Ala-kiyiz

What is it

Ala-kiyiz — "pyostryy voylok". Dyed wool is laid out in a pattern directly on a chiy mat, covered with the main layer of wool, doused with boiling water, and rolled. The fibers interlock, and the pattern ends up inside the fabric rather than on top of it. This results in soft, slightly blurred edges of the design — they are not "unfinished", this is how the technology itself works.

Difference from shyrdak

Shyrdak is cut and sewn, Ala-kiyiz is felted. Shyrdak maintains a sharp contour and lasts for decades; Ala-kiyiz is softer, made faster, and costs less. These are different items, not a "luxury and budget version of the same thing": in a home, they were placed in different areas and served different purposes.