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Shag Wool Rugs bring texture and richness into the interior decor in an all natural soft way. The durability and beauty of wool has made it stand the test of time.
The goal of this site is to provide great information about shag and wool rug styles, care, and places to buy. Please feel free to make recommendations. There is a lot to the process. Please email tips and advice to admin@shagwoolrug.com |
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Shag Wool Rugs
Shag wool rugs are soft to the touch, economical, and classical to have in the home or office.
Soft Touch of Wool
Have you ever touched a real sheep. The wool on the sheep feels incredible. The feel is much better than wool products you have felt. The reason is that the sheep produces natural oils that make the wool extra soft. Have you ever shaved with Edge shaving cream? It comes out in a green paste that you lather up until it looks like regular shaving cream. Then, when you shave, you will notice that your face feels extra soft and that the your blade sticks to the skin better. The result is that you get a closer shave and a softer face. The reason that the shaving cream works so well is that it has lanolin in it. Lanolin is a naturally occurring oil that is produced in sheep wool.
The first time I ever hear of lanolin was from my little league baseball coach. He loved lanolin and a soft mitt. He told us to all go out and buy some Edge shaving cream and to treat our mitts with it. Guess what happened. My mitt that was as hard as a rock came out way soft. It was like having a new glove. Ever since then, I think of sheep and wool and how lanolin makes everything so soft.
Over time, the natural oils of the wool come up to the surface of the wool rug to give it a bit more shiny look. A lot of people like this aged look.
Two Types of Wool Used in Rug Manufacturing
Live Wool
Live wool is freshly sheared off the sheep. The wool still has the natural oils in it. Wool of this quality will be soft to the touch. Have you ever wondered why there is such a difference in wool prices? The reason is that live wool is much more expensive to purchase for production than dead wool.
Dead Wool
Some wool is taken from the slaughter of animals. The wool is removed with harsh chemicals that strip the wool of many of its unique and wonderful qualities. Dead wool is dry to the touch, brittle, and abrasive. Dead wool is not as durable as live wool.
Rugs Patina With Age
High quality shag wool rugs made of live wool will patina with age. The natural oils will come to the surface of the rug and make it a little bit shiny. People think that they tend to appear more like a silk rug with age. People actually think that an aged wool rug looks better than a new one.
A dead wool rug will have a dull look to it. Dead wool rugs do not have a sheen to them.
Economy of Shag Wool Rugs
Wool is more expensive than other products. Wool will cost more than nylon, polypropylene (olefin), polyester, and cotton. How than is wool economical to own?
As a rule of thumb, it is more expensive in the long run to buy inferior products. One reason is that people will often be unhappy with the inferior product and then change it in a couple of years. If you can't be proud of your purchase, what does that say about your home? However, there are some real reasons that wool is better than these other products.
Wool Beats Competition
Polyester and olefin crush easily. In no time at all, the wear spots are easily visible. Do you like the carpet that shows your footprints in it? It looks cool at first, but then the footprints stay forever and it doesn't seem so cool anymore?
Nylon can stain. The dye receptors in nylon can accept color. If you spill the wrong thing on nylon, the carpet must be replaced.
Cotton is much lighter than wool. Cotton is not nearly as durable as wool. Do you have any cotton shirts or cotton underwear? Most of us know how easily cotton can wear out. Cotton is a lighter material that is made for lighter things. A rug should be heavy and sturdy so that it can last a long time.
Still, the best reason to buy a shag wool rug is because they look the best. With a single glance, you can tell a wool rug from the others.
Finally, wool is naturally flame retardant.
Collectibility of Shag Wool Rugs
A wool rug must be handmade to go up in value. It will take a craftsman up to an entire year just to make one rug. When you look at a wool rug and think how difficult it looks to produce then it makes sense that it takes someone a very long time to do it by hand.
Most of the wool rugs that you come across will be machine made. Machine made wool rugs are produced in minutes. They do not maintain their value. Machine made rugs lack originality, durability, and most of all charm. Most stores you go to will not have a single handmade wool rug. The price is often too high for people.
You can tell if a wool rugs is handmade or not by turning it over. If the back shows the same pattern as easily as the front, then it is a good sign it is hand made.
The next test is to bend the rug and look for knots in the pile. The knots hold the wool in place. If you see rows of knots and the back and front match it is a handmade wool rug.
Finally, look for an original design. The more intricate beautiful designs will be more sought after. Red Persian rugs are also a popular choice that many people look for.
Wool Rugs are Classical
The famous Pazirik rug was found, in 1949, by professor Rodenko, in Siberia. The rug is around 2,500 years old. This rug used the Turkish knots and was preserved due to the cold climate of Siberia.
In other words, shag wool rugs have been around for a very long time. Persian rugs have long been sought after as symbols of power and prestige. People know just how difficult and time consuming it is to create a rug masterpiece. Rugs have stood the test of time and will stay in style forever.
If you like to create a natural and classical look, then a shag wool rug is a great choice for you.
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