RUG CONSTRUCTIONS

Below is a brief overview of the most common rug constructions. No one construction or material is better than any
other, but they each have inherent characteristics that make them better suited for different uses. Learn about the
advantages and disadvantages of the different constructions to find what works best for you.

RUG CONSTRUCTIONS

	CONSTRUCTION	HOW IT’S MADE	BENEFITS	OTHER CHARACTERISTICS
	Hand Knotted	Each knot is tied by hand, one-by-one	Artisan product, highest perceived value, very durable (except in delicate materials), can achieve intricate details	Size/design/color may vary slightly, higher price than other constructions
	Hand Tufted	Hand-operated tool is used to punch yarn through a canvas	Best-selling construction, many textures are possible; predominantly cut pile	Size/design/color may vary slightly, more shedding than other constructions
	Hand Hooked	Hand-operated tool is used to punch yarn through a canvas	Crafted/artisanal look; predominantly looped pile	Size/design/color may vary slightly, more sprouting than other constructions
	Hand Loomed	Woven on a large, hand-operated loom	Can be cut pile, loop pile, or cut and loop pile; often a solid color base is hand carved to create a subtle design. can also be overtufted or printed to create a textural/colorful design	Size/design/color may vary slightly, limited to simple/border designs or solids
	Hand Woven (flatweave, dhurrie, kilim, peddle-weave)	Woven by hand on an upright loom or peddle loom	Shedding is less than other hand made constructions, often reversible and foldable	Size/design/color may vary slightly, can feel coarse because there is no pile, limited to designs which are geometric, simple, or repetitive
	Hand Woven (shag, texture)	Woven by hand on a pit loom or punja loom	Highly textural, high perceived value	Size/design/color may vary slightly, typically very thick which can be difficult to walk on or place furniture on
	Hand Crafted	Animal hides are cleaned and finished by hand; other unconventional rug techniques may be categorized as Hand Crafted	Natural/crafted look	Size/shape/coloration will vary from piece to piece since every natural animal hide is completely unique
	Machine Woven	Mechanically woven on a large loom machine	Typically lower price than handmade rugs, little-to-no variation from piece to piece, typically minimal-to-no shedding and suitable for high traffic areas since it’s easy to clean	Typically does not last as long as handmade constructions