Job completed for Burnt Hills Antique Area Rug Cleaning and Repair

This rug was in a worn and soiled condition when first brought to Jafri Rugs.

The rug had the following problems:

-The rug was soiled in the field and required a proper organic wash where Jafri Rugs soaked the rug in a tub of cold water and solution, drying, dusting and olive oil shampooing

-The rug required a new frame where the fringe and binding had to be added. All this work was done by hand

-Entire shearing process was performed where the rug had extra wool and dirt encrusted on the top of the rug where Jafri Rug restoration shaved the top of the rug and brought back the original colors of the rug

The first picture shows the newly preserved rug where the vegetable dyes are coming thru and you can actually see the pronouncement of the design.

The second picture shows the newly added fringe.

As this is a classic Kerman rug from the mid-century it is densely knotted so the binding and fringe has to comport to the design and era of the rug.

In this instance Jafri Rug restoration used fringe implants that were of the mid-century so they were a little longer and New Zealand ivory wool was used to fix the edging of the rug.

Look at the below detailed process of Jafri Rug restoration:

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