Carpets and Iran

Making carpet was a family business in Tabriz. Tabrizeans sheared sheep and made wool. They learned to make use of the natural resources at hand to dye wool, like different type of plants. Family members sat beside each other to weave the carpet under the direction of a head carpet maker. People made carpets first for the household and second for the market.
Over the years carpets have served many purposes. Obviously, one of the most common uses of carpet is for covering floors, because carpets are thick, soft and durable. A small piece of the carpet with a picture of nature or a portrait has been used as a sign (decoration?) on the wall. At one point in history, carpets were a luxury item. They are also used as curtains in the winter and as packsaddles.
The size of carpets vary. A small one is less than a meter wide, while a large one can be over six meters wide. The number of people assisting to weave carpets also varies. A small carpet can have just one carpet maker and take a few days, while a large one may require five or more and take more than six months to finish.
The invention of machines for making carpets introduced an entirely new and quick way to produce carpet. Unlike the handmade carpet which consists of many knots, machine-made carpets are threads which are glued in to a plastic surface. This is certainly a clear indication that handmade carpets are big-ticket items.

Very interesting and well-writen. Dyes are used for absorbant materials like wool and fabrics, paint for solid surfaces. Work on when to use plurals :)