Named after Rya, a town in southwest Sweden, Scandinavian rugs were made in solid colors, featuring black, gray, white and yellow. As time passed, the crudely woven rugs were improved and geometric shapes and floral designs were flat woven into the rug. Crosses and human figures were some of the first decorative motifs, created with an original knot similar to the Turkish knot; the warp threads are wool, flax, or hemp.