What are the zig-zag marks that appear on some vintage rugs?Updated 25 days ago

Zig-zag marks, not uncommon on vintage Turkish rugs, are from the rug’s original construction and reflect tie-offs of the cotton foundation/weft. When present, they indicate that the rug was most likely woven by several people who consistently worked on the rug to completion. The weavers most likely handled the weaving within their own designated section, rather than changing their seated position multiple times as they moved across horizontally to knot the rug. The subsequent knots with zig-zag patterns show where the cotton thread was reconnected between each pass-off between weavers.