Oriental Rug Repair

I have quite a few old rugs and know from experience that rug repairs are expensive and of spotty quality. There's nobody in our area of much worth. Therefore I am rewefting and reknotting several areas in a magnificient, extremely old Kazak following the relevant sections of this book. These are areas in which the warp threads still survive but are unsupported by any intact weft and are bare of knots. Thus it's only a matter of time until frank voids develop and the descent into Hell is complete. The book is an absolute bargain and a step-by-step how-to that is clear, concise, well-illustrated, comprehensive, durable, and even lays flat when open for ready reference. Contains a wealth of info on rug structure which you need to understand in order to do proper repairs. There are several very old repairs on the Kazak that are put to shame by the very impressive results that I'm getting even as a first-timer. I may actually rework some of those old areas. I would caution that this is a very exacting and time consuming process. Your fingers might get a little sore. If your patience and frustration tolerance are low, you might not want to tread here. But the book assumes nothing, and the learning curve isn't too steep. An additional big benefit to doing your own work is the ability to promptly take care of small problems before they get to be big ones. The only thing that I might add to the sections on rewefting and reknotting is that I found a curved needle with an eye of sufficient size to accept 2 or 3 ply yarn a life saver.Update: I bought a lot of a broad assortment of colors of Paternayan yarn on the popular auction site, constructed an adjustable frame for repairs, and got an assortment of craft needles at the local fabric store. Along with some supplies (thread scissors, needle-nosed pliers, crochet hook, etc.) already around the house, all in for probably no more than $150 or much less than the cost of a single rug repair. We have about twenty rugs scattered about the house, varying in age (very old to antique) and quality but no dogs. All are in use on the floors. Some had minor issues (knotting, foundation, overcasting, end deterioration issues) that I remedied with the aid of this book. The work is tedious, but the results are astonishing (even my wife is blown away). Found a pair of surgical mosquito forceps to be very useful but not essential. As work proceeds, one begins to appreciate the interdependence of the various structural elements of a rug. Loose or absent knots and overcasting expose the foundation to damage. Broken warps and wefts and end or edge deterioration begin to result in a gradual loosening of adjacent knots and foundation and a needless and heartbreaking descent into ruin. It is gratifying to see these lovely and cherished pieces returned to structural soundness with the investment of time and meticulousness but not much more expense. The vast majority of rugs on that same popular auction site are dogs or worn beyond salvation, but I bought a very unusual and beautiful antique Malayer for cheap. It was very far from worn out but obviously needed some rehab. After some reknotting, minor foundation repair, edge overcasting, flat-woven end restoration, and about 5 weeks of time, the carpet is now totally beautiful and structurally sound. The question is no longer can I do this but rather should I and is the final product worth my time and effort. If you appreciate rugs, this book can enable and embolden you to perform magic.

It is wonderful to have a textbook that outlines all the things that can be done to repair rugs.

Excellent book with detailed instructions. I am not a rug repair professional, I just want to do minor repairs on most of my rugs and a major repair on one, if that is possible. This gave me plenty of background and instruction. I also bought a much cheaper book on the same topic and it did not give me, an amateur, enough instruction.l

This is a must have book for ANYONE that is in the business of cleaning loose rugs even if you don't offer rug repairs!Bottom line. If you are a cleaner and you are not offering repairs then you are missing the boat (and a lot of money)Peter Stone does a tremendous job of showing you step by step how to do all types of repairs from very simple to very complex. This is the rug repair bible for rug cleaners all over the world. Make sure you snap up this book right away.

Don't buy this book and then scoop up all those cheap, beat-up old Caucasians and Persians at yard sales that need a little TLC. I want them.

I really wanted one book on rug care and repair. I looked at all there was out there and got this one. It is ultra-clear, elegant binding in a lay-open comb, and lots of clear drawings and pictures. I found the info I wanted about washing rugs at home, plus a huge amount more about repairs, with some good info about the rugs themselves. This book shows more in-depth repairs than I would ever do, but seeing how it is done, helps with any less-intense repairs that I might attempt. Great book, very accessible.

This is a great book that explains how Persian and Oriental rugs are made and repaired. It is amazing the complexity of quality rug repair and restoration. There are detailed instructions on how to do repairs along with photographs. Recommended by BewyacGroup.com

Really thorough book. The definitive book on rug repair!

This is a wonderful book. Repair instructions are comprehensive and easy to follow; great illustrations and layout.Everything you need to know about oriental rugs, their construction and repair is here.

This is an amazing book!

useful and comprehensive

good

A really useful and practical guide, especially for those tricky repairs to selvages and fringes