Flatweave
A flatweave has no pile and is only a display of the interlocking, and creative methods can be used to give a patterned look to the rug. This is either done by using different sizes of threads, changing the colors of threads or using unique styles of interlocking.
Durability
Product life of up to 10 years. Most flatweaves are reversible.
Pile Height
Flat. No pile.
Technique
Flatweaves are made by warp and weft threads on a loom.
Hand Knotted
A hand-knotted rug, is also largely referred to as an oriental rug. A hand knotted rug is a rug that is made by hand on a specialized vertical frame loom. The process of hand knotting rugs goes back a few thousand years. Produced using ancient techniques, knotted rugs are famous for their boundless design and color variations. Depending on the type of knots, the size of the wool strands, and strength of the knots, the density and quality of a rug is determined. Individual knotted rugs can take months, sometimes even years, to make due to the precision and level of skill required.
Durability
Hand Knotted rugs can last a lifetime with the correct love and care.
Pile Height
Low to medium. Hard wearing.
Technique
Yarn is knotted on warp thread. Extremely intricate, durable and valuable.
Knots Per Square Inch
What is KPSI?
Individual, often uneven knots are visible on the back of these rugs, mirroring the pattern visible on the front. A more intricate design will have a higher density of knots at the back, the quality is measured in KPSI (Knots per square inch).
How do you measure KPSI?
Turn a hand-knotted rug over and count the individual knots you can see running vertically for 1’’ and then horizontally for 1’’. Multiplying these two figures together will give you the overall KPSI.
Example of KPSI
Higher KPSI also means more time on the loom, ranging from 5 to 12 months to completion.
The KPSI quality is displayed as vertical knots x horizontal knots e.g 10X10– quality.
Hand Loomed
The appearance and touch of handloom rugs are indeed unique and best suited to decorate any interior. Made using two sets of intersecting threads, a warp is kept taut on the loom and the weft which is thrown through the warp threads, usually with a shuttle. After weaving is complete, a backing is attached to the rug using synthetic latex material which gives strength to the handloom carpet and prevents unravelling.
Durability
Product life of up to 10 years.
Pile Height
Low to medium. Comfortable underfoot.
Technique
Weavers use a loom to create these rugs by interweaving of the weft threads.
Hand Tufted
Hand-tufted rugs are made by punching strands of wool into a canvas stretched on a frame with a manually operated tool. When the rug features a pattern, the design is created on wax paper to set a trace. Expert artisans tuft over the pattern, paying close attention to where the patterns are to be placed, and then paints the underside of the rug with latex glue and covers it with a backing canvas. On completion, the rug’s loops may be left visible, shaved down, or delicately carved to create a definition in the pattern.
Durability
Product life of up to 7 years. Hand tufted ranges come in a wide range of designs.
Pile Height
Medium to high. Very comfortable to walk on.
Technique
Tufted with loops of yarn instead of knots.
Machine Made
Durability
Product life of up to 10 years.
Pile Height
Low to medium. Comfortable underfoot.
Technique
Maching loomed on state of the art equipment.