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Journal

Investing In A Hand-Knotted Rug

4 Dec 2020

INVESTING IN A HAND-KNOTTED RUG

When looking to purchase a rug, it’s understandable that people tend to be drawn to lower priced products as they seem to be the more economical choice. While spending less may appear to be the attractive option, these rugs tend to be machine-made, quickly manufactured and therefore easier to reproduce on a larger scale.

Predominantly made of synthetic fibres, the lower priced rug is less resilient than that made of natural fibres such as wools and silks. Synthetic rugs tend to be at risk of irreversible damage from spillages as a result of this, whilst the natural fibres have naturally protective qualities. In contrast, the hand-knotted rug possesses its own unique sense of identity as a result of each individual knot being made by the weaver. The use of natural fibres also creates a greater feeling of warmth and richness in contrast to synthetic fibres such as viscose.

PRODUCTION TIME

The intensive process of making a luxury hand-knotted rug is reflected in its production time, often taking several months for a piece to be completed. Before the rug goes to the loom, the fibres are prepared by hand through a process called carding, spun to create the yarn and then dyed to the desired shade. It takes approximately 25 people to make a single hand-knotted rug. 

ARS COLOUR SYSTEM

Traditionally, the dyes used to create Tibetan rugs were acquired naturally through herbal plants. Nowadays with the advancement of technology and logistics, many dyes are made from other substances. At Knots Rugs we use the ARS colour system as well as some natural dyes to achieve the vast colour range within our yarns.


POT DYEING PROCESS

Pot dyeing is a long established and traditional method of dyeing used to dye the yarn to make our rugs. The yarn is placed into a large pot filled with boiling water with the specific amount of dye added for the specific colour. The yarn is constantly turned on a wheel to ensure that the colour has effectively permeated the wool and is also consistent, however a natural abrash will occur due to this process. Once the dyeing process is complete, the yarn is then left to dry naturally on top of the roofs.

HAND CARDING THE FIBRES

Hand carding is a vital step in the production process as it transforms the raw wool into yarn that is ready to be spun. The process of hand carding involves de-tangling the raw wool by teasing it back and forth between two paddles. These paddles have small metal spikes on one side, which act as a brush, working through the tangles to filter out any thorns or grasses. The hand carded wool is then fed into a spinning wheel where it is twisted into one long strand of yarn.

The hand-knotted rug possesses its own unique sense of identity as a result of each individual knot being made by the weaver. The use of natural fibres also creates a greater feeling of warmth and richness in contrast to synthetic fibres such as viscose. Hand tufted and machine made rugs are quicker to produce but take less skill to make. As a result of this, the threads aren’t as secure and the rug requires a glued backing to hold the tufts in place. These bonds will inevitably weaken over time, meaning the rugs lifespan is limited to a number of years compared to that of decades (or sometimes even centuries) for a hand-knotted piece!

More Journal Posts

Origins

Visionary Women shifting the Pattern

Behind every Knots rugs lies a story of artistry, tradition and collaboration. But woven even deeper into the fabric of our work is the story of women – visionary, resilient and driven by a desire to create something meaningful. This journal is a celebration of two such women: Bonnie, the founder of Knots Rugs, London and Dolma, one of our most trusted and long-standing production partners based in Nepal. Though worlds apart their lives and work are beautifully linked by a shared passion for rugs, deep respect for craftsmanship, supporting communities and a commitment to empowering women together.

Production

Natural Materials behind every Knots Rug

Each Knots rugs rug weaves a narrative rich not only in color and design but also in materials. The rugs are intricately crafted from materials sourced from the lush silk fields, the majestic Himalayan highlands, and the green hillsides covered with wild nettle. Our rugs are born from nature’s own palette, woven with materials that are as thoughtful as they are beautiful. At Knots Rugs, our work begins long before a single knot is tied. It starts in nature, where the finest, most ethical, and sustainable fibers are found. We work with all the different fibers in the world, from Tibetan wool, Chinese silk, wild silk, nettle, hemp, and cactus.

Production

How a Rug gets its Colours

When you’re thinking of a design for a rug, the first thing that might come to your mind is the intricate pattern or overall artwork. But behind the allure of each beautiful rug lies an important and complicated process which often goes unnoticed - the art of selecting colours.