Hand-knotted rugs are known for being stunning, highly durable, and representing the remarkable talent of generations of artisans. Each is a one-of-a-kind design with vibrant colors and unique patterns that are impossible to replicate.
Buyers can become overwhelmed with the many choices when comparing different rugs to find the most suitable. Visit How to Select the Right Rug Size for Your Living Room – for tips on selecting the right rug for your living space.
The industry experts recommend clients consider hand-knotted wool rugs for the superior quality and extended longevity. Artisans knot thousands of threads, which prevents unraveling and encourages a lifetime of wear.
These rugs can truly transform a living space, particularly a large 9 X 12 size that encompasses the space, complementing your chosen design aesthetic and unifying the elements in the room for an overall cohesive feel.
The intricate and beautiful designs serve as individual works of art, but how can a buyer tell if the rugs they’re considering are, in fact, authentic hand-knotted wool rugs? Let’s learn.
Recognizing Hand-Knotted Wool Rugs
When comparing rugs to find the most suitable to suit your preferences and your home’s purposes, it can get confusing with the large selection, including the popular 9×12 size.
Fortunately, industry experts are always readily available to address questions and help with confusion, allowing more informed decision-making. You can also follow a few tips to recognize authentic hand-knotted wool rugs to ensure you invest in a genuine article. Let’s review.
The rug’s back
With a genuine hand-knotted rug, the same design on the front will be mimicked on the back. The front will be plush and soft, while the back will be intricately woven and hard.
A hand-tufted rug, on the other hand, has no design on the back but instead has a latex coating. If backing material is over the reverse side, it is not a traditional hand-knotted area rug.
The design symmetry
The pile on the back of an authentic rug will be symmetrical with that of the front. The greater the detail, the higher the rug’s quality. It’s essential to thoroughly inspect before committing to a purchase since these can be an incredible investment.
The knots
Because hand-knotted rugs are handmade, the knots can appear subtly uneven. When rugs are machine-made, the look is much more precise with uniform knotting. Traditional techniques incorporate extremely tight knots that are visibly tied closely together.
Machine-made knots are “makeshift,” meaning they’re produced to appear handmade, but in fact, they are simply attached to the material’s foundation with heat and high pressure.
The fringes
Fringes will give the rug authenticity away and reveal the techniques used to make the product. The fringes for a machine-made rug are typically sewn to the back of the rug as a finishing element. A genuine hand-knotted rug creates the fringes as an extension of the foundation.
These don’t look like an added decorative embellishment but show as an integrated part of the design. Because each knot is tied to a warp thread, the fringes develop naturally.
The quality
Many factors contribute to the rug quality, such as the knots per square inch, the yarn or material quality, and the dye used for production. The knot density, however, or knots per square inch, is the primary determinant of quality.
The material
Handmade rugs usually comprise natural materials such as wool. These give the rug a distinct quality and feel that synthetic fibers from machine-made rugs cannot. These natural fibers offer a higher durability and lead to the rug getting better as it ages.
Variations in color
Handmade rugs will have subtle variations in color due to hand-dying and natural dye products. These slight variations and transitions throughout the piece add to the uniqueness and charm of a handmade piece, truly making it one of a kind and setting it apart from the pristine products produced by machines.
People buying handmade rugs search for the “flaws” and tend to buy the most unusual pieces. The issue with machine-made rugs is they are too perfect. If a snag from a pet’s claw or another minor incident were to occur, it would blatantly stand out.
Reasons Wool Is an Ideal Natural Fiber for an Area Rug
A hand-knotted 9×12 rug made of wool is a cozy and comfortable addition to a living space or bedroom. It adds a large area of cushioning and warmth to hard floor surfaces. The natural fiber is durable, high quality, and beautiful.
Hand-knotted rugs made with wool endure an extended lifespan since wool can tolerate heavy wear without snapping or breaking like synthetic fibers do. These fibers have an almost springy response that allows them to bounce back when pressure is released, reducing pile compression.
Here are a few reasons wool should be among your top choices when searching for a new area rug for your home.
The hypoallergenic
Those suffering from allergies must have favorable materials surrounding them to prevent triggering a reaction.
Wool is unlikely to do so as it’s naturally hypoallergenic because the fibers consist of hidden pockets that trap fungal spores, dust, and pollen spreading through the air. This leaves better air quality free from allergens and fewer allergic symptoms.
Flame-resistance
Wool is naturally rich in moisture and oils, making it flame-resistant without a need to add synthetic fire-retardant chemicals. If a flame directly applies to wool, it will ignite. However, it will do so slowly, and the fibers will not support a flame when the fire starts.
The oils and moisture in the material work to extinguish the fire and hinder it from spreading. The material also doesn’t stick or melt to the floor beneath the rug like synthetic rugs. The fibers will sustain minimal damages if a cigarette or sparks from a burning fire land on the rug.
These are a good option for placement in a kitchen or in front of the fire in a family room.
Water repellent
Wool fibers have a lanolin-rich wax coating that’s invisible upon looking at them, but it renders the rugs naturally water-resistant by producing a natural protective barrier. Instead of moisture saturating the fibers and causing dampness with the material, water droplets that land on a wool rug bead up and roll off.
This quality allows homeowners to place these handmade rugs in virtually any room, including a moist, high-humidity bathroom.
Stain-resistance
The waxy covering that repels water resists stains for wool rugs as well. The fibers are wrapped in this protective barrier to prevent food or beverages such as wine from leaving stains in the materials.
Staining agents that fall onto the material will leave only superficial stains on the fibers, which can be simply wiped gently with a damp cloth. The fibers won’t be permanently discolored from the substance nor will you need to worry about costly dry cleaning following each spill. Read here for wool rug pros and cons.
Final Thought
Hand-knotted wool rugs, whether 9×12 or any size, are a costly albeit wise investment due to their incredible durability, extended longevity, and incredible beauty. These are a timeless addition to any design aesthetic with the ability to adapt to changes through renovations or redecorating.
They are unique compared to any other rug on the market and can become a cherished heirloom passed from one generation to the next. Each rug tells its own story through its artistic design, colors, and patterns. When you purchase a hand-knotted wool rug, you can imagine what yours tells.