Abstract:Rug Mat Yarns
Have you ever wondered what causes the yarns in your hand-knotted rug to "sprout"? It's normal and doesn't...
Have you ever wondered what causes the yarns in your hand-knotted rug to "sprout"? It's normal and doesn't affect your rug's durability.
Sprouting occurs because every knot in your rug is tied onto a warp yarn. Weavers sometimes pull the warps tighter to one side than the other, causing differential tension in the body of your rug.
Wool
Wool is the quintessential material for rugs. It is naturally durable, breathable and resistant to staining. It is also renewable and a non-allergenic material.
Wool can be handloomed, woven or tufted and is made from face yarns (lengthwise) and weft (widthwise) threads. Tufted rugs are densely packed with weft yarns, which protects individual strands and prevents pilling.
A woven rug is created on a loom that has both manual and mechanical controls. These rugs are generally stronger and longer lasting than tufted rugs.
A woven wool rug is often blended with synthetic fibers like nylon to increase the resilience of the yarns and improve their performance under foot traffic. Synthetic fibers can also add a soft feel or sheen to the wool. Other commonly used synthetic fibers include polyester, poly silk, tencel, viscose, art silk, sisal and linen.
Cotton
Cotton is a popular choice for rugs because of its low price. It is also more absorbent and will hold up better to spills than wool yarn.
In general, wool is preferred for its durability and strength. It can be machine-washed, is soft and squishy to the touch, and keeps its color for a long time.
However, it can easily get stretched out and prone to shedding. This is why many rugs use a blend of wool and synthetic materials, which adds more strength.
Polypropylene
Rug mat yarns can be made from several different fibers, but polypropylene is one of the most common and well-known. Also known as olefin, polypropylene is a type of plastic that is used in the manufacturing of carpets and other synthetic products.
PP yarn is typically woven together to create rugs that have a similar look and feel to wool, sisal or other natural fibers. It is a solution-dyed material that allows color to be produced while the fiber is still in the rug, which makes it colorfast and highly resistant to fading or washing out.
This means that it can be used indoors as well as outdoors, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas. Plus, polypropylene rugs are more durable and easier to clean than wool.
Silk
Silk rug mat yarns are a soft and luxurious alternative to wool. They are easy to clean and maintain and can last a lifetime when maintained properly.
Silk has a few unique properties that make it the perfect material for rugs: Hygroscopicity, low specific gravity and strength-in-fineness. It is also extremely flexible, allowing it to be given different shapes and patterns.
Unlike synthetic fibers, silk does not weaken when wet and is resistant to breaking down. That's why rugs made from this fiber can stand up to heavy use in high traffic areas.
In fact, a silk rug can be heirlooms that can be passed down through the generations. Its lustrous, shiny fibers add depth and color to any floor space.
