Hand Knotted Vs. Hand Tufted Area Rug: What’s The Difference?

Even though both the weaving techniques – hand-knotted and hand-tufted are handmade, that is a place where the similarity between the two ends. The method of weaving for both types of rugs is entirely different not just in complexity, but also in the time it takes to create one, and the expertise level of weaving skills required in the creation of both the rugs.

Due to the completely different weaving process, both area rugs are dissimilar in look, feel, durability, and cost. If you are someone who is keen to buy a rug but is confused between these two then, this guide is for you. Before buying a rug, this guide is here to help you to know the difference between hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs. 

What Is a Hand Knotted Rug?

Hand-knotted is an antique art that is adapted to create masterpieces of complex designs. A hand knotted area rug is a one-of-a-kind floor covering that is entirely handwoven on a special kind of loom. The most famous types of hand-knotted rugs are oriental and Persian rugs. These floor coverings are created from organic materials like wool, silk, jute, and cotton. They have flat or no pile with less texture. 

A great level of skill is required to weave a hand knotted floor covering and it also requires a lot of time to complete a rug. The quality of this rug is demonstrated by the number of knots/square inches. The higher density of knots means the higher quality of the rug.

A complicated rug pattern demands highly dense knotting, and thus it needs a longer time to produce. It usually needs one or two months to complete a hand-knotted rug. A moderately skilled artisan usually creates 10000 loops in a day. So, with this, you can have an idea about how much time it will take to finish a floor covering, particularly if it is about a larger area rug. The duration comprises of making a rug also represents hand-knotted carpets costing more on normal than hand-tufted mats.

Probably the simplest approach to detect a hand-knotted floor covering is to flip it over. A hand-knotted rug won't have backing on it. These rugs have the same design on both sides. You can simply use it by turning it over and using it on either side. A hand-knotted rug will probably have fringes because there’s no binding on the ends of the rug. Explore the hand-knotted area rug collection at MAT Living and introduce it into some high-traffic areas of your home to add beauty to your space.

What Is a Hand-Tufted Rug? 

A hand-tufted rug is designed somewhat by hand and halfway by a motorized instrument which is known as a tufting gun. It is made up of wool. The method or the technique of creating a hand-tufted rug is different from that of a hand-knotted rug. A hand-tufted rug is created by punching wool strands into a canvas that is extended on a frame with the help of the hand-operated mechanized tool. The making process of the hand-tufted rug isn't very time-consuming and it doesn't need the very high level of expertise that hand-knotting does.

Once the piling is done with wool; the hand-tufted area rug is removed from the canvas. A hand-tufted rug will have a backing to hold the tufts set up. Also, a scrim texture is stuck to the back. To finish the floor covering, a fringe is added by either sewing or gluing it on. Check out MAT Living hand-tufted rug collection for a low to moderate traffic area to make it look welcoming and awesome. 

The Main Difference Between Hand-Knotted and Hand-Tufted Rug –

The epitome of elegance is to add a rug to your home décor. It won’t be wrong if we say that rugs have ruled the households for ages. Here we are talking about the two most favorites of households – hand-knotted and hand-tufted. But how do choose between the two? The differences will be enough to make your answer crystal clear. Although, in the end, it comes down to one’s lifestyle and preference as well. The few main differences between the two are as follows –

The fringes of the rug are an indication of how the rug has been made. In hand-knotted rugs, fringes are the key to rug making. The wool strands are knotted on the fringes and pieces to the ends are left for enrichment. On the other hand, in the hand-tufted rug, fringes are glued to the back of the rug. However, fringes are a fundamental part of a hand-knotted rug, but the hand-tufting artisans hide the fringes of the rug to make a hand-tufted rug more authentic.

The Back of the Rug

The rear of the hand-knotted wool rug has an identical mirror image of the top pile of the area rug. You can easily detect every single knot on a hand-knotted floor covering and count those knots/square inches. While the hand-tufted wool area rugs have a cotton canvas on the back that is glued with the rug to support it.

Value

Hand-knotted carpets are a bit pricier than hand-tufted rugs. However, they are durable and last for ages, if you maintain them properly. If you are on a low-budget rug and love to change your home décor after a particular time, a hand-tufted rug can be a great choice for that.

Texture

The look and texture of the rug completely rely on the type of rug material used instead of a technique. Generally, both hand-knotted and hand-tufted floor covering are thicker and own a coarse texture.

Lifetime

Hand-knotted rugs are everlasting as their method of creation involves artisans knotting threads over the warp of the rug’s foundations. While, on the other hand, hand-tufted rugs are made of loosely punched threads glued to the backing, which lose integrity faster. This is why hand-tufted rugs are less durable than the hand-knotted rug and last for ten to fifteen years and demand for change every few years.

What to choose between a hand knotted and hand tufted rug?

Hand-knotted rugs have predominant worth since they are unique and not mass-created. The high quality of the loops makes a hand-knotted rug outlive a hand-tufted one. The tufts of a hand-tufted rug will in general extricate up and come out over the long run. A hand-knotted rug can turn into a family treasure and keep going for ages if utilized with care. A hand-tufted rug won't keep going as long in a similar degree of the condition.

On the off chance that you need to purchase a floor covering that has value beyond its use in your home stylistic theme today, choose a hand-knotted rug crafted by the master craftsmen. A decent quality hand-knotted floor covering can turn into an authority's thing, however, this doesn't remain constant for all the knotted rugs. There is a diverse range of hand-knotted ones, from poorly made examples to lovely ones. One of the clear reasons for choosing a hand knotted rug is its durability. Also, a knotted one is a perfect choice if you are planning to place your rug in high-traffic areas. 

In any case, if you are low on budget, go for a hand-tufted area rug. A hand-tufted one is less costly than a hand-knotted rug because it usually takes less time, low budget, and low level of skills to finish a rug. Hand-tufted floor coverings never entirely accomplish treasure status since they are not unique. Be that as it may, they can in any case be wonderful to take a gander at and make an engaging and intriguing expansion to your inside stylistic layout. In simple words, it all comes down to the investment you are ready to make.