Handcrafted rug is not only a floor cover, it is years of tradition, culture and artwork. Whether at Rugs and Beyond or anywhere, the rug is the evidence of the elaborate craftwork, patience and hard work. We want to take you on the adventure of a handmade rug, from the first knot to the moment when it is at home.
- Designing the Masterpiece
He starts with a vision. Long before any knots are cast, a master designer has hand-drawn the layout of the rug, usually based upon some ancient motifs, traditional designs, or contemporary designs. It is used as a blueprint by the weavers to work by and is carefully designed in graph paper with colour codes. These designs can be floral Kashan or an Oushak, but one thing is that each design is unique and built to last for generations.
- Dyeing the Yarn
When the design is approved, carefully made natural fibres such as wool, silk, or cotton are dyed finely. At Rugs and Beyond only natural and eco-friendly dyes can produce a vibrant yet not harmful color. It is a labor intensive process done in small batches, so as to guarantee uniformity in color and lastingness.
- The Weaving Process
This is the gist of the trip. The colored yarn is then delivered to experienced craftsmen, most of whom have been weaving for generations. Depending on the size and complexity of the rug, as well as the density of the knots, one rug may take several months to over a year to finish.
Handknotted rugs are luxurious and considerably durable because every knot is tied carefully by hand on a vertical loom. Weavers use design chart carefully going to the extent of counting knots and threads to achieve symmetry and perfection. This is the step that creates the real nature of a handmade rug.
- Washing and Finishing
When the weaving has finally been finished, then the rug is then delicately picked off of the loom and washes several times removing all dust debris, to wipe excess dye. After that it is naturally dried by the Sun in order to keep the texture and vibrancy intact.
The edges are polished by trimming, stretching and binding. All the handknotted carpets at Rugs and Beyond are subject to vigorous quality control and only then can they be offered to the customers.
- Ready for Your Floor
It finally takes weeks or months of careful work before the rug is ready to be in your home. No matter what kind of design you choose, be it a royal Persian rug for your living room or a modern version in your bedroom, a hand-made carpet will provide your place with an incomparable coziness, sophistication and style.
At Rugs and Beyond, we will have each rug packed carefully and shipped around the world with a promise to be authentic, of quality and craftsmanship.
Final Thoughts
A handmade rug is one of the most beautiful combinations of art, tradition, and a soul. The next time you eat out in a restaurant that serves Indian food, you can be sure that the foodstuffs used have all been bought, and the next time you buy a rug in Rugs and Beyond, it is not just purchasing a piece of decor but also buying heritage and livelihoods of the artisan.