Job completed for Shelburne Oriental Rug Repair

Completion date: September 11, 2025

Location: Shelburne, VT

Why did the customer contact us?

Restoring a Persian Kerman rug is a delicate process
that requires understanding the rug’s structure, materials, and traditional
weaving techniques. Kermans are typically made from wool and have thicker pile. Restoration focuses on preserving the rug's authenticity while repairing damage such as holes, frayed edges, or faded colors.

This is a classic Persian Kerman requiring fixing to the following:

-Entire color restoration where the rug has to be cleaned and then some touch up work involving reweaving and blending oils and dyes to bring back the natural color of the rug

-New fringe has to be added on to the rug

-New binding to protect the edging has to be added

-Reweaving required in torn areas and replacing patched areas with actual reweaving of original wool

-Padding should be cut to protect the warp and weft of the rug

Solutions provided:

Pre-Repair Cleaning

• A deep cleaning is performed before repairs to remove dirt, oils, and debris
  that interfere with repair work.


• Includes:


• Dusting (front and back)


• Gentle hand washing with pH-neutral detergents so as not to erode the fibers of
  the rug


• Rinsing and drying in a temperature-controlled environment

Structural Repairs

These are the most critical to maintain rug integrity:

a. Edge Repair (Overcasting or Binding)

• Rewrap or rebind fraying edges to prevent unraveling.


• Uses matching wool or cotton thread.


• Restores tension and keeps the weft and warp from separating.

b. Fringe Repair or Replacement

• Stabilizes or reconstructs the fringe (often the warp threads).


• May
  involve:




• Tying off loose fringe


• Sewing in new fringe sections


• Weaving new fringes into the foundation

c. Hole or Tear Repair

• Small
  holes: patched and reinforced from the back.


• Larger
  holes or tears: require reweaving the foundation (warp and weft), then
  tying new knots to match the original pattern.

4. Pile Reweaving / Pattern Reconstruction

• Rebuilds worn or missing areas by hand-knotting new wool or silk into the
  structure.


• Requires:


• Color-matching
  wool (often hand-dyed)


• Matching the knot density, knot type (Turkish or Persian), and pattern




• Done by experienced weavers to ensure seamless blending with the original
  design.

5. Color Restoration

• In areas where colors have faded or bled, restorers may:




• Touch up color with textile-safe dyes where there is already wool shown in the pile but requires blending of color for consistency in the rug’s colors


• Avoid painting, which can damage fibers over time

6. Shearing & Grooming

• After repairs, the pile is carefully sheared to match surrounding areas.


• Helps ensure a consistent pile height and finish.


• Brushing aligns the nap and improves visual consistency.

 7. Blocking &
Reshaping

• If the rug is warped or misshapen:




• It’s dampened and laid flat under weight or pinned.


• Dried under tension to restore its original shape and prevent buckling.

8. Final Cleaning & Inspection

• A final surface clean removes any dust or fibers from the repair.


• Inspection
  ensures:


• Seamless
  repairs


• Color and texture matches


• Edges are secure and the rug lies flat