Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Goat Hair Kilim Repair Project - Before and After
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
Turkish Kilim Restoration
Monday, December 28, 2020
Navajo Rug Cleaning
Monday, December 14, 2020
Moroccan Rug - Binding Comes Undone
A rug can withstand decades of daily life with minimal maintenance. Occasionally, however, a rug will need a little more than a good cleaning to keep it as beautiful and structurally sound as it needs to be. This is usually in the form of reinforcement of the edges, especially the fringed edges. Over the years, the original binding that most weavers place along the fringed edges will start to come undone. This is sometimes hastened by aggressive vacuuming, or children or pets tugging at the edges. If this is repaired before any of the pile becomes compromised, this is a straightforward repair. And it will take considerably less time, and money, to repair a binding along a fringed edge than it would to reknot a missing or damaged area of the pile. This is the reason we always recommend that binding is always done as soon as it becomes damaged - namely to avoid more significant damage to the rug itself. As the old adage goes, a stitch in time saves nine (and sometimes more!). --www.traditionalrugrepair.com
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
What To Do When Rugs Have a Very Bad Odor or Are Very Stained or Very Dirty
A good thorough professional cleaning about every two years for the vast majority of hand knotted rugs will help ensure that a beautiful rug can last for decades, maybe even longer. A cleaning can remove dirt particles that can become embedded deep in the pile of a rug, particles which even the strongest vacuum can not reach. There are times, however, when a rug needs a deeper cleaning beyond the standard professional cleaning. Deeper cleanings are warranted in various instances, such as when a rug is kept in a very high traffic area, such as an office or main entry hall, has many stains, or is kept in storage for many years in humid conditions. In these instances, we do a deeper cleaning which begins with soaking a rug for a day or so in a pool of water and soap that helps dislodge particles and odors. The soaking is followed by a thorough brushing, rinse, and vacuuming. The rug is then thoroughly dried. In the great majority of instances, this deep cleaning can clean even the dirtiest rugs, although there are stains that can be impossible to remove. --
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Kilim Repair
After all these years, I still get excited when I start a new kilim restoration project. I enjoy every stage of the process, including the yarn selection that is so critical to how the restoration looks when it is completed. While it is never possible to find a perfect match, we generally have success in making sure that the shade we choose will allow the restoration to blend into the original piece as much as possible. Whenever I start something new, I always marvel that it takes so few tools to create, or in this case, restore, something that will likely outlive our generation by so many years. It's a way of connecting to the past, and to the future. And in that fact, I find great peace and beauty. --www.traditionalrugrepair.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Moroccan Rugs - A Symphony of Color
When some people think of Moroccan rugs, they think of the beautifully graphic Beni Ourain rugs that have resided in gorgeous interiors for decades. They think of plush rugs with pale backgrounds and bold sparse graphic designs. But those monochromatic rugs are just but one kind of rugs in what is a wonderfully diverse and rich catalogue of Moroccan rugs. There are some Moroccan rugs that blend a symphony of color into rich and exquisitely vibrant designs. The rug above is an example of one such rug. The designs can be equally graphic, but the color palette is anything but simple. Colors that one would think of as clashing blend beautifully to create these stunning works of art. And like all other beautiful hand knotted rugs - they are usable art that adorn our homes and elevate our every day.
Saturday, September 19, 2020
Antique Turkish Kilim Cleaning
It is no secret to readers of this blog that kilims hold a special place in my heart. It is not that I don't love rugs, but maybe it's because kilims have historically been underappreciated that causes me to love them so. Their motifs can be as graphic and detailed as the finest hand knotted rugs, and their thin nature makes them perfect for hanging on a wall like the art that they truly are. Caring for kilims is similar to caring for hand knotted rugs. Regular vacuuming (without the beater bar), rotating and inspecting are all that is needed to keep them looking as beautiful as they can be. Every two years or so, we recommend professional kilim cleaning. The cleaning process, as shown above, involves soaking the piece in water, shampooing it thoroughly from the front and back, and rinsing it all the while controlling for any color run. Equally as important, the kilim must be thoroughly dried so as to prevent any wrinkling or shape loss. With these minimal steps, kilims can be preserved for decades, and even longer. --
Monday, September 14, 2020
How Can I Tell if My Rug Has Moths?

Thursday, September 10, 2020
Antique Kazakh Rug Restoration
Kazakh rugs are among my favorites. Their bold geometric motifs make such a strong statement in any space, and the muted colors found in antique Kazakhs are rich, warm, and beautiful. For this reason, I love working on restoring antique Kazakh rugs. This rug above had some worn sections after a century or so of love and wear. We first professionally cleaned the rug, and then removed all compromised fibers. Next, we rebuilt the warp and began reknotting the missing pile and weft. Restoration projects such as these can take months, but they are well worth it. They can bring back a beloved piece for another century or so. And it's an honor to think about the original weaver of the rug and to imagine all that the rug has witnessed in its century of adorning a family's home.
Business Address: 353 W 48th Street New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212 300 3348
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Persian Rug Restoration - Before and After
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Persian Rug Restoration - Before Photo
Monday, August 10, 2020
How to not store a wool rug.
Monday, July 20, 2020
Turkish Kilims
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Caring for Moroccan Rugs
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
What Does Moth Damage Look Like in an Oriental Rug
Monday, June 15, 2020
Summer 2020
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Turkish Kilim Restoration - Before and After
Friday, February 21, 2020
Kilim Restoration - Before
Kosker Traditional Rug Repair
353 West 48th street, New York, NY 10036
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Caring for Kilims - Cleaning
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Oushak Rug Repair - After a/k/a Final Result
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Oushak Rug Repair - Process
www.traditionalrugrepair.com
Kosker Traditional Rug Repair
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Oushak Rug Repair - Before
--www.traditionalrugrepair.com
Kosker Traditional Rug Repair
353 W 48th Street, New York, NY 10036
Monday, January 20, 2020
Which is the Bigger Challenge - Rug Restoration or Kilim Restoration?
Is It a Problem If My Persian Rug Has Uneven Fringes?
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Shaggy Moroccan Rugs - Moth Damage
Thursday, January 16, 2020
What are those White Dots that have Recently Appeared On My Oriental Rug?
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Oriental Rug Restoration - It's All in the Details
What makes for a successful Oriental rug restoration? There are many elements involved. First, the right yarns - the right texture and shade will go a long way in making for a seemingly "invisible" restoration that blends into the original. Second, the proper set up - something that allows for the damaged area of the rug to be stretched out is also important. Next, a uniform and tight grid to work on (the foundational warp and weft) is critical. Lastly, a lot of time, patience, and skill. These last elements are important because a proper restoration is nothing without attention to detail. Getting the knotting right and following the pattern to recreate the missing motifs is important if the restoration will be successful. --
www.traditionalrugrepair.com
Kosker Traditional Rug Repair
Address: 353 W 48th St, FL 4, New York, NY 10036