Hand Made Tufted Wool Viscose Indian Rug
- Model Number: Hand Knotted
- Material: Wool
- Feature: Washable
- Technics: Handwoven
- Style: Modern
- Shape: Custom
- Use: Home
- Pattern: New Design
- Location: Bedroom, Home, Office, Outdoor
- Age Group: Adult
- Pile height: plush
- Season: All-Season
The carpets of this collection are handwoven with handtufting technique.
With this method, the weaver uses a specific tool to push wool's thread through a matrix cotton cloth which he previously traced the negative design on. The weaver follows the design's trace, covering every cloth's section with relating wool's colour.
After weaving, he glues a cloth to the back to fix the pile and he completes finishing process cropping, carving and brushing the carpet.
Note: Product's small irregularities are not defects, but proofs of handmade manufacturing process.
All the carpets of this collection can be customized changing sizes and colours on client's request.
To an untrained eye it is difficult to tell the difference between hand made, hand knotted, and machine made rugs. This guide will help you understand the differences and give you the advantage of making an informed buying decision when shopping for rugs.
Hand Knotted Rugs
Also called Oriental rugs, hand knotted and hand woven rugs are often collectibles. The quality of these rugs depends on numerous factors, such as the knot count, dyes used and quality of the yarns. Hand knotted rugs are typically more costly, but the life span of these rugs is greater and therefore usually a better value for your money.
Example of a Rug Weaving Loom
Flat Weave or Hand Woven Rugs
Flat weave is another category of hand made rugs. These rugs are hand woven in a flat weave pattern and there is no pile. There is virtually no height to the rug. Soumak, Dhurrie, kilim and braided are all types of flat weave rugs. With a flat weave rug you will definitely want to put a rug pad under it to help it stay in place and provide a little more cushion to the rug.
Flat Weave Rugs have no pile
Hand Crafted Rugs or Hand Tufted Rugs
Hand tufted rugs are another type of rug that is considered hand made or hand-crafted. This particular type of rug is made using a modified hand held drill gun that inserts the pile into a cloth foundation which creates a loop pile. If the loop pile is sheared, it then becomes a cut pile. The loop pile rug, if not sheared, is called a "Hand-Hooked" rug.
Some designs have both loop and cut pile combined to create a dimensional effect to the pattern. A latex coating is then applied to the back of the rug to hold the "tufts" in place. A canvas type fabric is then applied over the latex coating to finish the back of the rug.
These rugs have a hand made look but they cost much less because using the gun speeds up the process dramatically. For example, a good quality 8′ x 10′ hand knotted rug might take anywhere from 7 to 14 months, depending on the quality. While the same size rug made in a hand-tufted method might take one day.
Although Hand Tufted rugs can be just as beautiful as hand knotted rugs, they typically are not of value to a rug collector or someone who is looking to buy an Oriental rug as an investment.
Hand Tufting Gun
A latex coating is then applied to the back of the rug to hold the "tufts" in place. A canvas type fabric is then applied over the latex coating to finish the back of the rug.
These rugs have a hand made look but they cost much less because using a gun speeds up the process dramatically. For example a good quality 8′ x 10′ hand knotted rug might take about 10 to 14 months, while the same size rug made in a hand-tufted method might take one day.
Although Hand Tufted rugs can be just as beautiful as hand knotted rugs, they typically are not of value to a rug collector or someone who is looking to buy an Oriental rug as an investment.
Back of a Hand Tufted Rug
Look at the Back of the Rug
One of the best ways to tell the difference between hand knotted and machine made rugs is to look at the back of the rug. In hand knotted rugs the weaving and the knots will be slightly uneven and not perfectly uniform. On the other hand, a machine made rug will look very uniform and perfectly even. The more detail in the design when looking from the back, the better the quality of the rug.
Back of a Hand knotted Rug.
NOTE: the fringe is part of the rugs foundation.
Back of a Machine Made Rug. NOTE: The fringe is sewn on.
Look at the Fringes of the Rug
Another way to determine if a rug is hand knotted or machine made is to look at the fringes. As you can see from the picture above, the fringe of a Machine made rug is sewn on and is attached as a finishing touch.
The fringe of a hand knotted rug is an extension of the rug foundation, as in the picture below.
The foundation of a Hand Knotted rug becomes the fringes.
2. How To Tell If A Rug Is Wool or Synthetic?
Carpets have become an essence of home décor for many years now and oriental rugs add that extra exquisite and unique touch to your home décor. Once upon a time, if you went to buy an oriental rug, it would definitely have been made from wool or silk. Authentic oriental rugs are still made from wool. However, there are many fake rugs out there and they're made from synthetic fibers.
Many people wonder about the differences between synthetic and wool rugs. The difference can be as clear as night and day.
How to tell if a rug is wool or synthetic?
Check the labeling or product information
If you have access to product information about the rug, check the label of the rug for material list. Generally the label is the back and at the bottom of the rug. If there is a label, it's most definitely synthetic since synthetic materials must be labeled as such. Handmade rugs are not labeled in this way.
Most wall-to-wall carpets are made from synthetic fibers and about 60% of this synthetic wall-to-wall carpeting is made out of nylon.
Consider the price
One of the obvious ways that differentiate wool or synthetic rug is the price difference. If you're paying a low price, it means you're purchasing a synthetic fiber rug manufactured on power looms, an automated machine. While wool rugs are expensive since they are hand-woven by artisans and are high quality, lasting for generations.
Back of the rug
Flip the rug over and look at the bottom side. Wool rug has its back a mirror design of top front meaning the front and the back has the same decorative design. In synthetic rugs, the back of the rug is plastic and is glued. Also because the back of the wool rugs are soft, they won't damage the flooring underneath but hard plastic backing of synthetic rugs can scratch your hardwood floors
Judge by feel
Another area where wool stands above competing materials is in the feel of the rug. Wool rugs are soft on both sides. Does it feel soft, almost buttery? If so, then it is most likely a wool rug. However, if it feels hard, scratchy and stiff, it's most likely made from a synthetic material.
The hundreds of knots tied to create the patterns and design make wool rugs that are hand-woven soft, silky and luxurious to the touch. Their pile is sturdy, and the rug can maintain its shape for many decades thanks to its natural spiral construction.
Synthetic rugs will also feel soft to the touch but only last for few weeks or may be months. Soon they will feel tough and plastic. The back is hard to the touch and the fringe is sewn on. These materials are budget-friendly are aesthetically pleasing for a short amount of time. Synthetic rugs can last up to 5 years with professional cleaning and aren't resilient to foot traffic to the point wool rugs are.
Snip and burn
If you own a rug and you're curious whether it's wool or synthetic, snip a few small strands from inconspicuous area. You only need a small fiber, don't cut too much. Take tem outdoors and pinch the strand with a pair of tweezers or paper clip. Light the fibers on fire using a lighter. Take note of how they burn and smell.
If the carpet fibers melt and stick to side of lighter, the carpet is a synthetic one and if the fibers burn and crumble, your carpet is a wool carpet. If the burning fiber smells like celery, it is nylon. If it smells like asphalt, it is olefin. If it smells sweet, it is polyester. If it smells like burning paper, it is rayon. If it smells like charred meat, it is acrylic. If it smells like burning hair, it is wool.
Making the choice
Though, at the end of the day, it's clearly a matter of personal taste and what material suits you and your lifestyle best! Each type offers certain set of advantages and incurs a range of disadvantages.