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Wool Rugs - Stunning and Durable
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Rug shoppers who are in the market for wool rugs have an enormous choice today. Rugs made of wool are the most commonly available of all the rugs on the market today. This is because wool is not only very durable, wool also looks great and take dyes extremely well.
Due to all the benefits of a wool rug, it is this type of rug that you will find the most diverse designs. Though many are rich in color and confident in design, most rugs will fit into almost any room adding stylishness and charm without demanding attention. Although if you want your rug to be a focal point, a well-placed and well chosen rug can command attention.
Not All Wool is Created Equal
Wool is widely available. Most oriental rugs are made of sheep's wool, although goat hair is sometimes found in antique carpets.
In Peru, wool from llamas and vicunas is often used. This type of wool is fairly resistant to dyes and that is why llama rugs are often of natural browns, whites and beiges.
Middle Eastern rugs and Chinese rugs often use camel hair for the pile. Some of the softness in older Chinese area rugs have a softness and sheen attributed to the wool of baby camels.
In the Middle East and Iran, wool can take on many different properties depending on the breed of the sheep, the weather, the height above sea level and the type of pasture. Area rugs with a luster are not necessarily more valuable than rugs that have a matte finish.
Many rugs made of wool use cotton for the foundation (warp) of the whole rug. Cotton is durable and keeps its shape. However, on a recent holiday/rug shopping trip to Turkey, we found hemp was a very popular alternative to cotton. A wool area rug with a hemp warp was generally more expensive than cotton warps.
So there you have it. When shopping for a wool rug, the choices may seem endless. But given the splendor, resilience and versatility of a wool rug, you will be sure to love whichever one you choose.
Rug Care
The loss of a certain amount of wool from the face of the pile is quite common and does not signify that weak, inferior or inelastic wool has been used, however, if an excessive amount of yarn can easily be brushed away by rubbing the best wool may not have been used in the construction of the rug.
[more on rug care]
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