Soumaks (or Soumacs) are pile-less rugs. In other words, Soumaks are flat woven and have no nap. Soumaks are woven on warp threads, just like any other hand-woven oriental rug. However, the surface is smooth.

A supplemental, decorative stitch used for surface decoration and texture on Coptic tapestries. The soumak thread is wrapped around each warp, or group of warp threads, usually on a diagonal. Used to define lines, or create outlines.

A flat-weave rug made from a technique that produces a herringbone effect. This special weaving technique is also known as weft wrapping. Looks similar to embroidery work.

A flat weave, pileless rug woven from a technique that produces a herringbone effect. This special weaving technique is also known as weft wrapping. Soumaks generally have a mixed cotton and wool foundation with geometric and brightly colored designs. This weaving method is also used to produce storage bags, cradles, and other every-day necessities.

A flat-piled rug using a special weaving technique known as weft wrapping.

A group of flat-woven rugs where no knots are used in the weave.

A heavy flat woven rug made with a weft wrapping technique. This technique is also used in commercial rugs that are designed to look like antiques. Most traditional Soumak are made in the Caucasus region.

This refers both to the carpets made in the soumac technique and the technique itself. Primarily practiced in the eastern Caucasus, this technique produces a flat-woven carpet using weft wrapping in which wefts are pulled over then wrapped under a series of warps.

Thought to be a corruption of Shemaka, town in south-east Caucasus. Technique of progressive weft wrapping.

A flatwoven rug using supplementary wefts in a weft-wrapping technique, usually producing a herringbone effect.