THE RUG MAKING

Our rugs are made in Kathmandu, Nepal and Bhadohi, India, both regions well known for their indigenous carpet making skills.

Amy has worked with the team in India since she began in 2005, and Kathmandu since 2015; both are family run businesses.

Throughout the process of making the rug each stage is carried out by hand using traditional techniques and tools.

The first stage is to dye the materials for the individual rug – the wools and silks are turned by hand in vats until the dye master approves the colours.

The yarns are then hung out to dry in every available space, often covering surrounding rooftops.

Once dried the wool and silk are hand spun to the correct ply and thickness needed for the knot number.

Images are then sent to Amy of the yarns dyed against the initial colour poms chosen to approve.

Once the threads are approved each piece is hand knotted on a loom; using graph paper to follow the design

Once the weaving is complete the rug is then washed to clean and colour fast it.

It is then put on a rack to stretch it and obtain as near as possible the right size.

The rugs are then dried outside in the natural sunlight.

Lastly is ‘finishing’ where the rug is hand bound and trimmed to the right pile height.

Images are then sent to Amy to approve before the rug is given the ‘ok’ to be sent.

We work with a charity called Care & Fair who ensure that no child labour is employed.

They also work with local schools introducing various projects and skills for future education.