Weaving Axminster carpet
The key differentiator of Axminster carpet is the integrated relationship of the pile woven into the backing as the carpet is manufactured. This creates a three-dimensional product substantially more durable than tufted carpet, which is a product characterized as two-dimensional.
In contemporary Axminster weaving, shots of weft—the backing elements travelling across the width of the loom—are perpendicularly woven to the shots of warp travelling the length of the loom. While the weft and warp intertwine, metal grippers select yarn and weave it into place. In traditional Jacquard loom weaving, the punch-cards guide the yarns to the appropriate heights in order for the gripper to pluck the correct colour in the design. The grippers, described as metal ‘bird beaks,’ swing upward from the bed of the loom to select the yarn. The weft shoots across the warp while the gripper—with freshly sliced yarn in tow—begins its descent into the bed of the loom. The intersection of warp and weft seizes the tuft and locks it into place. As many as 12 warp and wefts can hold a single tuft in position. A beater bar then secures the tuft and weft tightly against each other to create the carpet.
The three-dimensional weaving of Axminster carpet allows for the utmost durability. However, without the correct yarn type, the carpet would not hold up in the high-traffic areas of Canadian hospitality interiors.
Why wool—a curated selection
Not all wools are created equal—geography, climate, sheep breed, and even location on the animal from where the material is sheared dictate the properties of the wool fibre. Fibres in British wool are more resilient due to the daily conditions the sheep encounter, when compared to New Zealand sheep.
Utilizing wool has many advantages in the commercial flooring sector. For example, its:
- level of hue saturation or clarity cannot be matched by synthetics (wool’s physical structure lends itself to a more controlled lustre and
richer colour); - naturally existing crimp provides a built-in resilience to foot traffic, as the fibre literally bounces back, helping retain the structural integrity
of the pile; - unique scaled surface hides soiling, resulting
in less-intensive cleaning requirements than synthetic fibres; - naturally flame-resistant attributes means wool carpets can exceed flammability performance without the need for spray-on treatments;
- acoustic properties allow the material to absorb noise and reduce the impact of noise pollution in hospitality interiors;
- physical properties and design capabilities offer warmer interiors than hard-surfaced products;
- maintenance needs are lower because the fibres naturally expand under heat, releasing soil and retracting back to original form (nylon alone cannot naturally recover, leading 100 per cent nylon products to flatten easier than wool-rich products); and
- ability to act as an atmospheric regulator by absorbing up to 30 per cent of its own weight in moisture (the wool fibres release absorbed moisture when the external environment is drier).
