Hand knotted: In a hand-knotted rug, each yarn is individually tied in a knot by the weaver. Each knot of yarn is tied securely around 2 or 3 strands of "warp yarn," which is the vertical yarn set up initially on the loom as the basis for the rug that will be woven upon it. This is a completely hand-made process, no mechanical tools are used. A hand-knotted rug will be more expensive than a tufted rug. In addition, a hand-knotted rug made in the "crossed" style of weaving is more time consuming and durable (and expensive) than an uncrossed rug.
Shearing: After the rug is woven, overall shearing of the pile is done by hand, to an even depth, or to variations of textural depth specified by the designer. Shapes within the overall design are usually incised, cut around carefully by hand to create dimension and clarity of design.
Knot count: refers to "knots per square inch." The more detailed and complex the design, and the finer/thinner the wool, the more knots are required for clarity of color and design. High-quality rugs usually range from 50 to 100 knots per inch. Imagine the work that goes into that kind of hand weaving! Knot density will affect the cost of the rug.
Where was the rug made?
You’ve heard of a Persian rug or a Chinese rug or a Tibetan rug--all of which fall into the Oriental rug category, which covers rugs from China to Viet Nam, Turkey to Tibet, Iran to India. The finest Tibetan rugs are hand knotted in Nepal and India, often by organizations that employ local families in the rug-making process, says Barbara Jacobs, an artist who designs her own line of rugs, www.wovenpalette.com.
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