An exquisite handmade rug is easily identifiable by its beauty. While machine-woven creations are attractive, nothing compares to the unique look of hand knotted rugs. Styles that are typical of this type are Persian rugs and Oriental rugs. Hand knotted designs are prevalent in the Oriental rug design, which was the most popular type of rug to be found with knots created by hand. Certainly other styles are available, however for both the first-time purchaser and rug connoisseur, hand knotted rugs are preferred.

How are these intricate creations made?

Techniques used to create hand knotted rugs are very old, dating back several centuries. Some techniques may vary slightly by hand movement and method; usually these variances are personal preferences passed down from a former weaver to a family member or apprentice.

Rugs are made of a pile and base. The base consists of the threads running along the carpet’s length, while the pile is the visible thread part of the rug, used to create the attractive designs. These rugs are created using a loom or frame-like instrument and cotton and wool threads. Wool and cotton combinations are the most commonly-used method, but there are rugs made completely from one type of either thread.

Another type of rug is a rug made completely from silk threads thus making it more expensive. First, the cotton warp threads are constructed on the loom, followed by weaving of wool weft threads through them. One at a time, the weft threads are knotted to the warp. Using a small hook knife called a gallob, the weaver pulls the weft pieces through the warp. After completion of each row, a comb is raked across to ensure the knots are tight and brought together thoroughly, making the rug durable. This meticulous process must be completed until the entire rug is constructed. Loose or long threads are trimmed by hand with scissors.

Hand knotting normally involves three different types of knots. Depending on the type of pattern chosen and its complexity, the type of knot used will vary from one rug to the next. Also the type of knot used depends on the preference of the artist creating the piece. Persian knots are commonly used because they allow the flexibility to create complex designs. Most rugs that have various shapes and intricate details are made with a Persian knot. Also called a “Senneh” knot, the Persian knot is asymmetric. This means that the weft threads are open either to the left or right. To put into perspective the amount of knots used, some types of Persian creations may have up to 700 knots per inch.

Turkish knots, also called “Ghiordes” knots, are another style commonly used. This type of knot takes up more room per inch on the rug, meaning that there is less possibility to create an intricate design. These types of knots are thicker and yield a more plush result. The Turkish knot is symmetrical; wefts are wrapped around two warps, meeting together in the middle.

Similar to the Turkish knot is the Jufti knot. Their similarities are actually almost identical, except a Jufti knot wraps the wefts around four warps, as opposed to the traditional two warps used in a Turkish style. Although it is not as common a technique, Persian knots are sometimes expanded to wrap around four warps; the result is also called a Jufti knot. This type of knot was formed to save time and increase the number of rugs a weaver could produce.

Quality and price are lower in a Jufti-made rug, making it an acceptable choice for people who are not concerned about the lifetime of their new purchase. Because this style also creates an uneven look, the rug will wear oddly. For rugs purchased with the intent of long life, a Persian or Turkish knot style is preferred; normally the price will reflect the knot style.

Do Colors play a crucial element in interior design and the direction you go with your rug selection?

Your choice of rug will be influenced by style, size, color and very importantly whether you are buying a Persian rug for purely decorative reasons or for a functional purpose in your environment and therefore have your rug stand up to the wear and tear of traffic.

Color is a part of the essential quality of the rugs that you choose to buy.  The colors in a rug are as important as the colors in other art forms such as paintings and the beauty and appeal of the rug depends on it.

Color and its impact upon the human psyche and our environment has played a major role through time and across many different cultures with the symbolism of colors sometimes varying from culture to culture.

For example, white in many cultures represents purity and peace however in the Orient in countries such as China white is the color of mourning.  Blue is often considered the color of heaven and the night sky and symbolizes meditation and spirituality.  Red is energetic, vibrant and powerful and represents passion, creativity and growth in many cultures.  Green represents paradise that is abundant with flowering trees and plants and the faithful spring that always returns.  Green is also recognition and attainment.

The beauty and appeal of many Persian rugs lies in the myriad of beautiful rich colors often made from natural dyes or for some Persian rug enthusiasts from the more subtle neutral colors and shades that can even come from the use of camel hair in a rug.

When introducing and mixing more than one rug into your environment color and tone are important, as is the pile.  Lay the two rugs side by side during daylight hours, step back from the rugs to look at them and then half close your eyes to examine the color and tonal balance of the two rugs.

Color can influence our mood, emotions, performance and even decision making so when choosing your Persian rug you may find yourself drawn to a rug that has colors that can enhance your mood and the enjoyment of your home or office.

One of the most notable aspect of Persian rugs is their vibrant color which serves to make each of the rugs unique, a standalone from all of the others.

Before the beginning of the 20th century, the rug dye which was used in the making of the rugs was taken from insects, animals, and plants and not made synthetically. The dye recipes were passed from parent to child generation for centuries with each recipe typically being kept within particular tribes or families. The production of these beautiful carpets was a matter of great pride for both the maker and their family.

Materials Used in the Making of the Dyes

The preferred colors that are used in the dying of Persian rugs were originally obtained from day to day spices used for cooking such as saffron and turmeric. Saffron was used in the production of pure vibrant yellow whereas turmeric was used in the producing a softer, lighter color yellow. Another ingredient which was used to produce coloring was the mulberry bush but not the bush itself. Instead, there was a fungus which grew on mulberry bushes and, when used, produced a yellow-green color.

Cochineal insect has been used in food coloring during baking in order to form a red color. However, for a period of multiple centuries, the insect was used as a main ingredient in the coloring of Persian rugs. The word “crimson” also comes from a type of insect which also produced a red dye. This insect, the kermes insect, is typically found within oak tree bark and is known for its vibrant red coloring. Shades of red along with violet and pink were also formed from a plant, a common plant in Persia known as Madder. The way in which the plant is treated determines which color the plant produces.

Blue dyes were also created from a plant, the indigo plant which originates in China and India. Black is a not a common color found in the Persian rug due to the negative impact that this rug dye has on the carpet. The process by which black dye is obtained, the soaking or iron shavings within vinegar, has been shown to be corrosive to wool.

Additional dyes were created using a combination of the above ingredients along with others. An example is brown. This color was produced using the madder combined with green walnuts. This was not a popular color, however, as brown tended to fade the area in which the dye was used.

The rugs may also be colored using other exotic substances such as silver or gold colored thread. These threads were most often used in Persian rugs which were intended as gifts for kings or rulers of other countries with which peace was desired.

 Process of Dying

Each Persian rug is completely unique with the coloring process being the main reason for this individuality.

Instead of inserting the whole skein of yarn into the dye, each strand is dyed individually and then placed into the air to dry. Not only were the threads exposed to the air, they were also exposed to other external elements which caused variation in each thread, regardless of whether they were dyed the same color.

 Synthetic Dyes

The year 1870 saw the introduction of synthetic dyes to the regions around the Eastern coasts with these dyes eventually being used by the interior nomadic peoples who were responsible for the dying and weaving of Persian rugs. Synthetic dyes were less expensive to produce and made the process of producing the rugs more rapid.

In the year 1903, a king of Persia banned the aniline dyes due to the fading which occurred when the rug was exposed to water and light. During the 1920s, chrome dyes were introduced with the majority of weaving done today involving the use of these dyes. Despite the introduction of these dyes, natural coloring is still utilized in the manufacturing of rugs in rural villages.