Posts Tagged ‘Fibers’

Persian Rugs – An Attractive and Unique Rug Style For Your Home

February 10th, 2010

Persian rugs are beautiful rugs that are unique in nature. The material comes from camels which derive from Persia. These rugs use patterns with medallions and motifs. Motifs are repetitive decorations that are sewn into the material. Persian rugs use motifs such as Herati and Rosette. These rugs are usually made with borders. They also use various designs, depending on where the rugs were made.

The rugs are unique because of the way they are made. The rugs are made by weaving and incorporating knots and looms. These techniques of making these rugs are not easy and the skill has to be mastered in order to have professional looking rugs. The crafters that make them use fibers from silk, wool or cotton.

Making these rugs is meticulous and precise work because the crafters have to use the exact tension to make Persian rugs that customers would spend their money on. The crafters make vertical and horizontal looms. Both directional looms are easy to master.

Most of the rugs are classified by the way they are made and the type of fabric that is used. The rugs get their names from the area where they were made. Some of the more well known names for Persian rugs include Kashan and Afshar. They also differ in shape as well.

Weaving rugs in Persia is part of the culture. Many crafters live to make these kinds of home accessories. Many of them enjoy doing this on a regular basis. The crafters in Persia were some of the first people to take up rug weaving. This craft has been thriving in their country for many years.

With their exquisite beauty, Persian rugs would make a great asset to complement your home. You can place these rugs in your living room or any room of your home or foyer. Because of the way they make them, they would surely become a conversation piece for family and visitors alike.

Even though many brick and mortar stores offer different styles of these rugs, it’s just as easy (if not easier) to browse online. There are rug retailers that have a variety of different styles and shapes to choose from. Plus, you can do this from the comfort of your own home and have them delivered right to your door.

One last note, when purchasing a persian rug online make sure to investigate a company to make sure you know what you are buying.

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Some Nitty Gritty About Carpets and Rugs

February 10th, 2010

There is both cheering and sobering forecast for the carpet industry. The good news is that the US rug and carpet market is expected to rise about 1.6 percent every year to more than 22 billion square feet. This accounts for a staggering 65% of the floor covering market. However, there is some sobering news too. Deceleration has hit the carpet and rug demand on account of decline in new construction spending. The other reason being the consumers’ shift in demand to hard surface flooring like laminates, wood and ceramic tiles. The estimate also points to a very important and significant development. Carpet and rug production will be supported to a great extent by consumers’ interest in environmental friendly responsible materials. Here is where eco friendly carpets come into the picture.
r
rIn this context, here are some answers to some frequently asked questions on carpets:
r
rWhat Are Shag Carpets Or Shag Rugs?
r
rThese carpets are made of long pile having shaggy appearance, whereby its name. The regular carpets are manufactured by making loops out of material and then shearing the excess. Shag carpets are not sheared, leaving long pieces of material to provide a lush fluffy and soft look.
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rHow To Clean Rugs?
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rVacuum cleaning does not damage or affect the durability of shag carpets, so by all means go ahead and use a vacuum cleaner. It would do well to use the high setting or bare floor setting for daily clean up.
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rAre Rug Pads Needed?
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rMost manufacturers recommend using rubberized non skid rug pad over hard surfaces.
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rDo The Yarns Round The Edges Come Off?
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rIt does initially, but eventually that should stop. Heavy durable backing with intertwined tuft binds holds all of the fibers intact.
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rDoes The Rug Have To Be The Same Color As My Wall And Curtain Draping?
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rNot necessary. Your rug will look perfect if at least one color on it matches the design elements in your room.
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rWhat Is In Vogue? A Rug With A Central Medallion Or One With An Over-All Pattern?
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rIt depends on your point of focus. If there is a fireplace in your room then a patterned rug will suit as it will not vie for attention. Nevertheless, if your room is a common sitting area then a central medallion will grab attention.
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rHow To Be Eco Friendly With Carpets?
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rThere are eco concerns on the manufacturing of carpets. Many manufacturers have now created eco friendly carpets. Here are useful tips.
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r* Look for carpets made from natural fibers. Stay away from nylon, petroleum or resource intensive products.
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r* Some treatment chemicals harm the environment, especially those chemicals used to remove stains. A good idea is to use chemicals to the minimum.
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r* Recycle previous carpets. Choose companies who recycle old carpets while buying new ones.
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r* Choose wool. Wool is naturally renewable and more durable than their synthetic counterparts. In addition it has fast colors, is stain resistant and extremely resilient.
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rShag rugs offers a range of rugs to its customers such as shag rugs, eco-friendly rugs, braided rugs, kids’ rugs, casual rugs, and many other different types in the same range.

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Kinds of Carpet

February 10th, 2010

The carpet market is a vast market, with many types
to choose from.  Below, you’ll find the several
different types of carpet and what they will offer
you and your home.

Woven
Woven carpet is produced on a loom that is very
similar to woven cloth, being cut pile.  There
are many different colored yarns being used and the
entire process is capable of producing very intricate
patterns from designs that are pre-determined.  
Normally, woven is the highest quality of carpet
on the market.

Tufted
This type of carpet is produced on a tufting machine
by using either a single colored or sometimes a
non colored yarn.  If non colored is being used,
then the carpet will be dyed or printed with a
design as a separate process.  Carpets that are
tufted can either be cut pile, loop pile, or a
combination of both.  Machines can produce a lot
more meters of carpet than weaving, and they are
normally at the lower end of the market.

Needlefelt
The needlefelt type of carpet is a bit more
technologically advanced.  They are produced by
electrostatic attraction of individual fibers
that form a unique carpet with extremely high
durability.  You can normally find needlefelt
carpet in the contract market such as in hotels
or other places where there is always going to be
a lot of traffic.

Flatweave
The flatweave carpet is created by interlocking
warp and weft threads.  The types of oriental
flatwoven carpet include soumak, plain weave,
and tapestry weave.  This type is not well known
in the North American region, although it is
very popular in the orient and Japan.

Hooked rug
This is a simple construction of rug that is
handmade by pulling strips of cloth such as
wool or cotton through the meshes of a very
sturdy fabric.  Now, this type of rug is generally
known as a handicraft.

Knotted pile
With knotted pile carpets, the structural weft
threads will alternate with a supplementary
weft that will rise from the surface of the
weave at a perpendicular angle.  

Cut and loop piles
The cut and loop pile combines both looped and
cut fibers.  They provide a variety of
surface textures for medium durability.  Cut
and loop carpets are available in either solid
or different colors.  The several different layers
in this carpet can hide dirt and footprints in
formal and informal areas.

Saxony
Saxony consists of tightly twisted cut piles
that are heat set straight.  They consist of
two or more fibers that have been twisted
together in a yarn, and they provide a very
soft texture for informal as well as formal
areas.  They will show each and every footprint
and even marks from vacuum cleaners.

Textured saxony
Textured carpet is the best selling and it
works well in informal areas due to the very
soft feel.  They are tightly twisted and
texture headset for medium durability.  They
also offer a multi colored look that will
hide tracks and footprints.

Plush/velvet
Both plush and velvet are lightly twisted and
offer a uniform color.  They are very soft
and offer more level than textures.  This type
of carpet is ideal for formal areas due to
it’s luxurious appearance.  

Frieze
Frieze is a highly twisted cut pile type of
carpet that is suited for high traffic areas.
It has short fibers that will tend to curl
in different directions at the surface to
hide footprints and vacuum marks.

Level loop pile
The level loop pile is constructed by weaving
even loops of yarn into carpet backing at both
ends.  This type of carpet is durable as
well as track resistant, due to the strong
loops.  Higher loops in the carpet will create
a more luxurious look.  They are also great
because they will prevent dirt from filtering
on into the carpet.

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Winning Over Those Carpet Stains

February 10th, 2010

No one wants food and other stains in their carpet to win out and stick around. The solution begins with a suitable carpet cleaner, one that`s up to the job of making those stubborn carpet stains trying to move in on your territory hit the door.

The same products can often be used at home to clean and restore a fresh look to your carpets. Read the label to see, if you’re up to the task of carpet cleaning on your own, when it suits you.

Look for a foaming cleaner that is not too harsh on the environment, which means it does not contain phosphates or chlorine. Check the label to see whether or not the container is recyclable too.

Most such products will work on your upholstery as well as carpets. It is always a good idea to perform a test before delving into a big job. Test on the underside of corner cushion or on a corner of the rug that is always covered.  

When dueling with carpet stains, make sure that you have everything you need organized before you begin. This includes your bucket, brushes, sponges, and materials for covering the legs and bottoms of furniture around the room you’re about to clean. Don’t forget knee pads, for those longer jobs. If you don’t have any, simply grab a cushion. Anything is better than nothing.

Decide where you’re going to begin, and where you’ll end your project and stick to your plan. Pick up furniture to move it out of the way. Dragging items will potentially damage your rug.

Take the time to cover the legs or bottom of any furniture in your path: chairs, sofas, book shelves, and so on. Try wrapping feet and bottoms in aluminum foil or wax paper. Many products can leave stains on wood and other materials, so it’s always best to overprotect parts that you don’t want to ruin.

Remember not to use too much water on your carpet. Less is more! And take care to avoid spills on your floor covering, as it can be hard on the fibers. Try sponging stains in a single direction.

While you’re getting up close and personal with your floor covering, keep a pair of scissors handy to trim any stray or fraying bits and pieces. Cutting them is always a better bet than unraveling your carpet in one shot.

Once you’ve completed the task, there are a couple of important things to remember: don’t walk on your work right away! Wait a few hours or overnight, until the carpet is really dry, before travelling on it.
Once it’s dry, don’t forget to run the vacuum cleaner over it to finish the job. And, finally, make sure you pick up that furniture once more as you put it back into place.

So there’s help out there to make sure that you don’t allow those carpet stains any more room to grow. Show them who is in charge. Take them out while they’re fresh.

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Is Your Persian Rug Really Hand Made?

February 8th, 2010

To tell the difference between an authentic hand made Persian Rug and machine made is not always easy.  Today, one can find on the market machine made carpets that look a lot like the authentic one, in design, in name and in feel.  

One thing you should know, machines do not make knots.  They put the wool fiber into place and then back them with latex to secure them. This results into a rough to the touch surface. But today, the stores are full with machine made carpets that hold names like “Kashan,Tabriz, Kashmar, etc.” with  designs and colors that match the names.  The softness of these rugs is that of a true Persian or Oriental Rug because, they also use natural wool just as the Persian weaver sometimes uses synthetic fiber to make his rug.  If you ever wonder weather or not the rug you are buying is truly a Persian rug or not, then do the burning test.  Take a small thread out of the carpet and burn it.  If its wool, it will smoke and smell like hair.  If you want to test the quality of the wool, vacuum the back and the front of the carpet and then rub the vacuumed surface with your hand a dozen of times.  Roll the fibers that have shed in your hand.  If they are equal or greater than the thickness of the rug itself, the chances are that the wool is of lower quality.  You see that even the making of an authentic Persian Rug can be of lower quality.

Does the thickness of the rug matter in determining its quality?  Not necessarily.  What is important to know is if the rug is sheered to the proper height when we consider the quality of the wool and the density of the knots.  When the density of the knots is low and the carpet is sheered too low, the design will not look as attractive as one that has higher density and is sheered correctly.  This is where the expertise of the master sheerer is put to test.  Before he starts the sheering process he should evaluate and know exactly how to proceed in order to optimize the characteristics and the design of the carpet.  

It has been said and still the same saying goes that a good quality Persian Rug looks just as clear at the back as it does at the front.  Even though this statement is true, sometimes the technique used to make the knot shows a great deal of weft on the reverse of the rug.  This doesn’t mean that the rug has not been knotted tightly.  There is also another reason why the back doesn’t look as clear as the face of the rug.  Sometimes, the fiber strays from the knot.  After the weaving is finished, the weaver burns the loose strands cleaning the look of the back.  When this method is not used, the back of the carpet has more of a fuzzy and unclear look.  But this doesn’t mean that the carpet has not been woven tightly.

They say that the finer the knots the higher the quality.  This is not always true.  Sometimes a Persian Rug can have high kspi but the wool that is used is of lower quality, shortening the life of the carpet.  

So as we see, higher kspi does not always equate with higher quality.  Higher kspi is only one of the factors of a high quality Persian Rugs.

In conclusion, If you want to make sure that the rug you are buying is an authentic Persian Rug, ask for the certificate of authenticity.  Talk to the sales person.  Ask questions.  Usually in the small stores, the sales man is also the owner.  So his own reputation being on line he will give you the right information about the product you are considering to buy.   Now that you learned a few things about Persian rugs, go out shopping and practice your knowledge.

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