I believe that this must be a very inferior wool; it sheds into balls. Perhaps this is because it is new and has been sheared and perhaps it takes a bit of time for the leftover cut bits to come away and only time and wear will tell. Somehow, I doubt it.  I was also totally unprepared for how big the knots are. I am trying to look at it like a "hooked rug" because I already have quite old oriental rugs and this is NOTHING like those. I do hope these knots are tied properly. I did not expect a truly fine oriental rug, but I expected more from a $1000 rug.