THE ART OF RUG MAKING

Rug craft is steeped in ancient history, with some of the earliest rugs found to be 2500 years old. The craftsmanship and skills used to manufacture rugs has changed very little over these years other than the addition of modern dyes, design techniques and the materials that we can use.

Our rugs are created in the mountains of Nepal, where this ancient craft is used with our modern art and design methodologies to create beautiful rugs that transform floors into bespoke works of art.

The whole manufacturing process is completely carried out by hand, from the the spinning of the wool into yarn, the dyeing of the colours and finally the actual knotting of the carpet. This dedication and attention to detail will add to the magical story of your beautiful rug.

When you first roll out your rug you want to be overwhelmed by beautiful colour. We achieve this beauty by using expert dyers who work hard in their laboratories to create an exact match to the colours that have been chosen.

The Tibetan dye masters have an extensive knowledge that has been passed down through generations, initially learning to mix natural herbal dyes but also utilising more up to date colouring techniques that include vegetable-based and the industry standard Swiss dyes. In this way the exact colours can be achieved to precisely match the desired design.

The wool is then pot dyed, an established technique that requires the yarn to be hand wound on metal loops and dipped a number of times until it is completely soaked through with dye. Once the dyeing is complete the wool is then dried and made ready for the weaving process.

The rug making process starts with the carding of the wool. This opens and separates the raw wool so that each fibre becomes straight. It also cleans the yarn, removing any sand or dirt. Wool that has been carded effectively will flow better once the spinning starts, thus creating a better quality yarn.

The carded wool is then spun into yarn by a system called ‘Charkha’, using a wheel which is spun by hand. At this point in the process the desired thickness of the wool is decided to determine the quality of the carpet. In most cases a 3-ply yarn is used.

Finally the wool is left to dry natrually in the sun before the weaving process begins. 

Our rugs are woven on traditional vertical and pit looms. Lines of cotton are stretched from the top to the bottom of the loom in a continuous loop that is called the warp. A weft is threaded in to hold the line of knots straight.

The weavers use a special Tibetan knot to create the pile and design of the carpet. Each tiny knot is tied around the warp and then cut – which secures it in place. The design of the carpet is copied from an image on a piece of graph paper.

The weaver follows this pattern along the warp until they have to change colour. This is an incredibly long and skilled process where only 10-15 cm of carpet is achieved each day. This means each rug can take months and sometime even years to create.

Once our handwoven rugs have been completed, they go through a final preparation process from the raw weave to the sculpted work of art you roll out on your floor.

The rugs are then stretched to the correct size and shape.

First the rugs are washed with pure water and eco-friendly washing materials and then left to dry in the sun for a number of days.

Finally, the rug pile and motif are trimmed and carved by the hands of master craftsmen, adding those special touches that enhance the beauty and finish of the rug.

Once your rug is completed and has been meticulously checked for any inconsistencies, it is delivered directly to your door, ready to roll out and be enjoyed.