Is My Rug A Handmade Rug?

Is my rug really a handmade rug? It is a question we hear often.  When you are dealing with any beautiful fine rug(s), there are a few things to look for. Let’s take a look at what to look for and why.

To be truly considered a handmade rug, every piece (or part) of the rug must be entirely handmade.  That being said, there is absolutely something to be said for the ones that are partially handmade or even machine made.  They can still be just as beautiful, valuable, sentimental and bring just as much joy as an entirely handmade rug.   Traditional rugs have patterns and designs that are up to centuries old and tend to lend an air of elegance. They often tend to resemble a tapestry and are usually hand-woven from natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool or Jute.  They often have a multitude of colors and often have familiar shapes such as flowers and diamond.  These rugs can also vary in size and shape.

It is important to note, that a true handmade rug will outlast a machine-made rug and will hold a higher value, if you are wanting a long-term investment. While the initial cost of a true handmade does seem expensive, in the long run, you will not be replacing it every 5 years or so as you would with a machine-made rug.  A well taken care of hand made rug can last for many generations.

A very simple, no cost way to see if it handmade is to simply turn it upside down and look at the back.  If you can see the pattern as clearly on the back as the front, this is a great sign.  If you can see that pattern clearly, then bend it back on itself a bit to look at the base of the yarn tufts. If you can see rows of knots as the base, it is handmade.  However, if the yarn threads are simply wrapped around the foundation (with no knotting) and they can be easily pulled out with tweezers, the rug is most likely machine made.  Also, a hand knotted rug will not shed as much as a tufted rug.  There will be some initial shedding but it should slow to a stop with n a relatively short time frame.

Fun Fact: The average hand knotted rug has 150 knots per square inch.  That is a lot of knots in a one-inch square! Think of all that time and detail put into your hand knotted rug.

From Davis, to El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Lincoln and all points in between, we are here to keep you informed and keep your rugs looking their best.  Be sure to check out our before and after gallery to our work.