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The ability to achieve certain desirable
curvilinear elements within a carpet design is totally dependent on the fineness of the weave. It's
similar to TV or
digital resolution. TVs in the old days didn't have many dots per inch to
be lit up by the light in the TV tube. The result was that the picture
wasn't very clear. With digital TV, the number of dots per square inch, or
the resolution, is increased. As a result, the picture comes into clearer
focus. 
With carpet design, the concept is similar. If the weave is coarse, the
design won't be too clear so it's better to stick to geometric elements-
squares, stripes, S shapes, etc. But as the number of knots (or
resolution) per inch increases, so, too, does the clarity of the design and the
ability to create curved patterns. Anyone who's ever plotted a design on
graph paper understands this.
Weavers in the past worked their designs from memory. They would
also copy the designs from an already woven rug, knot by knot. When
weaving became more commercialized, weavers were given sampler rugs which
contained all the elements of design needed. Today, weavers work their
designs either from memory, or from hand painted cartoons. In cities, as
pictured above, men work as designers and then it is left to the
weaver to interpret them.
This weaver is working a Nain pattern from
the cartoon located just above her. She ties a few knots and then refers to the design.
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