Kilim Zanafi carpets are single-knot carpets highlighted in black and white. In Kilims, it is the fineness of the drawing and the quality of the tightening that matters.
The kilim, also spelled klim or kelim, is a woven rug instead of being knotted. The carpet patterns are geometric, the tones are ethnic and the texture is fine. Their rendering is more flexible and lighter. Originally, the kilim served as a cover and to protect the ground of mosques and yurts. Nowadays, it can be used on the floor, on a sofa, on the headboard or against a wall. The kilim Zanafi is composed of parallel stripes of black and white/beige colors.
Traditionally made by the nomads of the south of the country, it was used formerly to cover the litters of the camels of the desert or to serve as a separation in the tents. It is now used as well for the covering of the ground as for wall decoration. Traditional kilims use patterns based on two simple geometric shapes: the triangle and the diamond.
When making a kilim, the patterns are created by the weft threads themselves and patterns are created on the carpet by turning the thread. Turning the wire creates a small cavity that should not be too big. It’s with this technique that the traditional staircase patterns characteristic of kelims are created and the carpet looks the same on both sides. The ends of the threads are usually hidden, but there are other methods of manufacture where the threads hang freely on the back of the carpet. The weft is visible and constitutes velvet. The kilims are therefore only made of warp and weft yarn. Two threads form the weft: the first is used for the decoration of the carpet and the second is intended to consolidate the carpet. The decorative thread is wrapped in the chain stitch around two warp threads. The design of the kilim, by its method of manufacture, is more rudimentary than on knotted carpets.
Although manufactured without hair, the kilim is very resistant because of the double weft which gives a tight weave. However, it has little grip on the ground. The patterns are mostly rectangular or with flowers and sharp details, which comes from the weaving technique employed. Kilims are now very popular because they fit easily into elegant and minimalist environments. They also find their place in many homes thanks to their many possibilities of use. Many people like to hang their kilims on the wall in place of a board or use them as bedspreads, which gives an oriental/pop feel to the house. A great advantage with a kilim is that most of them are reversible and can be turned over when they are dirty, which prolongs their life.
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