Blue Pixilated Rag Rug, Medium Rectangle [Sinai Bedouin]

• Made of recycled cotton fabric scraps
• Handcrafted by Sinai Bedouin women
• Blue, grey, black & white stripped colours
• Great texture
• White cotton thread used as warp
• Small white cotton tassels at each end
• Reversible
• Handmade items are not symmetrical like machine made
• Totally unique, 1 of a kind piece
• Length- 186cm (73 inch's)
• Width- 132cm (52 inch's)
• Weight- 3.9kgs (8.6lbs)

THE STORY
Since the mid-1980's, the Bedouin who held desirable coastal property have lost control of much of their land. In southern Sinai, the beautiful coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba has experienced major development.  The government has focused it's interest on attracting international tourists and investors to it's newly created 'Egyptian Riviera'. Local Bedouin communities have largely missed out on the benefits of this development.  Post 2011 revolution, tourism numbers have plummeted, leaving the tribes with almost no reliable source of income.

In the economic sphere, Bedouin women have the right to work and produce income, as long as their work is carried out in a women’s space.  Most gain income though traditional handcrafts – weaving, rug-making, beading, embroidery. The money that a Bedouin woman makes is hers and she can manage it as she sees fit.

CLEANING

These rugs are flat woven in a dense, tight weave to resist heavy usage and repeated washing. Your rug can last for years and years. The best way to care for your rug us to "spot clean" as need be.

If the problem is simply dust, consider an old fashioned rug beating.  It’s what they did before vacuums.  Or you can just vacuum it.

You can use a washing machine, or even bathtub, to clean your rug with warm water (never hot). So you don't break your washing machine consider these points first. Will the rug fit?  How heavy will the rug be WHEN WET? You can safely guestimate that your rug will weigh at least double once wet.

The “weight when wet” problem affects bathtub cleaning as well.  Think through whether you will be able to safely lift twenty pounds of bulky, dripping rug in the position your bathtub allows you to assume, especially if you are planning to let the rug drip over a drying rack in the tub.

Most Laundromats have oversize front-loading washing machines that can safely handle a wet rag rug.  In addition, these machines are generally elevated, so unloading a wet rug is easier on your back.  You can also tumble-dry the rug in a Laundromat dryer.  We suggest you stop the dryer before the rug is completely dry to take it home, shape it and let it dry flat.

We'd love to hear from you if you have any questions.
*We do our very best to make sure colours are as close to real life as possible. Your computer may not. Silly machines.