AMY'S RUG BUYING GUIDE

A little introduction

Terms like handmade, hand crafted and luxury are used everywhere, but they don't always mean the same thing.

I've put together this guide to explain the differences between various qualities and materials so you can understand which option is right for you.

When working with clients I'll always give honest advice and help you choose the right rug for your home, lifestyle and budget.

Chapter 1 - Understanding 'Pile' Rug Qualities

A pile rug is one where the yarn stands proud of the loom (or is looped), giving it softness and depth underfoot. This chapter looks at the three main types; hand knotted, hand tufted and hand loomed.

Hand Knotted

Best for
  • High traffic areas and busy family homes.
  • Stair Runners.
  • Long-term investment; they hold value and can be resold in the future
  • Longevity; hand knotted rugs will last for years and years as my testimonials show
  • Cleaning; they are very maintainable
Key Facts
  • The pinnacle of craftsmanship and the highest quality by far.
  • Comparatively the most expensive; the higher the knot the higher the price.
  • Longest production time; any amount of weavers can sit horizontally along the loom, but you can't hurry the length. The longer the rug, the longer the lead time.
Technique
  • They are called hand knotted as each individual knot is tied by hand.
  • This makes them very durable, and also means you can get detailed designs
  • The higher the knot the more intricate the design.
  • You can tell a hand knotted rug as it doesn't have a backing so you can see the pattern on the reverse too.
VIEW HAND KNOTTED DESIGNS

HAND TUFTED

Best for
  • Medium to low traffic areas, like low use Living Rooms and Bedrooms.
  • Decorative designs where plushness and texture are more important than maximum longevity.
  • Clients looking for a hand crafted rug at a lower price point.
  • Projects with shorter lead times or tighter budgets.
Key Facts
  • Faster to produce than hand-knotted rugs, making them a more affordable option.
  • Thick, soft and luxurious underfoot.
  • Ideal for bold designs, although very intricate detail isn't as refined as hand knotting.
  • The glued backing ages over time holding the threads in, so the lifespan isn' as long as a knotted rug.
  • Not good for high spillage areas as not so easy to clean.
  • Looks more like carpet when compared to a knotted rug. You can see the quality difference.
Technique
  • Made using a hand-operated tufting gun, which inserts the yarn into a pre-drawn design stretched over a frame.
  • The pile is then secured with a backing, which is glued to hold the fibres in place.
  • This makes production much quicker than knotted, whilst still being hand made.
  • The backing means the reverse of the design isn't visible, unlike a knotted rug.
View Hand TUFTED DESIGNS

HAND LOOMED

Best for
  • Low traffic areas like Bedrooms and low used Sitting Rooms.
  • Clients looking for the look and feel of a knotted rug at a lower price point.
  • Simple designs rather than intricate patterns.
  • Plain rugs where texture is the emphasise.
Key Facts
  • A more affordable hand crafted alternative to both tufted and knotted.
  • Thick, soft and luxurious underfoot.
  • The pattern can often appear slightly 'wobbly' as small detail is not as possible in this technique.
  • As the pile is looped rather than individually knotted, it isn't as durable as a hand-knotted rug and is also often more likely to shed.
  • They are often described simply as 'hand-made', so it's worth checking if it is hand loomed or hand knotted before comparing prices, as the difference in quality is big.
Technique
  • Hand Loomed rugs are woven on a loom
  • The yarn is looped through the loom to create the pile, as opposed to individually knotted, making them quicker to produce.
  • They don't have a glued backing usually, giving them a more natural construction look than hand tufted rugs.
  • The reverse of the rug therefore often shows the pattern, although the weave is much looser than a knotted rug.
  • We often carve the pattern into a plain loomed rug - a great way to add a design.
VIEW HAND LOOMED DESIGNS

There isn't one 'best' rug. The right choice depends on where it's going, how you'll use it and your budget. This is exactly what I help clients work through every day.

GET IN TOUCH

‘Amy (and her rugs!) were fantastic- I was hesitant to commit to a rug without seeing it in person first but Amy comes to your house (for no extra cost) with her rugs and you can then see them in situ! It’s just the best service and I now have two new rugs which look amazing! I am one very happy customer!’

(Private Client)

NEXT CHAPTER: MATERIALS