| Carpet weaving is one of the mainstays of Iran's | | | | Kork wool, Manchester wool and Camel Hair wool. Silk |
| economy. It is most famous for the hand woven | | | | carpets are also produced, but because of their |
| carpets but these days even machine made ones are | | | | lustrous look and high expense they are mostly |
| being made in large varieties. This is not only an | | | | reduced to work as wall tapestries, if used as a |
| industry but also an art form in its own right; in 2008 | | | | carpets these do not wear out as much as the other |
| alone Iran's export of the hand woven carpets | | | | varieties. |
| occupied 30% of the world market and amounted to | | | | The designs of the Persian rugs are very intricate |
| $420 million. Approximately 1.2 million are directly or | | | | and colorful. After much study the basic designs |
| indirectly linked to this industry, however in the | | | | which adorn the Persian carpets have been divided |
| present times it's facing a threat from the machine | | | | into the following categories: historic monuments and |
| made varieties, both from Iran and other countries | | | | Islamic buildings, Shah Abbassi patterns, spiral |
| which copy the same designs. | | | | patterns, all-over patterns, derivative patterns, |
| Iran is also the world's largest exporter of the hand | | | | interconnected patterns, paisley patterns, tree |
| made variety of carpets. The handmade carpets | | | | patterns, Turkoman patterns, hunting ground |
| specially ones with the intricate Persian patterns and | | | | patterns, panel patterns, European flower patterns, |
| designs are more expensive than the machine made | | | | vase patterns, intertwined fish patterns, Mehrab |
| ones, they take longer to make and are also artistic | | | | patterns, striped patterns, geometric patterns, tribal |
| masterpieces, you will rarely ever find two carpets | | | | patterns, and composites. Each design is specific to a |
| with same pattern, however the artisans and | | | | particular area and these are like heirloom passed |
| weavers who actually make these are rarely ever | | | | from one generation to another. These days even |
| recognized for their efforts. | | | | computers have been put to use to help out with |
| In 2007 National Iranian Carpet Center declared that | | | | the designing. The process of making a hand woven |
| carpet exports were highest in the country's non-oil | | | | carpet can last from a few weeks to years and |
| exports and nearly 5 million people were involved. | | | | basically depends on the type or carpet and the size. |
| Primarily all the carpets are made from wool, other | | | | Two basic types of knots which are used in these |
| materials include silk and cotton and these are used | | | | carpets are symmetrical Turkish or Ghiordes knot and |
| for the foundation of city and workshop carpets. | | | | asymmetrical Persian or Senneh knot. |
| The type of wool also varies; major ones include | | | | |