the name's exact path into English is best treated as an open question.