The process of weaving a rug by even very skillful hands of an experienced weaver may take years. It starts with unprocessed wool that may differ in quality, the highest quality wool with the smallest number of imperfections comes from New Zealand. It is also important that it absorbs colors fast.
The piles of wool are separated by hand according to its natural shade: light, dark or neutral. Then every fiber is cleaned and combed and then the fibers are twisted together on spinners and yarn is created. Hand spinning gives the highest quality wool yarns.
The washed, rinsed and dried yarn is dyed. The longer yarn stays submerged in dye, the deeper the color. After the process, the dyed yarn is dried in the open air, until it is ready for weaving.
The process of weaving may be mechanical, done using looms, hand tufted or hand knotted. The last way needs the most skillful weaver and years of experience, but hand knotted rugs are the best in the world.
Hand knotted rugs are made traditionally for centuries and bear most amazing patterns. The finery of such rug depends on the number of knots, the finer the knot and the more of them for a square centimeter, the more detailed and beautiful pattern is. An expert weaver can tie one knot per second. A hand knotted rug of an average size takes three to six months to be completed, but with larger rugs, even two years can be spent on work. Usually, three or four weavers work together on one piece, for one master weaver it may take up to even seven years to complete one rug.
A completed rug is well washed, by hand, in clear water and then dried in natural sunlight. After drying, each rug is stretched to the desired shape which has to be symmetrical. The edges are bound by hand and a carpet is ready to be sold.
