Hand-Knotted Rugs, Hand-Tufted Rugs

Hand-Knotted vs Hand-Tufted Rugs: How Can You Tell the Difference?

When you first start shopping for a rug, you may find yourself quickly confused by the different types available.

It’s important to know which kind you’re buying to ensure you’re paying a fair price for your rug. Each type has its own maintenance needs, too.

Read on to learn how to tell the difference between a hand-knotted and a hand-tufted rug so you can identify and care for them correctly.

What Is a Hand-Knotted Rug?

What distinguishes a hand-knotted rug from other types that may look similar is the meticulous, skillful way that it is made.

Creating a hand-knotted rug involves tying individual threads onto a specially-designed loom. The foundation consists of intertwined horizontal threads.

Hand-knotted rugs aren’t usually made from synthetic materials. Wool is the most common natural material used; however, more expensive, highly sought after rugs may be made from silk.

You may have heard different kinds of rugs described as “Oriental” based on their design. Rugs experts know, though, that Oriental rugs can only be accurately classified this way if they are hand-knotted.

What Is a Hand-Tufted Rug?

Unlike hand-knotted rugs, hand-tufted rugs are made using a tufting gun. What this tool does is punches fiber into a canvas backing that is held in place using an adhesive.This speeds the process up significantly.

The canvas backing is imprinted with the design, which the person wielding the tufting gun follows. Anyone can learn this process in a relatively short time, so it’s not like creating a hand-knotted rug which requires an advanced skill level.

When all the fibers have been injected into the pattern, a piece called a scrim is attached to the rug with latex to keep the rug together. Lastly, the carpet loops are sheared off. This flattens the rug. 

Choosing Between a Hand-Knotted and a Hand-Tufted Rug

As you might expect since they take so much less time to create, hand-tufted rugs are much more affordable than hand-knotted equivalents. The more complex the pattern, the more expensive the hand-knotted rug is likely to be.

Hand-tufted rugs don’t have the same rich artisanal history as hand-knotted ones, and they don’t last as long either. Hand-knotted rugs can be passed down between generations when cared for correctly because they’re so durable.

Whether a hand-tufted or a hand-knotted rug is more appropriate for you depends on your budget, your personal taste, and how long you hope to keep the rug.

Comparing the Appearance of Hand-Knotted and Hand-Tufted Rugs

To determine whether a rug is hand-tufted or not, check the back. A hand-tufted rug will have a canvas backing glued to it. In contrast, on a hand-knotted rug, you will see individual knots on the reverse.

The thickness of the rug is another clue: tufted rugs are thicker, but knotted rugs are known for their flatter pile.

Now that you know the difference between hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs, you’re ready to start shopping for your own!

Here at Rug Source, we have an extensive collection of rugs available. That means whatever type you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it with us. 

Read our other blog posts on Hand-Knotted Rugs:

Read our other blog posts on Hand-Tufted Rugs: