A flatweave rug has no pile. There is no layer of knotted or tufted yarn standing up from a backing: the rug is woven as a single flat fabric, so the pattern shows on both faces and the rug is thin enough to turn over. This guide explains how flatweaves are made, the main techniques, and how to tell one from a pile rug.
The short answer
A flatweave is made by interlacing weft threads with warp threads on a loom, with no knots and no cut pile. Kilims are the best-known kind. Most of the pieces we list are about 3 to 5 mm thick, they take shoes and daily walking, and they need a non-slip pad. Browse all flatweave rugs.
How a flatweave is made
Every woven rug has two sets of threads. The warp runs the length of the rug and is held under tension on the loom. The weft passes across it, over and under, from side to side. In a pile rug, short lengths of yarn are also tied or looped in to form a surface. In a flatweave there is nothing added: the weft is the surface.
In most handwoven flatweaves the weft is packed down so tightly that it covers the warp. This is called a weft-faced weave, and it means the weft carries the whole pattern. Each coloured area is a block of weft thread worked back and forth in its own space. The warp is hidden in the body of the rug and shows only at the ends, where it becomes the fringe.
The main flatweave techniques
"Flatweave" is an umbrella word, not one technique. The weaving terms come from several languages and regions, so usage is not perfectly fixed, but three constructions cover most of what you will meet (Kilim.com: Weaving techniques).
- Plain weave. Weft passes over one warp thread and under the next, and the threads are evenly spaced so both show. It is the simplest structure and the base for the other two.
- Tapestry weave, including slit weave. The weft is packed to cover the warp, and each colour is woven only in its own area. Where two colour blocks meet, the weft turns back on itself and leaves a small slit. This slit-weave technique is used in most kilims, and it is why a kilim's diagonal lines show tiny steps.
- Soumak. Coloured weft is wrapped round the warp threads, which builds a raised, braided-looking surface. It is slow to work, and it has no slits (Wikipedia: Soumak).
A kilim is therefore one kind of flatweave, and flatweave is the wider group. Read what a kilim rug is for the kilim in detail.
What flatweaves we list
The flatweaves in our range fall into a few families, and each has its own collection:
- Kilim rugs, most of them Maimana kilims handwoven in wool, in rugs and runners.
- Scandinavian rugs, flat-woven kilims in Scandinavian designs.
- Navajo kilim rugs, flat-woven kilims in Navajo-style designs.
- Suzani rugs, which are flat-woven kilims with embroidery worked into them.
- Runner rugs, the long, narrow format for halls and stairs.
If a piece is called Suzani, read what a Suzani kilim is: the name describes the embroidery, and the rug beneath it is a kilim.
How to tell a flatweave from a pile rug
- Turn it over. A flatweave looks the same on the back. A pile rug shows its knots or a plain backing.
- Run your hand across it. A flatweave is smooth and flat. A pile rug has a raised surface you can part with your fingers.
- Look at the ends. In a flatweave the fringe is the warp threads themselves, running straight out of the weave.
- Feel the weight. A flatweave is thin and light and folds easily. A pile rug of the same size is thicker and heavier.
A printed or machine-made rug sold as flatweave-style usually has a plain backing and the design on one side only. Turn it over and the difference shows.
Where a flatweave works
With no pile to flatten, a flatweave takes shoes and daily walking in halls, kitchens and dining rooms, and it lies flat under doors and furniture. For a hall or stairs, read how to measure a kilim runner. Because a flatweave is thin, it can slide on a hard floor, so put a non-slip pad underneath, a little smaller than the rug.
To compare how a flatweave and a pile rug behave in a busy home, read flatweave vs pile rugs. To see how both sit among the other handmade constructions, read hand-knotted vs hand-tufted vs hand-woven rugs.
Looking after a flatweave
Vacuum both faces on suction only, with the beater bar off. Blot spills with a clean cloth and do not rub. Turn the rug now and then so wear and sun spread evenly. The full routine is in how to clean a kilim rug, and are kilim rugs durable covers what wears a flatweave out.
Questions we get asked
What is a flatweave rug?
A flatweave is a rug woven flat on a loom, with no knots and no cut pile. The weft is woven over and under the warp, so the pattern shows on both faces. Kilims, soumak and plain-weave rugs are all flatweaves.
Is a flatweave the same as a kilim?
No. A kilim is one kind of flatweave, made with a tapestry or slit-weave technique. Flatweave is the wider group, which also includes soumak and plain weave. Every kilim is a flatweave, but not every flatweave is a kilim.
Are flatweave rugs reversible?
Yes. Because there is no pile, the pattern shows on both faces and you can use either side up. Turning the rug over every few months also spreads wear and sun evenly across the whole surface.
Are flatweave rugs good for high-traffic areas?
Yes. A tightly woven wool flatweave has no pile to crush, so it takes shoes and daily walking in a hall or kitchen. Use a non-slip pad so it does not slide, and vacuum both faces to keep grit out of the weave.
Do flatweave rugs need a rug pad?
We recommend one. A flatweave is thin, so on a hard floor it can slide and ruck up at the corners. A non-slip pad holds it flat, cushions it and reduces wear on the underside. Choose a pad slightly smaller than the rug.
Sources: Kilim.com: Weaving techniques; Wikipedia: Soumak.
