Modern Kilims

Modern Kilims are produced by tightly interweaving the warp and weft strands of the weave to produce a flat surface with no pile. Modern Kilim weaves are tapestry weaves, technically weft-faced plain weaves, that is, the horizontal weft strands are pulled tightly downward so that they hide the vertical warp strands.
When the end of a color boundary is reached, the weft yarn is wound back from the boundary point. Thus, if the boundary of a field is a straight vertical line, a vertical slit forms between the two different color areas where they meet. For this reason, most kilims can be classed as “slit woven” textiles. The slits are beloved by collectors, as they produce very sharp-etched designs, emphasizing the geometry of the weave Weaving strategies for avoiding slit formation, such as interlocking, produce a more blurred design image.