*Free Shipping & Returns in the Continental United States
How Oriental Rugs Are Made
Understanding the process of hand-knotting a rug can dramatically deepen your appreciation for the art of rug making because it reveals the extraordinary patience, precision, and creativity behind every piece. At first glance, a hand-knotted rug might appear as just a beautiful floor covering, but when you know the labor that goes into it, it becomes something far more meaningful.
Each rug begins with a design—often inspired by centuries of tradition or passed down motifs—which is carefully translated onto a loom. Knot by knot, artisans tie strands of wool or silk around warp threads, building the pattern row by row. Depending on the fineness of the weave, a single rug can contain hundreds of thousands, even millions, of individual knots. This means that large or intricate rugs can take a year or more to complete.
Beyond the sheer time investment, the skill involved is remarkable. The weaver must maintain even tension, ensure symmetrical knots, and balance colors with a painter’s eye. Many knots are so small that the work requires immense concentration and dexterity, often learned through generations of practice.
When you understand this process, you no longer see just colors and patterns—you see the human effort, the cultural heritage, and the dedication woven into each rug. What might have seemed like décor transforms into a piece of living art, carrying both the story of its maker and the traditions of its origin.
Step One:
Preparing the Foundation
Every hand-knotted rug begins with a loom, the framework that holds the threads under tension. A rug’s structure depends on two sets of threads:
-
Warp Threads – These are vertical strands stretched tightly across the loom. They form the backbone of the rug.
-
Weft Threads – These are horizontal threads interlaced with the warps to hold the knots in place and add stability.
The warp threads are typically made of strong cotton, though wool or silk may also be used depending on the rug’s origin. Once the loom is strung, the weaver can begin knotting fibers onto these warps to create the pile.
Step Two:
Designing the Pattern
Before knotting begins, the rug’s design must be planned. This is often done using a cartoon—a detailed diagram that maps out the placement of every knot, similar to a pixelated blueprint.
Designs may be:
-
Traditional motifs: Passed down for generations, such as boteh (paisley), gul (tribal medallion), or the Persian garden layout.
-
Custom commissions: Modern clients may request unique designs or color schemes.
-
Freehand tribal work: In many nomadic cultures, weavers work from memory, weaving spontaneous, organic patterns without a drawn plan.
The complexity of the design directly impacts how long the rug will take to complete.
Step Three:
Knotting the Pile
This is the heart of rug weaving—the process that gives hand-knotted rugs their name. A knot is tied around two warp threads, and the loose ends face upward to form the pile (the soft, touchable surface of the rug).
There are two main types of knots:
-
Persian (Senneh) Knot
-
Asymmetrical knot.
-
One end of the yarn passes between two warps, while the other end passes around just one warp.
-
Allows finer detail and more intricate designs.
-
-
Turkish (Ghiordes) Knot
-
Symmetrical knot.
-
Yarn is looped around two warps and both ends pulled through the middle.
-
Creates a thicker, more durable pile.
-
In regions like Tibet and Nepal, a third method is used: yarn is looped around a rod and cut, creating a distinctive, dense texture.
The knot density (measured in knots per square inch, or KPSI) is an indicator of complexity of design, and quality, but not necessarily of value. The higher the density, the sharper the details in the design. A tribal rug may have 40–80 knots per square inch, while fine Persian silk rugs can exceed 1,000 KPSI. An antique rug of lower KPSI, may be of higher value than a rug with higher knot counts.
Step Four:
Building the Rug, Row by Row
The weaving process follows a repetitive but exacting rhythm:
-
Tying the knots: Each strand of wool, silk, or cotton is tied carefully by hand.
-
Cutting the pile: After each knot is tied, the yarn is trimmed to a consistent height.
-
Inserting weft threads: A weft thread is passed horizontally across the knots, locking them into place.
-
Beating down: The weaver uses a heavy comb-like tool to press the knots and wefts tightly together.
This cycle is repeated row by row until the entire rug is completed.
The time investment is staggering. A small 3x5 foot rug may take several months to finish, while a palace-sized carpet can require the work of multiple weavers over several years.
Step Five:
Trimming and Washing
When the knotting is complete, the rug is cut off the loom. But it isn’t finished yet—several crucial finishing processes remain:
-
Shearing: The pile is trimmed to an even length, which sharpens the clarity of the design.
-
Washing: The rug is washed in water (sometimes with mild soap) to soften the fibers and enhance the colors.
-
Stretching and blocking: The rug is laid flat and stretched to correct any irregularities in shape.
Some workshops also perform a light chemical wash or sun-drying to adjust the tone of the colors, though purists prefer natural finishes.
Step Six:
The Final Touches
The last steps involve securing the edges:
-
Fringe: The exposed warp ends are knotted or braided to form a fringe, which also prevents unraveling.
-
Side binding: The edges of the rug are reinforced with overcast stitches to protect against wear.
At this stage, the rug is inspected for quality. Inconsistencies in design, color bleeding, or uneven tension can lower its value. A well-executed and well-cared for hand-knotted rug, however, can potentially be passed down from generation.
