rug weaving قالی بافی
why start weaving?
i decided to learn the traditional art form of rug weaving because of my paternal grandmother, Akabereh Teimornejad, pictured on the left. she was a lioness - a woman with endless talents.
when i was a few years old, she wove this small Kelardashti style rug for me during her visit to the US. she used a makeshift loom my father built and wove all the patterns from memory.
not long after, my parents’ home was broken into and this rug was stolen, along with many precious belongings. as an adult, i was infuriated by the knowing that her heartfelt efforts were pawned away for petty cash.
when living in my grandmother’s ancestral homeland, i decided to reweave a rug in the same Kelardashti style using thick, traditional wool with a similar, yet updated pattern.
how did i learn to weave?
i learned to weave in 2019 while living in the northern Iranian town Kelardasht in the village Kaleno. i was taught by the brilliant Afsaneh Khanoom at the studio run by my husband’s aunt Ame Fatemeh.
it was an incredible environment filled with the warmth of women’s voices, the squeaks of the spinning wheel, the banging of brushes, the chuckles of kids playing, and the aroma of tea.
listen to an audio clip of the studio
what am i working on now?
in 2020, i started a far more elaborate circular rug using silk and acrylic thread. it has a 1 meter diameter with about 700 rows. i am working from a computerized pattern since the design is incredibly intricate.
each row takes a little over 2 hours to tie all the knots and secure the thick and think weft thread.
this project teaches me the art of patience.
