Hand-knotted wool rugs from Jaipur
Most of what the atelier weaves is wool: hand-spun New Zealand wool on a cotton warp, coloured with plant dyes and tied one Persian knot at a time. This page answers what people ask before they buy one. Is wool worth it, does it shed, how long does it last, and what does it cost.
Why wool
Wool is the fibre hand-knotted rugs have been made from for centuries, for practical reasons. The fibre is crimped, so a knotted pile springs back after it is walked on. It carries lanolin, which slows how fast a spill soaks in. It takes plant dye deeply and evenly, and it is slow to catch fire. A wool rug is warm underfoot and quietens a room with hard floors.
The wool in a Carpetstory rug
The pile is wool from highland sheep in New Zealand, chosen because the fibre is long, lanolin-rich and naturally lustrous. It is hand-spun rather than machine-carded, so the yarn is slightly irregular and the surface stays alive under light. The warp underneath 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. Natural dyes soften with age rather than fading.
Do wool rugs shed?
Yes, a new wool rug sheds for a while, and that is normal. Spinning leaves short fibres in the yarn, and they work loose in the first weeks of use. Vacuum regularly without a beater bar and the shedding tapers off.
In a hand-knotted rug every tuft is tied around the warp, so what comes away is loose fibre, not the pile itself. A tufted rug is held together by latex on the back rather than by knots, which is why tufted rugs tend to shed for longer.
Are wool rugs worth it?
A hand-knotted wool rug costs more than a tufted or machine-made one, and it lasts far longer. Knots can be rewoven, edges rebound and fringes replaced, so damage is repaired rather than the rug thrown away. The colours soften instead of fading.
The honest answer depends on how long you plan to keep it. Over a few years, a cheaper rug is cheaper. Over decades, the knotted wool rug is the one still on the floor.
What a wool rug costs
Hand-knotted wool rugs from the atelier are priced at about $20 to $40 per square foot of the finished rug. Simple, open designs sit at the lower end and dense, detailed ones at the higher end. An 8 × 10 ft rug is 80 square feet, so it falls between about $1,600 and $3,200. Hand-tufted wool with bamboo silk is $10 to $20 per square foot. Custom rectangular sizes cost nothing extra, and your exact price comes in writing once the design, colours and size are known.
Wool for custom and trade projects
Any size and any colourway. Wool can be dyed to a RAL or Pantone reference, and a physical sample is made before weaving starts, so the colour is judged in your hands and not on a screen. For projects, the sample kit brings four twelve-inch squares woven to your brief, and the trade desk replies within one business day.
Where to go nextSee the collections · How a rug is made · Hand-knotted rugs · Custom size rugs · For interior designers · Rug pricing · Wool and silk rugs · Carpet manufacturing in Jaipur · Partner with us · Order the four samples · Inquire about a rug
Wool rugs, answered
Are wool rugs worth it?
For a rug you plan to keep for many years, yes. A hand-knotted wool rug costs more at the start, but it can be repaired knot by knot and its natural colours soften rather than fade, so it outlasts several cheaper rugs.
Do wool rugs shed?
A new wool rug sheds loose fibres left from spinning for the first weeks. Regular vacuuming without a beater bar clears them and the shedding tapers off. Hand-knotted rugs shed less over time than tufted ones, because the pile is tied rather than glued.
Do wool rugs ever stop shedding?
Yes. Shedding from a new rug tapers off within the first months of regular vacuuming. If a hand-knotted rug keeps losing tufts after that, the pile is wearing in one place, and that can be repaired.
Are wool rugs durable?
Hand-knotted wool rugs last for decades and often for generations with care. The pile is tied around the warp, the fibre springs back after it is walked on, and worn areas can be rewoven.
Why are hand-knotted wool rugs expensive?
Every knot is tied by hand, and an 8 × 10 ft rug holds more than a million of them. The wool is hand-spun and the dyes are made from plants, and one weaver works on one rug from the first row to the last.
How much does a hand-knotted wool rug cost?
About $20 to $40 per square foot of the finished rug, so roughly $1,600 to $3,200 for an 8 × 10 ft rug. The pricing page explains what moves the number.
Are wool rugs good for homes with pets?
A dense, knotted cut pile suits pets better than a loop pile, because there are no loops for claws to catch, and most dirt vacuums out of wool. Blot accidents quickly with cold water rather than rubbing.
How do I clean a wool rug?
Vacuum without a beater bar, rotate the rug twice a year, and blot spills with cold water rather than rubbing. Have it professionally hand-washed every few years.