Art - Cotton

Although wool is the best material for the rug's pile, it is not a good choice for the foundation (warp & weft). A rug made with a wool foundation will not lie flat and will be crooked (especially after washing). Only the nomadic tribes still use wool for foundations mainly because they do not own land nor stay in one place long enough to grow cotton. Cotton makes the best foundation. Silk makes a good warp thread if extreme thinness is desired.

A wool foundation can be recognized by its fringe which is darker and thicker than a cotton fringe (warp).

Advantages of a
Cotton Foundation

1. It's stronger
2. It's thinner
3. Less stretching
4. It shrinks evenly
5. The will keep its shape
6. The rug will lie flat

Amazing but True

A Chinese 90 line 9 x 12 rug has more than
ten miles of warp and weft thread in its foundation!

Warp:	21,060 ft.
Thin Weft:	25,952 ft.
Thick Weft:	9,720 ft.
Kilim:	360 ft.
Total:	57,092 ft.