Job completed for Fine Woven Rug Cleaning and Repair

Completion date: January 20, 2026

Location: Spencertown, NY

Why did the customer contact us?

This is an example of a Navajo kilim

The first picture shows the following issues with the rug:

-Rug has discoloration which requires color restoration

-Fringe is completely frayed requiring fringe implant work

-Edging is completely deteriorated requiring new binding to be added

Essentially, throughout the rug there are the following problems:

-Exposed wool threads hanging as well as warp and weft

-Loose and unraveling fringe

Solutions provided:

Since the rug has areas with faded or discolored sections, dyes
matching the original colors may be applied to restore the vibrancy. This
requires careful attention to detail to blend the colors seamlessly.

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

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.