| If you have started looking around for a nice | | | | a very tight weave. A rug that is 6 feet by 9 feet can |
| handmade rug for your home, you have probably | | | | take 4-6 months to create and that is when the |
| noticed that they don't come cheap. Handmade rugs | | | | person is weaving for hours every day. Just imagine |
| are sometimes expensive, but there is a good reason | | | | how labour-intensive that is. |
| for this. Anything handmade is worth more than it's | | | | After the rug is completely woven, it will be carefully |
| machine-made counterpart, whether it is a hand-knitted | | | | inspected to ensure there are no flaws or defects. |
| sweater, a handmade piece of jewellery, or a | | | | The pile will be checked to make sure it is even |
| handmade rug. | | | | across the surface of the rug, trimming any areas that |
| Now, you might be sitting there saying to yourself what | | | | need to be evened out. Then the rug is lightly washed |
| the majority of people tend to think, "Why would I pay | | | | to get rid of excess dye and then it is dried and |
| that for a rug, when I can go down the street and buy | | | | readied for shipping. |
| a machine-made rug for a fraction of the price." There | | | | In addition to the rug-making process, each oriental rug |
| is a very good answer to this question. Handmade | | | | is completely unique. There is no mass production and |
| rugs are worth more and unlike many other types of | | | | each and every one is a true work of art. These rugs |
| handmade goods, handmade rugs actually increase in | | | | are designed and made by people who put their lives |
| value over time. | | | | and culture into their work. When properly cared for |
| OK, let's back up a bit. Let's start with the process for | | | | the rugs do not wear with age, but look better with |
| making these handmade rugs. First, the materials must | | | | each passing year and their value increases with time, |
| be gathered and made ready. These are all natural | | | | just as any work of art. See for example the colours |
| materials, including high quality wool from the best | | | | and beauty of antique rugs. |
| sheep and natural dyes to create the vibrant colours | | | | Consider how much goes into making one rug. The |
| used in the rugs. So before the rugs are made, time | | | | months of weaving and then the inspection that |
| must be spent collecting the wool, washing it, carding it, | | | | comes after the weaving is complete. Then of course, |
| and hand-spinning it. Then the wool is dyed. Once this | | | | there is the preparation of the materials prior to |
| is done, the weaving itself begins. | | | | weaving. Is it any wonder these rugs cost so much? |
| The weaving of a rug is done on a loom. The woven | | | | After all, if you spent months weaving a rug and it was |
| part of the rug is done with cotton strings, which are | | | | your livelihood, then you would want to be paid well for |
| set on the loom and then the wool is hand-tied onto | | | | it. Not only is the process labour-intensive, but the rug is |
| the cotton strings. To complete one row of knots can | | | | of far higher quality and will last far longer than a |
| take many hours, depending on the size of the rug. | | | | machine-made rug. |
| Attention to detail is incredible and the weaver ensures | | | | |