Kilims and flatweaves
Kilim and flatweave care.
Flatweaves are woven without knots or pile, and that changes almost everything about how they are cleaned and repaired. With no pile to protect it, the weave itself takes every footstep, and the bright dyes many flatweaves are known for can move easily in water. We treat them as the distinct textiles they are.
Kilim, soumak and dhurrie.
The weaves
A kilim is a tapestry weave: colored wefts packed over the warps to form the design, often with small slits where one color meets another. Kilims are light, reversible and prone to open slits and worn patches.
A soumak is weft-wrapped, with the wefts wound around the warps, which gives a thicker, herringbone surface and loose floats on the back. Dhurries, from India, are usually cotton flatweaves, heavier and more robust, but often dyed with colors that bleed.
Each of these is built differently, wears differently and reacts to water differently. A washing method that suits a heavy wool soumak can ruin a finely woven silk-accented kilim, which is why we identify the weave, fibers and dyes of every flatweave before deciding how to clean it.
Kilim
Slit-tapestry weave, light and reversible.
Soumak
Weft-wrapped, with floats on the back.
Dhurrie
Usually cotton, heavier, dyes that can bleed.
Other flatweaves
Jajims, cicims and mixed techniques.
Why they need different washing.
Washing
Many flatweaves were made to be colorful, and a number of their dyes, particularly reds and some synthetic colors, are unstable in water. Every color is tested before the rug is wet, and where dyes are fugitive the wash is adjusted, cooled and kept brief, or the rug is cleaned by another method.
With no pile to hold soil, dirt sits directly in the weave and abrades it. Dusting is gentle, from both sides, since most kilims are reversible. The rug is then washed by hand, flat, and rinsed thoroughly. Flatweaves shrink and distort more readily than pile rugs, so drying is flat and closely controlled, and the rug is blocked square as it dries. For general cleaning, see hand washing.
Why they need different repair.
Repair
Repairing a flatweave means reweaving wefts, not tying knots. Worn areas are rewoven weft by weft in matched wool over new or original warps, following the design. Open slits are closed with fine stitching that holds them without distorting the weave. On soumaks, loose floats on the back are secured before they catch and pull.
Many flatweaves have been repaired before, sometimes with patches of unrelated textile or knots tied into the weave, which does not suit it. Where old repairs are causing harm we take them out and redo them in the right technique. On pieces of real age, we may recommend stabilizing worn areas with fine support stitching rather than reweaving them, so the original remains visible.
Ends and sides fail on flatweaves as on pile rugs; see fringe, selvedge and edge repair. Fragile pieces meant for the wall can be mounted; see rug mounting and display.
What to send us.
What to send us
Send photographs of both sides, close-ups of any holes, slits or worn areas, and the approximate size. Tell us whether the rug is used on the floor or hung, and whether it has been washed before, and if so whether any colors ran.
Timelines and pricing.
Timelines and pricing
Flatweave cleaning is priced by the square foot and repair is quoted after assessment; see our pricing page. Workshop rug cleaning takes about two weeks on average; every rug is different, and any repairs needed will extend that time. Pickup and delivery are free.
Frequently asked.
Questions
- Can a kilim be washed in water?
- Usually, once every color has been tested. Where dyes are unstable we adjust the wash or clean by another method.
- Why has my kilim shrunk or gone out of square?
- Flatweaves distort easily when wet or dried unevenly. Controlled drying and blocking can often bring them back square.
- Can holes in a kilim be repaired?
- Yes. Losses are rewoven weft by weft in matched wool, following the original design, and slits are closed by hand.
Related reading
Antique rug restoration steps, from intake to return
What actually happens between the day a rug leaves your floor and the day it comes back: seven stages, in the order a conservator works them.
Searching for rug repair near me? What to ask before you hand it over
Not every shop that says rug repair does the work in house. Six questions that separate a conservator's studio from a drop-off counter.
Inquiry
Have a flatweave assessed.
Send photographs of both sides and any damage. We reply with a written estimate.