KILIM RUGS

Modern kilim rugs are my favorite because it is inspired by traditional craft of weaving. Although it is in modern techniques and designed with the latest colors, elements of their motifs remain preserved, and most often produced kilims with traditional geometric designs. Kilim rugs form a significant facet of the ethnic style that is currently popular among lovers of interior design, as the patterns and colors of this look re just as popular as the ones of kilim rugs. Since many kilims display natural, earthy tones, they exuding aura of calm and relaxation and thereby create an atmosphere full of harmony, whether as kitchen rugs or bedroom rugs. Kilims have become very popular interior as they give instant personality to a space.

Plants and animals were widely used motifs. It has unique patterns and attractive features that are really eye catching in any interior. Their colors used are vivid and chromatic that matches their design. Kilim rugs are not just for floor coverings it has different uses some are hangings, bench or divan coverings, bags or mule saddles.

Wool is the primary and often the only material used to make a kilim rug, as wool rugs have good heat insulating properties and take on dyes very well. Many kilims are made totally from wool where it is used for both warps and wefts, and wool is the primary weft material used with cotton warps, which accounts for the great majority of all kilims. 

This popularity of wool is due to its inherent qualities. It is supple, durable, handles easily when spun or woven, readily takes on dyes and, most important, is in plentiful supply in kilim-making regions.There are certain breeds of sheep, like the merino, whose fleece is especially sought-after for its special luster and length of fiber, but actually it's the domestic fat-tailed sheep bred with its favorable climatic and grazing conditions that provides much of the excellent fleece used in kilims. Kilims are generally woven with the slit weave technique. The slit refers to the gap left between two blocks of color. It is created by returning the weft around the last warp in a color area, and the weft of the adjacent color is later returned around the adjacent warp. Cotton is commonly used for warps because of its high strength and plentiful supply. Also, because it keeps its shape well in use, retains its natural whiteness with age.

-ROXETTE GOC-ONG

 REFERENCE:

Hand-made Area Rugs . (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2017, from http://typesofrugs.blogspot.com/2017/01/hand-made-area-rugs.html

You Can Never Go Wrong With Moroccan Rugs 

Just as shoes can pull an outfit together, a rug can make or break a room. Think of it as art for your floors: When well picked, a rug will visually anchor the space, color-coordinate with its surroundings, be just large enough to accommodate the furniture, and create a showstopping effect. The right rug can bring together the different elements of any space.

Moroccan culture is rich is history, the arts and sciences. It is the third most populous Arab country. The art of this country is truly special. There are so many different ways that the people express themselves – in carpets, clothing, jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, painting, carving, and calligraphy. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this country, you should consider buying some of the local artwork.

Moroccans have created some of the world’s most distinct rugs for centuries. There are various types of Moroccan rugs. One of which is the Azilal rugs. For those who love colors very much, these beauties come from the central High Atlas. The colors are often wild and full of random geometric patterns. Each rug (this is true for all) carry a story. No two are the same. The women who make them carry their emotions through their weaving and it’s reflected in the final piece. For those who love the modern art style, these are a must.

I have to say that these Moroccan rugs really got my attention because of the dynamic color designs that give an energetic sense or feels to the interior of this modern era. Those playful geometric patterns with colorful and neutral palettes make every designed areas interesting to look at. With a good choice of Moroccan rugs, you can never go wrong in making it as a beautiful centerpiece to the space and make you feel settled. Whether you're looking for an antique flat weave, a colorful contemporary design, or anything in between. Traditionally, these rugs were used as bedding, blankets or saddles. It is influenced by multiple cultures and religions, this style can feel at home in traditional or modern homes. Rich, luxurious and exotic, the style has bold colors and shapes.

I have been a lover for arts and design. Morocco has given me more reasons to rank it in my bucketlist as the number one country that I should visit someday. It is a land rich in natural beauty and unforgettable places that are both fascinating to visit and intriguing to explore.

-GABRILLA LLUVIDO

REFERENCES:

Hand-made Area Rugs . (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2017, from http://typesofrugs.blogspot.com/2017/01/hand-made-area-rugs.html

A. (n.d.). My Favorite Styles of Morocco . Retrieved January 27, 2017, from 

http://marocmama.com/my-favorite-styles-of-moroccan-rugs/

Why the Vintage Rya Rugs from Sweden is my favorite –

Details makes all the difference. This is certainly the case with traditional handcrafted vintage rya rugs. These shaggy, often colorful vintage rugs and carpets and wall coverings are a development unique to Scandinavia, but they have also created a sensation throughout the United States – a decorating and handcrafting sensation to be precise.

Although the first rya rugs and carpets date back to the middle ages, they have become a quintessential part of mid-century modern decor. At first look, ryas resemble the shaggy latch hook carpets made on card tables and dinner tables across the country. However, their traditional construction and fine materials set them apart as do the exceptional qualities of the rya sheep and their long-staple wool.

Melinda Byrd, a Maryland-based artist and third-generation rya expert, explained these differences, saying that the wool is exceptionally durable and resilient. These unique traits make traditional rya rugs compression and wear resistant. So after years of use, they retain their fluffy, shaggy appearance and luxurious tactile qualities. The backing and parts of the rya that one doesn’t usually observe also make a difference.

While latch hook rugs are made by wrapping pre-cut yarn around a mesh-like backing, rya backings are hand made. Pre-planned spaces between rows of weft allow the artist to make symmetric Turkish or Ghiordes rug knots around each warp thread at a rate of about four knots per inch.Historically, this tightly woven foundation was made with a wool weft and high-quality linen warp. The rug’s signature shaggy pile is formed by many uniform loops that are cut open later in the process.

These pieces have become treasured family heirlooms that are still enjoyed today. Those who have lived with these objects have a great understating of what makes ryas so special. Quality is an elusive and sometimes subjective sensation that’s best discovered by understanding the construction process, learning about the value of the materials and seeing the finished product first hand. The current emphasis on quality and style is fueling a modern-day contemporary revival of vintage Rya rug making.

-KIMBERLY MORO

NEEDLEWORK RUGS

Decorating with artist designed needlepoint rugs is a tremendous privilege. The designs are first hand painted by fine artists and then needlepoint embroiderers carefully reproduce the artist's painted design with millions of needlepoint stitches made entirely by hand.

If you're not looking for antiquity , many beautiful and far less expensive pieces are at hand. Pieces produced en masse, usually in China, are often well made and inexpensive. If you like the design and the price is right, you probably can't go wrong with Handmade needlework rugs.

Of all the rugs I learned and read, the handmade needlework rug is my favorite.It is made up of million hand made stiches and hundreds of colors. I admire how these rugs are made. Needlepoint rugs are made by hand with a sewing needle and wool thread which is hand stitched on an open grid cotton fabric called a canvas. The wool stitches cover the entire surface of the cotton canvas which then becomes the needlepoint rug. Each hand sewn needlepoint stitch is very sturdy and millions of needlepoint stitches together make a highly durable needlepoint rug.

The designs and patterns of this type of rug is really unique. The Needlepoint Pattern is painted on a Canvas with a Fine Mesh and hand drawn on Translucent Paper. The artist will transfer the pattern from the paper on to the canvas, mixes up paints to create the exact shades required by the painting. They finds yarns that match the colors of the painting or the colors will be custom dyed. Then the pattern must be painted on a canvas that is completely flat. The hand iron in the background is used to take out wrinkes in the canvas to ensure the pattern is not distorted.

"Needlepoint carries a wonderful, Old World look that can be both country and formal," says Michael Illoulian, owner of Aga John's, a wholesale rug seller with stores in Laguna Hills, West Hollywood and San Francisco. "It can create a French Renaissance feel or go beautifully in a traditional home." Because rugs can cost anywhere from $800 to $60,000, pillows to $400, the uninitiated are more than a little confused as to what constitutes worth. Value, say the experts, boils down to quality of materials, number of colors, fineness of stitch, smoothness of line and the piece's age and condition. When evaluating a needlepoint piece--whether rug, pillow or wall art--consider those factors as well as how much you love it. One of the biggest value markers is age. Needlework pieces appreciate in value with age, provided they're kept in good condition. (Illoulian recommends periodic dry cleaning.) Antique rugs are 80 years and older. Faded color and natural wear enhance patina and price.

What I like most about this rugs is what it brings to interiors. Needlepoint rugs have the ability to bring fine detail and complimentary colors into truly classic settings.

-GIANNI FAY RESULLAR

REFERENCE:

Hand-made Area Rugs . (n.d.). Retrieved January 25, 2017, from http://typesofrugs.blogspot.com/2017/01/hand-made-area-rugs.html