Weaving Techniques
How a rug is made decides how it looks, how it feels, how long it lasts and what it costs. We make rugs in four ways. Each has its own character.
Hand-Knotted
The weaver ties every knot by hand, one by one, around the warp threads of the loom. When a row is finished, a weft thread is passed through and beaten down to hold it. Then the next row begins.
It is the slowest way to make a rug, and the most lasting. A well-made hand-knotted rug can be cleaned, repaired and kept for decades.
Hand-Tufted
The design is drawn onto a cotton cloth stretched on a frame. Following the lines, the artisan pushes yarn through the cloth with a hand-held tufting tool. The back is then sealed with latex and covered with a second cloth.
Quicker to make than a knotted rug, with a soft, even pile and a lower price.
Handloom
Woven on a hand-operated loom, much like cloth, but with heavier yarn. The weaver passes the yarn between the warp threads and packs each row tight with a beater.
Dense and even. Well suited to solid colors, stripes and simple patterns.
Flatweave
No knots and no pile. The rug is only warp and weft, woven tightly together. The color comes from the yarn; the pattern comes from the way the threads cross.
Thin, light and easy to move. Dhurries and kilims are flatweaves.
Which one is right for you?
| Technique | Delivery to your door | Lifespan | Shedding | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-Knotted | 5–6 weeks | Decades, with care | Low, after the first weeks | Dense, firm pile |
| Hand-Tufted | 3–4 weeks | Several years | Medium to high at first | Soft, plush pile |
| Handloom | 3–5 weeks | Many years | Low to medium | Dense, even pile |
| Flatweave | 3–5 weeks | Many years | Low | Thin and flat |
Delivery times include making the rug and 5–7 days of courier shipping.
Common questions
What is the difference between hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs?
In a hand-knotted rug, every knot is tied by hand around the warp, so the pile is locked into the structure. There is no glue, and the rug can be repaired. In a hand-tufted rug, yarn is pushed through a cloth with a tufting tool and held in place with a latex backing. Tufted rugs are quicker to make and cost less; hand-knotted rugs last longer.
Which rug is best for a high-traffic area?
A hand-knotted wool rug, or a tightly woven wool flatweave or handloom rug. Wool springs back after being walked on, and a dense weave holds its shape. For hallways and entries, a flatweave is also easy to lift and clean.
Do handmade rugs shed?
Pile rugs release loose fibers in the first weeks or months. This is normal and slows with regular vacuuming. Hand-tufted rugs shed more at first; flatweaves shed the least. More on shedding.
Why does a handmade rug cost more than a machine-made rug?
A machine-made rug is produced in hours. A handmade rug takes weeks of skilled work, row by row, using natural fibers. You pay for that time, and you get a rug that lasts much longer.
Keep reading
- Rug Materials — Wool, jute, wool & jute and viscose. How each one feels, wears and cleans.
- Rug Size Guide — Standard sizes, and the right size for each room.
- Rug Care — Everyday care, spills, shedding and deep cleaning.