Religion
In reply to the discussion: Religious Symbolism in the Islamic Prayer Rug [View all]MineralMan
(146,317 posts)for an oriental-style rug. As you tie each yarn on the weft, you first have to choose the right color, then perform a nifty maneuver with your fingers to loop the pre-cut length of yarn through the weft to form the knot. Since each row of knots contained over 250 individual knots on the larger rug I started, You soon fall into a rhythm that allows some contemplative thinking during the process. Each row represented 1/10 of an inch of the vertical pattern being woven. Then a thread is woven across the loom above the row of knots, which are then trimmed with scissors to match the pile height before continuing to the next row.
It is an exercise in patience, precision, and habitual, repetitive movements. Satisfaction is earned at the end of each row, I found.