The large manufacturers maintain a permanent staff of tal­ented and experienced men to create new designs and to trans­late ideas from other sources. They are indispensable because they understand the nature of a floorcovering and its use.

They know there must be a certain contrast of color because soil and wear soften it very soon. Just what types of design "stay on the floor" and look well at a distance and as a whole must be considered.

Because a floorcovering is viewed from every side and every angle there is usually little "direction" in the pattern, and people hesitate to step on human and animal motifs that are too naturalistic.

The head of George Washington was once realisti­cally woven into a small rug, but few were sold because nobody liked to walk on the Father of his Country!