Kelim Rugs
Kelim or Kilim rugs are currently experiencing a great comeback. The variety and combinability of kilims with modern living styles ensures that this type of rug meets many tastes. Some of the kilim rugs are very colorful and range from red, orange, brown, blue, green or turquoise. Other Kelim style rugs are more reserved in the colors black, gray, brown or beige. Kilims combine classic patterns and materials with modern furnishings. This type of rug is timeless - modern. The kilim has a long tradition in the Orient and was originally made for the personal use of nomads. Each of our kilims transports a piece of traditional craftsmanship via Berlin directly to a new home. A kilim rug can transform a room. As a design element, a kilim can be used in relation to architecture or other interior decoration. An interplay of form and color, which in many respects offers creative points of contact, distinguishes Kelim rugs. While geometric patterns on a kilim can, for example, pick up on modern building elements, a sea of rug colors ranging from turquoise to orange can set wonderful accents between exposed concrete in gray. Handicraft was and is modern and finds a traditional expression in a kilim by The Knots from Berlin, the combination of vintage and future. With a kilim every living room - whether in Berlin or elsewhere - can be transformed into a small oasis of the Orient.
WHAT CHARACTERISES A KELIM?
Kelim means flat weave. According to the name, a kilim is a woven rug and not a knotted rug. Woven rugs in various sizes are found in many cultures around the world. However, only flatweaves from the Balkans, the Near East and the Middle East are called kilims. The most common material used in making a kilim is sheep's or goat's wool. Cotton is not found in oriental kilims. A kilim always consists of a weft and a warp thread, which can be processed in very different ways. As a basic form, this structure has been one of the simplest weaving methods since at least ancient times and is still modern. Despite the simplicity of this rug-making technique, an incredible variety and beauty is possible in the design of a kilim. The pattern of the kilim is always determined by the weft thread. This means that the warp thread of such a rug can also be undyed. The weft thread of the kilim, on the other hand, is used in different colours: from blue, turquoise or green to shades of red, orange and brown. Grey or black are also very fashionable. The result is kilims of the most diverse colours. In addition to the rug colour, a kilim is also characterised by its shape. The kilim motifs also go back to a centuries-old tradition. In the past, the rugs and wall hangings of nomadic tribes were decorated with emotional expressions or images of the natural environment. Especially floral patterns as a connection to nature can be seen on kilims. But animal prints are also frequent motifs for traditional rugs. Each kilim tells its own story with its pictures and beyond, a story that has been passed on with the rug over generations. The history of the kilim also tells a story of working women in the nomadic peoples. Today, the rugs still bear witness to knowledge and craftsmanship that have been passed on from mothers to daughters for centuries. The design of a kilim also indicates the regional origin of the respective rug. The motifs provide clues to different tribes of nomads and their dispersal and movements. Today, modern adaptations of vintage motifs adorn rugs that are in the line of kilims. Modern rugs not only take up the shapes and colours - from green, blue, grey, black to red, orange, brown, beige - of traditional kilims in their design, but also still resemble the technique of their predecessors.
TYPES OF WEAVING
Kilims can be distinguished on the basis of different types of rug weaving. Regional references become visible here as well. Slit kilims are woven in such a way that a slit is created. The weft thread of the rugs of this type is reversed and the thread ends are always woven along. As a result, this kilim rug has an identical front and back and can be used on both sides. Kilims that are embroidered are called cicim kilims. Nomadic kilims, which are made solely for home use, usually have a striped pattern and are woven from goat hair, are called Keci kilims. The Soumakh kilim stands out because of its fine pattern. The weft thread is passed over four warp threads and finally wrapped around two. The ends are simply left hanging out on the back of the kilim. The Verneh kilim usually shows a pattern thread on a base fabric in the colours blue-red.
HOW ARE THE KELIMS FROM THE KNOTS DIFFERENT
What all our kilim rugs have in common is that they are handmade according to traditional craftsmanship - with a modern twist. Furthermore, only natural fibres, namely wool, are used. Kilims can be decorated flexibly. Whether in modern lofts with concrete floors or on floorboards in old flats in Berlin - a kilim creates something special everywhere. The rugs are used in the living room or bedroom or as runners in the kitchen, bathroom or hallway. We divide our Kilim rugs into three categories, which differ in origin, type and appearance of the rugs. In each of the rug categories mentioned, runners are also available. All kilims are unique pieces and differ in size, pattern and colour. Unique colour combinations in the interplay between red and blue, within beige and brown or simply black / grey make our rugs truly unique. Traditional and modern are literally closely linked in our kilims.
Shazahir Kelim
Our Shazahir Kilims come from Afghanistan, where they are handmade from scratch. The creation of the patterns and the choice of colours are individually determined by the weaver. As a result, each rug looks different and is truly unique. They are characterised by their striking patterns, some of which are geometric and some of which have floral features. Many of these rugs show very intense colours that are mixed (from green to pink, blue and red or orange), while other pieces are more reserved or light in colour (black, grey, brown or beige tones). Our boho version of the kilim rug.
Fine Kelim
The Fine Kelims also come from Afghanistan. These rugs are hand-woven from Persian wool, which is very finely spun. Because the wool is so finely spun, these kilim rugs are particularly fine and tightly woven. They show very subtle patterns, some of which are only recognisable at second glance. The colours move in pastel nuances, some of which blend into each other. Our Fine Kelims are very elegant and underline a puristic look. The modern kilim rug.
Antique / Vintage Kelim
Usually, a rug is called antique if it is 80 years old or older. In our shop, rugs that are 50 years old also fall under the category of antique kilims. The Vintage Kilims we offer come mainly from Iran, which means they are Persian pieces. Our Antique Kilims are not produced for commercial purposes, but partly by nomads for their own use. They were originally used to decorate tents as floor coverings or wall hangings, but also as bags or saddles for donkeys. These rugs are real vintage pieces that were actually in use and tell a story all their own. The rugs have been thoroughly and professionally cleaned and are therefore in mint condition. What makes these vintage rugs special is the quality wool of the local fat-tailed sheep from which they were made. This wool is much higher quality and more robust than the largely industrialised (New Zealand) wool that is widely used in rug manufacturing today. All Antique Kilims are dyed with pure natural colours. Our timeless classics among the kilims.
SPACE FOR KELIM RUGS
The rich colours of these rugs create special moments in different living environments. A kilim is not just a classic living room or bedroom rug, but can be used in many different ways. A kilim runner is also excellently suited for the hallway. Whether old floorboards or modern floor coverings - kilims can be wonderfully combined. The colour of the room and the rug can harmonise fantastically. Whether a kilim in blue for the colour concept of the bathroom, discreet in grey for the bedroom or beige in the living room is up to taste. The bright colours of these rugs make it possible both to incorporate other elements of the interior design and to consciously set something in contrast to them. The unique pieces from THE KNOTS offer the right rug for every individual room.
HOW DO YOU CLEAN A KILIM RUG?
A kilim is very durable and long-lasting - just like its history. The material of the kilim is particularly suitable for a floor rug, as wool is naturally dirt-resistant. The smooth surface and the firm weave of the kilim ensure that dust and dirt cannot settle. Over the years, the rugs are exposed to natural wear and tear, for example when they are used as runners in frequently used rooms. As an alternative to professional rug care, there are some precautions and home remedies that support the longevity of rugs. The maintenance routine includes vacuuming and beating. Beating out a rug is the best way to get rid of stubborn dust and is especially recommended for long-pile Berbers, but can also do no harm to the kilim. The prerequisite for this is that you have the possibility to hang the rug outdoors. There, the rug can be beaten thoroughly with a rug beater. Vacuuming and/or rug beating should be done regularly to keep the kilim in good condition for a long time. In addition, table salt can be used for cleaning. This is simply moistened and spread over the entire rug and then vacuumed off again after a few hours. Before using this method of rug cleaning, the durability of the colours on the rug should be tested on a concealed part of the kilim, for example on the back. In addition, the following home remedies are recommended for special stains: Red wine stains, for example, are particularly annoying on the surface of a beige or light grey rug. Such stains in the rug can be treated with salt. Put salt on the stain, moisten it with a little water (if the stain has already dried) and rub it from the outside to the inside (not the other way round!). When everything has dried, you can vacuum the salt off the rug. Alternatively, you can try to remove the stain on the kilim with white wine. The best way to get rid of chocolate stains is to let them solidify with the help of ice cubes. Then you can rub them off. Coffee stains on a rug can be cleaned with little effort by putting mineral water or baking soda on the stain. To do this, moisten the baking soda, wait for a while and vacuum when everything has dried. Simple glass cleaner or classic bile soap is also often suitable as an all-purpose stain remover for rugs. If all else fails, try this before having the rug professionally cleaned.
SHIPPING KELIM RUGS
In nomadic tradition, every kilim from THE KNOTS goes through its own travel story - first from its place of origin, such as Afghanistan or Iran, to us. The further shipping of the kilims from Berlin is free of charge throughout Germany. The rugs are packed in a cardboard box of the appropriate size for runners or wider pieces. We take special care that our rugs arrive safely and undamaged. The delivery time for the rugs is 5-7 days. Every Kelim rug order is subject to free return shipping within 14 days to our return address in Berlin.