Knotty 101

The Trick to Choosing a Hand-Knotted Rug

Before you begin looking for the right hand-knotted rug for your space, there are a few criteria that you may want to consider. Ask yourself a few questions, like:

• Size: Believe it or not, size matters! What size is the room you’re considering for your rug? What size rug is right for that room?
• Quality: What kind of quality are you looking for in your rug? A medium- to high-quality 8’x10’ hand-knotted wool rug can have anywhere from 700,000 to 1.4 million knots whereas an 8’x10’ silk rug can run 4 to 7 million knots.
• Location: What kind of room is it? Are you thinking about a hand-knotted rug for your entryway, kitchen, living room, bedroom, etc.?
• Style and Color: Do you like bold, geometric designs and colors, or are you a fan of a more neutral palette and muted design?

You may not know the answers to these questions – that’s okay! The Knotty Rug’s mission is to help you navigate through the expansive selection of hand-knotted rugs to find the rug that’s perfect for you. Visit our store or contact us today to discuss your questions with our sales team.

How to Tell if a Rug is Hand-Knotted

The best way to tell if a rug is hand-knotted is by looking at the back. Once you turn one of our handmade rugs over, you will be able to see the individual, hand-tied knots that make up the intricate design of the rug. A true hand-knotted rug will have a fine weave to clearly express the motifs of the design. A bold geometric design may have less than 100 knots per square inch (psi) while a detailed pattern may require 300 psi or more. A knotted rug has pile that is tied around the foundation, and the yarn can’t be pulled out, meaning it can last forever. It may take up to a year for a weaver to produce a hand-knotted rug, but they’re the most desirable because they’re truly one of a kind.

While tightness and regularity of weave are important, the quality of the wool determines the resilience and lasting patina of a rug. The quality and fastness of the dyes are also important. When looking at modern rugs (those woven in the past few decades), you should look at the “personality” rather than “nationality” of the rug. However, if you’re looking for a handmade rug from a particular region, The Knotty Rug stocks rugs from all over the world and we will do our best to help you find the rug of your dreams.

Visit our store and let us walk you through our expansive selection of hand-knotted rugs. We will help you with every aspect of buying a unique handmade rug that meets your style, color, and size requirements.