Job completed for Customer in Troy

Completion date: August 26, 2025

Location: Troy, NY

Why did the customer contact us?

This is an example of a classic Turkish Kilim rug. The rug is woven and is very valuable. Kilim's are no longer available in high stock as they used to be. They are incredibly difficult rugs to make given their woven quality and vegetable dyes.

Restoring a woven kilim rug is a delicate process that requires understanding the rug’s structure, materials, and traditional weaving techniques. Kilims are flat-weave rugs, typically made from wool (and sometimes cotton), and have no pile. Restoration focuses on preserving the rug's authenticity while repairing damage such as holes, frayed edges, or faded colors.

Jafri Rug restoration's common issues in Kilim Rugs:

1. 
   

   Frayed Edges & Corners – often the first parts to wear out.

   
   


2. 
   

   Holes or Tears – caused by heavy use, furniture pressure, or moth damage.

   
   


3. 
   

   Fading or Stains – from sun exposure, spills, or aging.

   
   


4. 
   

   Loose Weave or Broken Warp/Weft Threads – compromises the structure.

Solutions provided:

1. Assessment

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  Examine the extent of the damage.

  
  


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  Identify the rug’s age, origin, dyes, and fibers.

  
  


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  Determine if it's worth restoring (some antique kilims are more valuable left untouched).

  
  

2. Cleaning

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  Always clean the rug before restoration. Use a gentle, non-chemical wash suitable for wool.

  
  


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  Avoid saturating kilims; they can lose shape if overly wet.

  
  

3. Stabilizing the Structure

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  For holes or weak spots: reweave using matching wool threads and original weaving techniques.

  
  


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  Use a loom or hand-held tools to mimic the kilim’s flat weave.

  
  

4. Edge Repair

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  Rebind the edges with appropriate wool thread.

  
  


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  You may need to reweave selvedges or add a new border if it's too damaged.

  
  

5. Color Matching

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  Use natural-dyed wool (ideally antique yarns or wool dyed to match) to blend with the original colors.

  
  


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  Be very cautious: mismatched colors can devalue the rug.