Hand-knotted rugs vs. Hand-tufted rugs: Handmade with a difference
It's easy to go with the gut feeling and tell yourselves that things with similar names are similar. However, when it comes to rugs that keep you warm, hand-knotted and hand-tufted have absolutely nothing in common other than the word 'hand' in both. The starting point of this comparison is the price of these two, the prices of a hand-knotted rug are exponentially higher than a hand-tufted rug, and most of it is because of time. With varying levels of knots, yarns, threads, synthetic fibers, and wool blends the denser knots take much longer than the sparsely knotted ones, the essence of time spent making a rug has a trickle-down effect on the end customer who buys them, you.
A rug's primary purpose is to stay put and add to the grandeur of the place it is in. The higher the number of knots in a hand-knotted rug means the rug is denser. Layering is a thing of the past because having multiple layers stitched together to make a good rug will make it a hefty one. There's an element of art and a complicated pattern to knotting where precision, patience, and skill come into play because of the individual strands. Knotting is a two-thousand-year-old Persian art form, after all. It is not just the material but the attention to detail that plays a huge role in making the hand-knotted rugs stand out. A beautifully preserved rug can even become a family heirloom that lasts through generations, unlike a hand-tufted rug which has a lower life when compared to hand-knotted rugs.
On one end, the hand-knotted rugs take a long time to make due to the weaving technique, and the textile worker creates a masterpiece by working extensively on them, and the result has a lot of artistic touch of a person trying to work on something. With hand-tufted rugs, the faster production line powering hand-loomed rugs makes it easier to meet the demands, and businesses can set up a supply chain to predict and make plans for the future accordingly. When compared to a contract machine made rug, both the handmade rugs have an edge.
Hand-Knotted Rugs: Luxury, effort, and attention to detail
A hand-knotted rug is unique and is weaved on a loom, one knot at a time, with materials such as cotton, wool, bamboo silk, and pure silk. The number of knots per square inch at the back of these carpets, which have a flatter pile, determines their quality. A carpet is considered higher quality if it has more knots per square inch. A complex design would need to be knotted very tightly, which would take a lot of time to complete. A hand-knotted rug's construction frequently takes months. A weaver can often tie 10,000 individual knots each day. So you can imagine how long it might take to finish one rug, mainly if it's a big one. Hand-knotted rugs typically cost more than hand-tufted carpets due to the time required to make them.
A typical hand-knotted rug takes about two million knots to make; when you compare it with the ten thousand knots per day to make. It takes about six to ten months of multiple people working on the knotting process, followed by finishing steps that will take up anywhere from two to five weeks means you have a lot to consider before the rug comes through in its final form. Authenticity comes from minor imperfections that tell stories; the hand-knotted rug will likely have a fringe off of the ends of the rug because the knots don't bind the borders.
Hand Tufted Rugs: Simplicity and ease of business
The principle of tufting is based on using a canvas, pulling wool through the canvas with a tufting gun or a tufting tool, and then stretching the canvas with latex coating. Hand tufting is a relatively new and modern way of making a rug, a rug made by this method is not as time-sensitive, and they are often made out of wool. Tufted rugs cost almost a fraction of the cost of a hand-knotted rug, this allows for having multiple rugs as options, and whenever the room's aesthetics need a change, you can swap the rug depending on what you feel would be the best. They suit the offices the best because they can swap this rug out for a newer piece over five to seven years. They save much money for enterprises by being a go-to option for anyone looking to pep up their place without investing a sizable amount of money. They are typically made out of wool, and their quality is based on the quality of wool used for manufacturing; the wool can be sourced from New Zealand, Nepal, or Tibet.
Major differences between hand-knotted and hand-tufted rugs
Choosing between the two is sometimes tricky because the fundamental differences in appearances are in the material and the way it is processed. Subjectivity aside, hand-knotted rugs gain one of the main points through their longevity and durability. The quality of hand-knotted carpets and rugs last generations and becomes a better value proposition in the long run compared to the other kind.
Hand-knotted is often fancy, and if you need something for everyday use, a hand-tufted rug will last less but come with the advantages of being easy to manage, and if damaged, it doesn't end up breaking hearts. They come with a backing for support, like a canvas and flat weave, which means it is slightly resistant to rough use in the short run. The lower costs also leave room for experimentation and uncanny decoration styles you can try out.
Due to the backing provided, the hand-tufted rugs are often thicker but less dense than hand-knotted rugs. And lastly, the fringe is an element that lends character to the rug. Like Aladdin's iconic carpet with small fringes over the corners, the fringe comes naturally when the rug is knotted. The fringe is added when it's a hand-tufted rug, and it shows as once it begins to show wear and tear, it starts breaking apart in the fringes and eventually starts fading completely.
Find the right rug with Kuden Rugs
The key to selecting one type of rug over another is understanding what you need and building from your necessities. The choice is subjective, and the decision is up to you. If it is a high-traffic area with a lot of footfall, investing in an expensive hand-knotted rug might feel fancy, but would it command and deserve the attention it deserves, or would it be just another part of the hall? Suppose it's a company setting, and you occasionally want to change the atmosphere. In that case, a hand-tufted rug means you're lighter in your pocket and leave some headroom for changing into something that suits you later without worrying about the loss of investment. While hand-knotted rugs are expensive, they are a niche on the luxurious side. They are worth the money if they are taken care of and stay with you for a long time; every family needs an heirloom of this quality. All types of rugs, tufted or knotted, find their home at Kuden Rugs. With varieties specific for each room, size, and color variations, Kuden Rugs have everything in their armory to serve your needs.
