The Rug Zone Web Log

All wool rugs have an annoying tendency to shed fibres, especially when they are new. But why? There are two main reasons:

1)  Wool is cut from a sheep then the short lengths of fleece are spun together into a contuious length of yarn. When the yarn is made of shorter spun lengths it will shed more than yarn made from longer ones. Better quality yarns are usually spun using a longer staple fleece – if the quality of fabric is low or the pile is long it will break up easier and therefore the rugs will shed more. Equally if the quality of fabric is of a high standard the rugs will shed less as the fabric is less likely to break up or break away from the base of the rug.

2)  How the rugs are made – there are many ways in which rugs are made, they are can be ‘machine woven’ , ‘machine Tufted’, ‘hand-tufted’, ‘hand-knotted’, ‘hand loomed’ and ‘flat woven’ (Kilim Rugs) . Machine and Hand-tufted rugs are made by a needle tufting the fabric through a base and then gluing on a secondary backing to create a strong bond, this is easier, quicker and therefore a cheaper way to produce rugs. Hand-knotted rugs are more expensive as they take longer to produce, instead of the fabric being glued at the base it is knotted at the base offering more security overall. Machine woven rugs are woven usually on Wilton looms, but are rarely produced in wool.

In order for manufacturers to keep costs down, they must either choose cheaper fabric or a cheaper production method.

Wool rugs made from New Zealand wool is reputed to be the best for its softness and the ability to dye. This wool (after the process of spinning, dying and washing which is required to get the wool ready to be made into rugs) is costly when compared to inexpensive materials such as polypropylene, a common rug fabric in modern Wilton weaving. Manufacturers of wool rugs, therefore, take the cheaper production method option of hand-tufting their rugs in India or China in order to keep overall production costs to a minimum. Whilst the quality of the wool would suggest the rug would shed less, the longer, chunkier pile of hand-tufted rugs will in fact mean the wool rug sheds more.

How to maintain your Wool Rug:

• Ensure you vacuum your wool rug every day for the first 10 days after purchase.

• After the first 10 days vacuum your rug twice a week.

• When vacuuming your wool rug ensure that there is not too much suction on the wool, you may need to turn the suction power down or use a different head attachment to achieve the right level of suction.

• Ensure you wipe or remove shoes before walking on the rug, any friction from bricks/sand/grit on the bottom of your shoes will break the fabric away from the base and cause more shedding. Equally try not to cause friction in any other way, don’t drag furniture back and forth across it, for example.

They say that the many design rudiments on traditional rugs can unfold into a story.  In essence this is true, although the designs on a rug are more likely to symbolise a simple message of good will or celebration rather than an actual story. Because the ancient rug weavers were usually illiterate the messages woven into the rugs were reliant on symbols and motifs. I believe the woven motifs play like the lyrics of a song, sometimes they tell is a story, sometimes they’re just clever plays on words and others are simply words of love and devotion. Even today in the Middle East rugs are still a highly valued commodity and often given as gifts to newlyweds and new born babies and best not to forget they are used daily as prayer mats.

The basic colours of the rugs have meaning and start to tell the story. Red Rugs, probably the most popular colour as it represents enthusiasm and courage while also used to convey sorrow and tragedy.   Orange and Terracotta Rugs symbolises humility while Blue Rugs are the colour of strength and authority, Green Rugs, being a holy colour is therefore used in moderation and in areas where it’s less likely to be trodden upon, it means hope and life.

The symbols and motifs on the rug are a little more complex as they can be broken into as many as nineteen different  groups, these include Islamic Building, flower patterns, hunting patterns, all-over designs, geometrics and probably the most recognised the large central medallions designs, which are believed to inspired from the intricate designs on the domes of mosques.

Translating the design elements

While it is unlikely that you will ever gain enough knowledge to fully understand each element of the rug, here are a few common symbols found in traditional rugs and what they represent.  As with hand writing every weaver has their own unique traits and you will not find symbols on different rugs exactly alike.

Star: Spirituality and Good Luck
Diamond: Signifies woman when two diamonds are attached together this means a man and a woman.
Comb: Cleanliness
Lotus: Rebirth and Immortality.
Dog: Protection, trust and defence
Boteh: Flame and Universe
Cross: Faith
Ram’s Horn: Fertility, heroism and power
Pomegranate: Fertility
Iris: Religious Liberty
Tree of Life: The direct path from Earth to Heaven.

Travelling from their summer pastures in the Highland of Shiraz to the winter pastures in the Persian Gulf the nomadic Qashqai tribes herd their flocks while hand weaving their traditional rugs from vegetable dyed wool. The journey of 300 miles means many overnight stops and constant dismantling and assembly of the rug looms this results in vastly varying tensioning of the looms as they are packed then unpacked along the route. Looms require a constant tension to keep designs and edges straight, but keeping looms tensioned on such a journey is virtually impossible for the nomadic tribesman. The result is a rug that is irregular in shape.

Of course the Qashquai aren’t the only nomads of Iran, Bakthiyaris, Baluchs, Guilaks, Kurds and Lurs also roam the Iranian plateau and also produce their own individual style of Nomadic or Tribal Persian rugs. The traditional rugs are hand knotted using the Senneh knot as typical Persian rugs produced in cities but they virtually all have the common characteristic of irregular edges and patterns that twist and curve out of tune to their unbalanced edges. The rug experts never look at these traits as being substandard because they understand the complex nature of making a rug on the move. Instead they tend to look at the characteristics as a selling point a feature to behold.

Irregular features are common in all handknotted rugs whether they be Persian, Turkish, Afghan, Chinese, Indian or Pakistani, however the irregular features in a nomadic rug are almost certainly more pronounced. As we can recognise people from different cultures form their skin colour or facial features, we can more easily spot the characteristics of a nomadic hand knotted rug, simply because it doesn’t look manufactured. For that reason it is a one off and no matter how ugly the shape or even the design it is absolutely unique and therefore thing of natural beauty.

Decorating a room is not just about colour and style, it is also about the way different objects react with each other’s space. We have all had a go at changing a room just by moving the furniture around and sometimes the effect is amazing. Nothing new has been introduced and nothing has been taken out and yet the whole room can look totally different. An easy way to achieve this ambiance without having to lug the furniture about is to introduce a round rug into the space.

The curved edge of a circular rug will pull the furniture around it together in a completely different way. If the round rug is under a round table, it will make the table far more of a feature, as it will draw the eye to it right down to the floor. If the rug is in the centre of the room, it will make the corners seem further away, making the whole room look bigger. If the rug is in a bright colour it will certainly give the room a lot of added zing, but if the decor is generally bright, it might be best to keep the rug to a more muted shade. Wooden floors would lend themselves to having a round rug as a centre piece; the floorboards against the curved edge make a very unusual statement.

Round rugs come in all sizes, some of them almost big enough to fill the average sitting room floor. It is important not to have too small a rug, because that looks a little skimpy and mean, but one which is too large is a waste of money unless you have very little furniture in the room, because you will lose the shape of the edge and this is where the rug’s impact lies. Round rugs look very nice in bedrooms, and this is one place where they can be smaller. Made in a really long pile, they would be great as a bedside rug and very welcoming to the toes in the morning.

Link: http://www.rugzone.co.uk/

A fairly recent fashion in home furnishing was the ‘club’ look, with polished wooden floors and brown leather furniture, the boxier and more beaten up looking the better. This was a really great look, but rather an expensive one to achieve and so now that it is not quite so cutting edge, not everyone can afford to change it. There is no need to try and alter all of the furnishings in a room which has this very masculine aspect. Some large rugs or throws will soon give it a different feel altogether and without your having to spend very much money at all.

Bright colours mix with each other really well, as long as they are crisp and clean and not muddy mixtures. A rainbow effect with different coloured cushions along the back of a Chesterfield settee would not only cheer up the palette but also make it much more squashy and comfy, changing the club look and feel with one fairly minor purchase. Throws also change the look, but it is very important when covering leather furniture to make sure that the throws are big enough to tuck in, because otherwise you will be constantly sliding about and won’t be comfortable sitting and relaxing. Small spots of colour are often more effective anyway, so throws should be used with caution.

Primary colour accent rugs give a real lift to a room with literally no other changes necessary. They direct the eye in a totally new direction and will make everyone think that the place has had a major makeover. They make a wooden floored room much cosier right from the start and also oddly quieter, as they absorb sound not just from footsteps but from voices, music and television as well. All clear colours go well with brown furniture, but if you go for slightly more muted shades, check first that they won’t make the brown look muddy; blues, greens and peacocks look especially wonderful with brown.

Link: http://www.rugzone.co.uk/

In the current economic climate, with few people splashing the cash, it is still possible to give your room a new fresh look without breaking the bank. One really simple way to give a bit of a lift to your surroundings without having to redo the whole room is to buy a rug and this doesn’t have to be pricey; chosen with care, a budget priced or cheap rug will still make the room look good.

If your room is basically pastels or neutrals, a rug in a bright colour will give an accent note which will really lift the look. If you have a few primary colours already in the decor, such as a painting or a vase or ornament, by matching or blending with that predominant colour, you can tie the room together with that note and give the room an expensive look without spending much at all. Most carpet shops or DIY superstores have a good range of budget priced rugs to choose from and if you are lucky you will find that they have other accessories in the same colour range which can be brought in later to complete the look when you have a bit more cash.

Budget rugs are a good choice if you have to economise on anything in your floor covering plans, as they are easily replaced if they start to look a bit tired and worn. Mostly, though, they will wear pretty well and if you go to the cheaper ranges you will often find you can afford more than one, giving a more luxurious look for your money. A rug in front of each of two sofas, for example, looks better than just one in the middle of the room and if you choose carefully could cost the same. The other great thing about a rug is that by simply moving it to another room, you can get a great new look.

Link: http://www.rugzone.co.uk/rugstore/shop.php/modern-rugs/vegas-budget-modern-rugs/union-jack-style-rug-in-blue-red-and-cream-available-in-two-sizes/p_891.html

The British people have always been very fond of their iconic flag and it has been used in furnishings and clothes for years, with its high spot in the Sixties. Since then, there have been many resurgences of the fashion, most recently when it was part of the Cheryl Cole L’Oreal advertising campaign. With Cheryl Cole less of a style leader these days, the Union Jack trend has died away a little, but with the Olympic Games coming up this summer, it is more than likely that there will be a bit of a comeback for the red, white and blue Union Jack Rugs.

It has to be said that with the best will in the world no one can say that the logo for the London Olympics is a good design. No one really knows what it is supposed to be and wherever it appears its angular lines and amorphous shape doesn’t really say London or Olympics very well. But the colours of the British flag and the iconic crosses of St Andrew and St George are recognizable by people all over the world and anyone wanting to join in the excitement of the Games, not to mention the Queen’s Jubilee, also happening this summer, will probably end up buying at least one item of patriotic soft furnishing fabric, even if it is only a cushion.

It might be a mistake to buy a whole sofa upholstered in a Union Jack – and they are out there – because you will tire of it pretty quickly. But a cushion, a throw or even some bedding in red, white and blue colours without the flag pattern would look pretty good and the white accent makes it nice and fresh-looking. If you want to be subtle, just have white with a thin red and blue piping. Understated is always very stylish and won’t be too out of place when the fashion is back on the back burner.

Link: http://www.rugzone.co.uk/

Although many people may think of a rug as an additional piece of home decoration which does not have a great effect on the room it is in; the truth is that by carefully selecting the right rug you can bring an added dimension to your home. The floor has often been referred to as the fifth wall of a room, and by using an extra-large rug you can create a number of effects.

Obviously an extra-large rug will be best suited to a large room with plenty of floor space on offer. With so many different styles and colours to choose from, you should be able to find a rug which adds extra comfort and warmth to your living room; often one of the largest rooms in the house. Many American households refer to this as an ‘area rug’, designed to be a real part of the overall decor of the room. The extra-large rugs at rugzone.co.uk usually measure 200 x 290cm (6ft 6in x 9ft 6in) and this is normally big enough to have a big impact on the lounge. If you have an exceptionally large living room, perhaps an XXL rug would be more suitable at 240cm x 330cm (8ft x 11ft) - the choice is yours.

Other rooms in the house can also benefit greatly from using an extra-large rug. A master bedroom can be set off nicely by using a style of rug which will set the atmosphere you are looking for; from seductive and inviting to chic and sophisticated. There really is a stunning range of different large rugs to choose from nowadays including very modern and artistic designs which can bring a touch of the contemporary to your home.

Whatever effect you are looking to achieve, there is certainly an extra-large rug to suit your purposes.

It has always puzzled me as to why people tackle stains on carpets and rugs differently to other fabrics. I have seen it a hundred times or more, a drink spills on a rug there’s a panic and it’s off to the kitchen for a tea towel which is used to vigorously rub the stain into the rug. Often the next course of action is to cover up the stain by applying neat concentrated liquid dish-washing detergent creating a pile of soapy white bubbles.

There are many types of liquids that can spill in the household from paint to make-up to hot coffee, without doubt the most common type of liquid we spill on our rugs is a drink. Whist hot drinks are usually more difficult to tackle than cold drinks, some cold drinks have artificial colouring that can prove very difficult to remove and milk in particular if not treated correctly can leave a greasy residue and sour smell days later.

Whatever drink you spill on your rugs the first point of action should be to absorb as much liquid as possible, the most effective way to do this is to use kitchen roll or toilet tissue. The best way to absorb the liquid is to split the kitchen roll or tissue in individual sheets and lay them on the stain to absorb the liquid, discarding the wet sheet and repeating the process again and again until you can absorb no more liquid by simply laying the paper sheet on the stain area. Once you have the liquid from the top surface of the rugs pile you have to ascertain how deep the stain has sunk into the pile.

The next step really depends upon the type stain but in ninety percent of cases the best application would be to apply heavier pressure to the paper sheets to absorb as much liquid from the base of the pile as possible. Once you are satisfied that you have absorbed as much moisture as possible from the affected area you need to determine the level of discolouration and potential stickiness on the rugs surface pile.

What do I mean by stickiness? All drinks including alcohol are made up of water plus other ingredients, the main ingredient usually being a sugar or a sugar derivative, either way when the water evaporates from the liquid you are left with a sticky residue.

On minor stains I find that a plain baby wipe or a face wipe, the ones that don’t contain lanolin or moisturiser can be used to gently wipe any residue from the affected area. On more severe stains clean lukewarm water and a clean white cloth is what you need for the next stage. Soak the clean cloth in the water and gently dab it onto the affected area making sure that water is transferred to the stain. Then again apply kitchen roll or toilet tissue and laboriously absorb and repeat the process until the stain is removed. Only if the stain is persistent should you resort to detergent.

Assuming you don’t have a suitable foam type stain removal agent for rugs at hand, choosing the correct detergent from your household supplies in the kitchen cupboard is always a big issue. As I stated earlier the common choice is often washing up liquid. The big problem with this choice is it’s a highly concentrated detergent designed to remove grease from a ceramic surface which is smooth, therefore easy to rinse off the excess detergent residue. Your rugs and carpets are a fabric that will absorb detergent residue and over time if the residue is not fully removed it will start to harbour dirt particles creating a soiled patch. If you going to use a household use a fabric detergent, the washing machine powder you would use to clean your clothes.

On persistent rug stains you can mix your detergent with water to make a weak solution and gently dab the stained rug using the solution and a clean white cloth, then apply clean water and absorb with tissue to remove the detergent residue. Never vigorously rub the stained area it will only make things worse. Ensure that all residues of sugar and detergents are remove with clean water as these will attract dirt and appear as a soiled patch in coming weeks.

Link: http://www.rugzone.co.uk/rugstore/shop.php/traditional-rugs/c_4.html

The English Manor range of extra heavy wear woven Wilton traditional rugs and runners are due to complete production around 10th February. They container should leave the factory in Gaziantep, Turkey on the Monday 13th February to arrive in Mersin for the loading on later that week. If all goes to plan we should see the new rug stocks late March or early April.

New Designs:

We are bringing in a new addition to the rug range, an Afghan design in black in Medium, Large and sizes.

Our popular new budget rug lines are due on Friday 27th Jan 2012. The order is being loaded at the factory in Belgium on Tuesday and is booked into our Sunderland warehouse on Friday afternoon. On the order will be the popular Classic rugs and carpet runner designs in a woven Wilton construction including the popular “Bokhara” in all sizes and colours. New additions to the ranges will include modern hall runners in the stylish “Blockade” and “Classic Border” designs.

Even More New Designs

There will also be a new addition the design portfolio including a fashionable multicoloured stripe rugs option along with some animal print designs. As soon as the new designs arrive they will be sent to our photographic department.

Striped rugs aren’t a new innovation, Gabbah’s, many of which are simple broad striped rug designs made in bright colours have been produced by Persian tribesmen for centuries. They say there is no such thing as an original concept and fashion like the shifting sands will continue to drift and mutate in any direction that the wind blows. While a stripe rug is just that, the sort of thing a child could design, the introduction of colour and texture can make something moderately simple into a complicated and beautiful centrepiece.

The current trend for striped rugs and carpets probably stems from the introduction of the many striped wall coverings presently available. These range from simple broad stripe two-tone to complex varied width stripes in multi-coloured designs. The innovation evolves from vertical stripes to horizontal stripes to diagonal stripes and even zigzag stripes. As the wall covering evolves so too does the home furnishing accessories, curtains, cushions, throws, rugs and carpets all want to coordinate and be an integral part of the stripe revolution.

One of the problems with stripes is too many in a confined space can be overpowering the secret is to use them in moderation. Using striped wallpaper only on a feature wall backed up with striped cushions and a stripe rug is about as heavy as you should take it. When it comes to rugs and fabrics don’t forget about the use of texture, different textures even when they use the same colours can produce an array of interesting effects.

Another example of the innovative use of texture can be found in the Carved Elements rug, the design is an uncomplicated broad and narrow stripe produced in a twist textured polypropylene fibre to ensure appearance retention and durability. Each stripe element has been accentuated by a hand carving separating the colours to give the simplistic design an additional dimension.