How to Use Handmade Rugs to Define Different Areas in an Open Space

 Handmade Rugs have been used for centuries to add warmth and comfort to a space while also introducing color, pattern and texture. Handmade rugs are crafted using techniques that have been passed down through generations of artisans. This process involves intricate steps, from spinning and dyeing the yarn to weaving or knotting the rug and finishing the edges. It is because of the time and attention to detail that goes into creating these beautiful woven works of art that they are more expensive than their machine-made counterparts. But are handmade rugs really worth the extra cost? Let’s explore how the different types of rugs are made so you can decide for yourself.

Handmade rugs are made with passion

Handmade rugs are made with passion and creativity by master weavers. These experts create these masterpieces by hand, one knot at a time, which makes them more durable than their machine-made counterparts. The number of knots per square inch is one of the key determining factors in a rug’s quality, and therefore price. Generally speaking, higher knot density translates into a finer weave and a more resilient rug.

Handmade rugs can be woven

The warp and weft are the foundation of every rug, and are what holds everything together. Depending on the type of rug, these threads may be synthetic or natural. In addition to the warp and weft, some rugs have a separate thread called the pile which is the material that gives it its thickness. Handmade rugs can be woven with any type of fiber, including wool, cotton, silk and jute, but are most often created with natural animal and plant materials such as sheep's wool or goat's hair.

 Three main methods for making handmade rugs

There are three main methods for making handmade rugs: knotted, flat and hand-tufted. All of these are crafted on a loom by hand. Hand-knotted rugs are made of hand-spun and dyed wool, silk or cotton. They are woven by creating a series of knots, where a short piece of the rug's fiber is looped around two adjacent warp or weft strands. This method is the most time-consuming and expensive, and creates a very thick, luxurious, durable rug.

Hand-knotted rugs

All Handmade Rugs are unique, and the backside of the rug will show a dense network of knots. This is the best way to tell if your rug is handmade as opposed to machine-made, however, not all hand-knotted rugs are equal. The knots can be uneven or the spacing between them may be off, which is not a sign of a superior quality rug.

Dyes are not colorfast 

Another sign of a high-quality rug is whether or not the dyes are colorfast. You can test this by leaving a cloth over the rug overnight, to see if any of the color rubs off onto the cloth. If it does, the dyes are not colorfast and could run if you spill any liquid on the rug in the future.

Conclusion

A third type of hand-woven rug is a flat weave, such as a kilim or dhurrie. These rugs are woven without any knots, instead the weft is simply passed through the warp strands. These rugs are lighter and more reversible, and tend to have a more “edgy” design than traditional Oriental or Persian rugs.