How can you tell a hand knotted rug from other types?

How can you tell a hand knotted rug from other types?

Easy.  Take a look at the back. Go to the rug, flip a corner and check out the back of the rug, it should show the same clear pattern as the front.Another way to tell is to trust the store or online site you are purchasing from.

There are several reasons why a hand knotted rug is typically more expensive than other hand made rugs.  Hand knotted area rug designs are more intricate and use the most labor intensive rug weaving process today. Typically, hand knotted area rugs have a more defined and distinctive design than a hand tufted or machine made area rug because of the way they are made.

Let me help you understand.

1. First, an artist draws the rug's full-scale design on a special graph paper.
2. Each square on the paper represents a "knot" of the rug.
3. Once the design is drafted, the rug is placed on a frame, called a "loom".
4. Columns of thread are stretched vertically (referred to as the warp) on the loom. 
5. The weaving process begins.
6. The weft runs horizontally and intertwines with the warp to create the foundation of the rug.
7. These are the threads that eventually become the fringe of the rug.
8. The knots are then tied to the warp by hand.  Hand tied knot by knot.

The foundation of a hand knotted area rug.

The weaving process is shown below- all done by hand

A hand knotted area rug can be an excellent starting point or foundation to any room adding both warmth and character.  It can also be perfect for adding a finishing touch.