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Knots

Pile-woven or knotted rugs are created by knots. Most handmade rugs with the exception of kilims are woven by tying knots on the warp strands. The type of knots used in weaving and knot density are discussed below.

There are different methods by which knots are created. The two predominant types of knots are asymmetrical knot and symmetrical knot. There are other kinds of knots as well such as jufti and tibetan. However, they are not as frequently used.

Asymmetrical (Persian or Senneh or Farsibaff) Knot

The asymmetrical knot is used in Iran, India, Turkey, Egypt and China. Here the thread forms only one loop around one of the two warps. So the pile threads vary in protruding between the adjacent warps. To form this knot, yarn is wrapped around one warp strand and then passed under the neighboring warp strand and brought back to the surface. With this type of knot a finer weave can be created.

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Symmetrical (Turkish or Ghiordes) Knot

The symmetrical knot is used in Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran by Turkish and Kurdish tribes. It is also used in some European rugs. Here the pile thread forms a loop around two warps. Both ends of the pile thread come out between both warps. To form this knot, yarn is passed over two neighboring warp strands. Each end of the yarn is then wrapped behind one warp and brought back to the surface in the middle of the two warps. It is a symmetrical double knot type also called Ghirdes.

Jufti Knot

The jufti knot can be seen in rugs of Khorasan, Iran. This knot can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical. The knot is usually tied over four warps making the weaving process faster. It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical and the difference is that it is formed over four wraps.

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Tibetan Knot

In Tibet, a distinctive rug-weaving technique is used. A temporary rod which establishes the length of pile is put in front of the warp . A continuous yarn is looped around two warps and then once around the rod. When a row of loops is finished, then the loops are cut to construct the knots. A temporary rod which establishes the length of pile is put in front of the warp. A continuous yarn is looped around two warps and then once around the rod. Once through with the row, the loops are cut to form the knot.

As per the experts no knot is good or bad. They give a different texture to the carpet.

A hand-tufted rug is created without tying knots into the foundation, but rather by pushing wool or arcylic yarn through a primary backing, creating a 'tuft'. Then, using a latex glue to hold the 'tufts' in place, a rugmaker will apply a secondary foundation, or 'scrim', which is then covered by a third and final cloth backing to protect your floor. The final step involves shearing the tops of the looped tufts to create the pile. The height of the pile is determined by how much yarn is cut off, and how far the initial loop was pushed up.

Hand-tufted rug makers use a tool called a 'tufting gun' which holds the yarn, to push through the primary backing which is stretched in place on a frame. This method of rug making is less time consuming than hand-tying each knot, but still requires a high level of craftsmanship to efficiently and accurately portray the intricate designs. The design is determined by transferring a pattern onto the primary foundation, this acts as a template showing the craftsman where to push through each colored tuft.

Hand-tufted rugs can be made faster than hand-knotted rugs, therefore they are generally less expensive than their hand-knotted counterparts. The tufting method creates a highly durable and beautifully accurate handmade rug that will weather foot traffic for years to come.