How Do You Identify Your Hand Knotted Rug? What Are the Special Features?

Hand knotted rugs have always been special due to their unique quality. These are traditionally made and have magnificent beauty and durability. You witness true craftsmanship and expertise when you bring home a hand knotted rug. Even today, you can find generation-old hand knotted rugs in most of the houses in the UK, making them cherished heirlooms. However, you cannot ignore that inspite of these labour-intensive processes, the handmade rugs have scammers in the market. So, it becomes essential to understand whether the rug you buy is truly hand knotted. Let's learn the factors that will help you identify if a rug is hand knotted.

Identify your hand knotted rug

There are several factors that help you identify a hand knotted rug. We have discussed some of the crucial ones below:

- Back of the rug

The rug's front and back have the same design. However, the only difference is the softness and the pulse. The back is hard, but the front is soft with an intrinsically woven design. On the other hand, hand-tufted rugs have a latex coating, and there is no design at the back. So, if you find the rug has a different material, it is not truly a hand knotted rug.

- Symmetry and the design

The genuine hand knotted rugs have a distinct back and front; the front is plush, and the back has the same pattern and design. So, to check, you simply have to turn it upside down and examine the fibres of the back very closely. If the design at the back is symmetrical with the front, it is genuinely a hand knotted rug. Moreover, if you inspect the quality, you should go for a more detailed design at the back of the rug.

- Check the knot of the rug

You would find uneven knots in the original rugs as these are made by hand. However, the ones which are made by machines are perfectly uniform and evenly knotted. On the contrary, the knots of the original rugs are extremely tight, and you can see them being tied together, whereas the machine-made rug has makeshift knots as the fibre is moulded to appear the way it is. Basically, machine-made rugs have a foundation material that has been developed under high pressure and heat.

- Fringes of the rug

When a rug is being created, fringes act as a good indicator of the technique being used. If the rug is machine-made, then you would find the fringes sewn at the back of the rug to create a finishing touch, but if the rug is handmade, then the fringes appear to be an extension of the rug that is integrated into the entire design. Moreover, the traditionally made rug has natural fringes as every knot is tied with a warp thread.

There are various factors that decide the quality of the rug, and based on these, you can understand if it is handmade or machine-made. You have to check the knots per square inch, the quality of the material used and the type of dye. Also, original rugs are made from natural materials with a distinct feel and quality; you will find them durable and beautiful from every angle.