How it is made
Knots are tied by hand around warp threads and packed down row by row. Knot density affects detail and durability, but even a coarse rug lasts decades if the foundation stays sound.
Why dusting matters more than washing
Dry grit sits in the foundation and cuts fibers every time someone walks across the rug. A 9×12 wool rug that looks clean can release several pounds of dry soil, which is why proper cleaning starts before any water.
Dyes and colour
Older vegetable dyes and some modern reds can move when wet. A professional tests dye stability before washing, and a cleaner who declines a rug after testing is protecting it rather than avoiding work.
Fringes and edges
On a hand-knotted rug the fringe is the foundation showing through, so a damaged fringe is structural. Edge binding wears first on the side that meets traffic, and re-wrapping early is far cheaper than reweaving later.
- Binding or serging: $3–$10 per linear foot
- Reweaving: quoted individually
Living with the rug
Rotate it once or twice a year so traffic and sunlight wear evenly, use a pad to reduce abrasion, vacuum without beating the fringe, and deal with spills by blotting rather than rubbing.