قالین (Qaalin)
The Wakhi people of the Ishkoman, Yasin, and Ghizer valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan province weave a distinctive wool carpet at altitudes above 3,000m — one of the northernmost active carpet traditions in South Asia. Wakhi carpets use a knotted pile on a wool warp — the pile knot is the Persian Senneh (asymmetric) knot, distinguishing it from Central Asian Turkish (symmetric) knot traditions that also exist in northern Pakistan. The defining technical knowledge is the pile knot tension calibration: each knot must be tied at exactly the same tension — assessed not by counting but by the sound of the knife cutting the knot ends: 'correct tension: the knife sings when it cuts.' A singing knife cut means the knot yarn is under correct tension — dull cut means slack knot.
Risk level: Critically Endangered · Pakistan national ICH list
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