Hand-knotted rugs from Jaipur, India
A hand-knotted rug is the oldest way to make a rug and still the slowest. Every knot is tied by a person, one at a time, on an upright loom. Carpetstory has woven hand-knotted rugs in Jaipur since 2001. The craft is centuries older.
What makes a rug hand-knotted
The weaver ties a length of wool around two warp threads, cuts it and beats the row down. That is one Persian knot. The pile you walk on is nothing but these knots standing side by side, so the rug and its structure are the same thing. Nothing is glued to a backing and nothing is punched through a canvas.
Turn a hand-knotted rug over and the pattern is there on the back, as clear as on the front. It is the quickest test there is, and the one we suggest to anyone buying a rug from any maker.
Hand-knotted, hand-tufted and machine-made rugs compared
A hand-tufted rug is punched through a canvas with a tufting gun and held together with latex glue. It is quicker to make and looks close to knotted when new. A machine-made rug is woven on a power loom in hours.
A hand-knotted rug takes months, lasts for decades and can be repaired knot for knot, because there is no glue to fail and no canvas to replace. For trade programmes we make all three constructions and will tell you plainly which one suits the floor and the budget.
Knot density, explained
Knot density is counted in knots per inch along one side. Carpetstory weaves between six and fourteen knots to the inch, which puts an 8 by 10 foot rug at several hundred thousand knots, every one tied by hand. A higher count draws finer curves and smaller detail. A lower one gives a heavier, more textured pile. Neither is better on its own; the design decides, and every named rug in the collection lists its density.
Hand-knotted wool rugs, with silk where it earns its place
The pile is hand-spun wool from highland sheep in New Zealand: long in the fibre, rich in lanolin, lustrous without treatment. Hand-spinning leaves the yarn slightly irregular, which is why the surface moves under light. Mulberry silk from China is kept for the finer weaves, as accent threads in the field. The warp beneath is long-staple Indian cotton, twisted to a density that holds the knots for decades.
Every colour starts as a plant. Madder for the reds, indigo for the blues, walnut for the browns, dipped and dried until the wool takes no more. Natural dyes soften with age instead of fading.
One artisan, one loom, six to ten months
We keep one artisan on one rug from the first thread to the last. It is slower than a line of weavers working in turns, and the difference is visible: the tension stays even across the whole field and every colour transition is one person's judgement. When the last row is tied, the weaver signs the back.
Buying hand-knotted rugs from India, direct from the maker
A rug that passes through an importer, a wholesaler and a showroom is marked up three times before it reaches a floor. Buying from the atelier removes those layers. We ship worldwide by sea or air from Delhi with full export documentation, and the atelier in Jaipur receives visitors by appointment.
Designers and architects specify through the trade desk. Anyone can commission a piece in the size of their room, or start with four woven samples. We reply within one business day.
Where to go nextSee the collections · How a rug is made · Custom size rugs · Wool and silk rugs · Partner with us · Order the four samples · Inquire about a rug
Hand-knotted rugs, answered
How can I tell if a rug is really hand-knotted?
Look at the back. On a hand-knotted rug the pattern shows through as clearly as on the front, knot by knot, and there is no glued canvas or cloth backing.
Why does a hand-knotted rug cost more than a hand-tufted one?
Time and structure. A hand-knotted piece spends six to ten months on the loom with one artisan, and the knots are the rug, so it lasts for decades and can be repaired knot for knot. A hand-tufted rug is made far faster and held together with latex glue.
How many knots does a hand-knotted rug have?
It depends on density and size. Carpetstory weaves six to fourteen knots to the inch, which puts an 8 by 10 foot rug at several hundred thousand hand-tied knots.
How long does it take to weave a hand-knotted rug?
Six to ten months on the loom, depending on size and knot density, with one artisan on one rug from the first thread to the last.
Are hand-knotted rugs from Jaipur good quality?
Quality varies by workshop, not by city. Check the knot density, the wool, the dyes, and whether one weaver kept the tension even across the whole piece. Ask to see the back.
How do I care for a hand-knotted wool rug?
Vacuum without a beater bar, rotate the rug twice a year so it wears evenly, and blot spills with cold water rather than rubbing. Have it professionally hand-washed every few years.
Can I compare hand-knotted and tufted samples before ordering?
Yes. The sample kit is four pieces, each twelve inches square, woven to your specification: two hand-knotted and two tufted, so you can hold both constructions. The first four are on us.
Can I see rugs on the loom in Jaipur?
Yes, by appointment. Write to us or message us on WhatsApp and we will arrange a time to see the looms and the dye vats.