FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Hand-Woven Rugs

Hand-woven rugs come in an endless variety of colors, styles, and materials. Anyone who has taken the time to learn about them or has shopped for them before understands that there’s a lot to learn about how they are made, where they come from, and how to care for them.Whether you’re considering buying your first hand-woven rug, or you’re already an admirer, chances are you might have some questions that you would like answered. Here, we’ve put together a list of some of the most common questions we get asked and we hope this information helps you in your quest to find that perfect rug for your home or business.If you have a question that isn’t addressed here, you can chat with us through our website, or contact us through telephone or email. We value each and every one of our customers and are excited to share our love and knowledge of hand-woven carpets with them. Once you’re ready to start browsing our extensive inventory, please feel free to head over to our products page.

 

What are the different types of handmade rugs?

This is the biggest and most difficult question to answer in just a few sentences. That’s because there are so many different types of handmade rugs. You often hear people use the terms “Persian” or “Oriental” to describe hand-woven rugs, and while this isn’t necessarily incorrect, there are actually dozens of different names that are used to more accurately describe the specific style and geographic region in which the rugs were made.At carpetonline.co, we make it easy to browse through our extensive collection of rugs because we allow our shoppers to sort them by category (modern, traditional, silk, antique, kilim, etc.) as well as size, color, price, and material. That way you can find just what you’re looking for quickly. Clicking on a particular rug will also bring up a detailed description that explains where that style of rug is made and what makes it unique.

 

Where are hand-woven rugs made?

Hand-woven rugs can be made anywhere, but the traditional rug-making area of the world is in the Middle East and parts of Asia. The majority of the rugs that people buy when they are shopping for a quality, hand-woven rug from the people that have been doing it for centuries are made in Turkey, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and China.

 

How can I tell if a rug is handmade?

To tell if a rug is made by hand or by a machine, turn it over and look at the back of the rug. There are a few telltale signs that it may be machine-made. What material is it made from? Handmade rugs are made from natural materials such as wool or silk while machine-made carpets are usually made of synthetic fibers. Finally, look at the weave and the fringe. Machine-made carpets usually have the fringe sewn on separately and the weave will be perfectly uniform. When it comes to buying a carpet, slight imperfections and non-uniformity are indications of quality.

 

How long does it take to make a handmade carpet?

Handmade rugs vary widely in size and complexity, so they can take anywhere from several months to years to make. The more detailed the rug (the longer it took to make) and the more valuable it will likely be.

 

How should I evaluate a carpet?

There are at least four factors that should be considered when evaluating a carpet.

First is color. Natural dyes produce wonderful saturated colors with all kinds of shading within a single color that give the carpet a unique character. This shading is called abrash and is recognized by collectors as an important attribute. The color is a feature with which you must feel comfortable.

Second is the design. The design has a number of elements such as use of space, detailing, motifs, clarity, and balance. What you will want to look for is harmony in the overall design. It is important to remember that the design has been created by a woman and represents her skill and creativity.

Third is craftsmanship. Craftsmanship includes the quality of the wool, character of the dye, and skill of the weaver. The number of knots in a square inch/centimeter is not the sole criteria for craftsmanship. The knot count will vary with the type of carpet.

Fourth is the overall feeling. This is subjective to a certain extent, but if the carpet is beautiful in your eyes, then trust your instincts.

 

Is purchasing a carpet an investment in art?

Carpets are handcrafted, handmade, incorporate age-old motifs, and represent the creation of a skilled weaving artist and, as such, can be considered art. The investment value of many carpets accrues over time. Some particular antique carpets have special attributes that make them sought after by collectors. On the whole, carpets will hold their value and have the potential to increase in value. Please see the Wall Street Journal article The Rug Market Takes Flight.

 

How do I know if I’m choosing the right rug?

With so many different types of rugs available, you might wonder how you can possibly choose. When you buy your rug from carpetonline.co, you can be assured that it is genuine, handmade, and of superior quality. Buying them elsewhere means that you’ll have to put more time and effort into evaluating the rug to determine if it’s authentic and not machine-made.

Since you can trust the quality of rugs at our store, the only thing you have to do is find one that fits your preferences. Are you looking for one with certain colors or made of a particular material? Do you tend to gravitate toward rugs with a particular design pattern or symbols? Perhaps you appreciate the meaning and story behind the rugs that are made by the people in a particular tribe or geographic region. These are all things that can guide you to find the perfect rug. Of course, you can also just browse our complete inventory and find one that speaks to you!

 

How do I make sure my hand-woven carpet will last?

Because of the materials used to make handmade carpets, they are often much more durable than machine-made ones. However, there are some things you should avoid that may shorten the lifespan of your carpet. Placing your rug in direct sunlight for several years can cause your rug to prematurely fade. While some fading is to be expected with a rug of a particular age, fading that is localized in one particular area is not desirable.

Because handmade rugs are made of natural materials such as wool, cotton, and silk, they are susceptible to rot if they are allowed to stay wet for an extended period of time. While it’s okay to wash your carpet, if needed, always make sure to remove as much excess water as possible and make sure your rug is thoroughly dried before placing it back down on the floor.

 

How do I clean my carpet?

We recommend that you have your carpet cleaned by a professional oriental carpet cleaner. If you intend to wash the carpet yourself, here are the easy steps to follow:

1. Vacuum both sides of the carpet well
2. Test for color run by taking a damp clean cloth and gently wiping dyed areas. If color appears on the cloth, we recommend that you stop the process and take the carpet to a professional for cleaning.
3. Shampoo the carpet with cool water and a mild liquid soap. Use a soft brush and brush the pile firmly with a linear motion in the direction of the nap. Thoroughly wash the nap of the carpet.
4. The fringes of the carpet can be washed using the same soap solution. Thoroughly wet the fringe and brush away from the pile.
5. Rinse the carpet with running water.
6. Squeeze out excess water. A rubber window squeegee works well to remove the water. Squeegee the pile repeatedly in the direction of the nap until no more water can be forced out.
7. Lay the carpet flat to dry. When the pile nap feels dry, turn the carpet over. Make sure the carpet is completely dry before placing it on the floor for use.
8. If the carpet is a bit stiff when dry, lightly vacuum or gently brush the carpet's surface.