Help! My Rug is Sprouting!

If you are ever admiring your rug and you notice a little piece of yarn sticking up a bit higher than the others, this is a phenomenon called “sprouting.” It’s not what it sounds like… your rug isn’t growing anything. It simply just means that a few threads have unraveled and are peeking above the rest of the rug. It’s very common and normal, but we have noticed that many of our clients find it very worrisome. This guide is here to put your mind at ease, explain sprouting in more detail, and teach you how to handle it. 

Why does sprouting happen? 

If you look closely at the treads on our wool rugs, you will notice that the fibers are hand-twisted. Sometimes, these threads will untwist, making the fibers appear a bit longer than they do on the rest of the pile. It can happen just after the rug is made or years into owning it. This is not a reflection of the rug’s quality, but simply a natural part of owning a handknotted rug. 

How do I fix sprouting? 

As already stated, sprouting does not mean that anything is wrong with your rug. It’s not even something that requires professional attention! To address sprouting, all you need to do is carefully take a pair of sharp scissors and trim the sprouting thread down to match the rest of the pile. Then vacuum to clean. Do NOT attempt to pull the thread out, as this will remove the whole thread from the rug. Trimming keeps all threads in place and evens everything out. 

But my machinemade rugs don’t sprout…? 

Machinemade rugs don’t sprout because the threads are loops, whereas handknotted rugs are made of what the name suggests: knots! Machinemade rugs are made up of an exact number of twists without any inconsistencies. This is not to be confused with durability, however. Handknotted rugs are more likely to last for generations, even as they sprout. 

Just like hand-thrown pottery will have character that can only be created by human hands, handknotted rugs will have sprouts. 

Will my rug keep sprouting as it gets older?

It depends. If your rug is in a high traffic area and you vacuum incorrectly, then sprouting might occur more frequently and you run the risk of damaging your rug to the point of unraveling. However, if you properly care for your rug and use the right vacuum, then fewer sprouts will show up over time. Check out our rug care tips to keep your rug looking right and keep it sprout free! If you still have questions or concerns about your wool and hand knotted rugs, we are happy to help. Call or email us at any time.