Afghanistan Rugs

( Originally Published Early 1900's )

The accompanying color plate explains, in part, the Afghanistan rug. As a rule there are three octagons placed across the width and six or seven lengthwise, depending upon the size of the rug. In many rugs the star design may be noticed within the octagon, and in the field an eight-pointed star. The main border in the older rugs is made up of clearly defined diamonds containing crosses placed between narrower borders that hold a running vine. The outside, or guard border, is easily recognized by the saw-tooth design. The webbing extends some distance beyond the pile and has horizontal lines woven through it with space between in dark blue and brown. At the end is a fringe and in the older and better rugs there is a knotting of the upper part of this fringe. Although the rugs are rather loosely woven and the pile is not closely cut, the knotting is very firm and the sides of the rugs have a selvage that is very strong, the heavy cords having the yarn wound about them several times.