Rug Glossary

It is a quality standard for hand-knotted rugs. 10/10 implies 100 knots per square inch.

It is a quality standard for hand-knotted rugs. 11/11 implies 121 knots per square inch.

It is the number of holes in the rug fabric. It is a standard to indicate the detailing of a hand-tufted rug. The greater the number of holes, the more intricate the design.

It is the number of holes in the rug fabric. It is a standard to indicate the detailing of a hand-tufted rug. The greater the number of holes, the more intricate the design.

It is a quality standard for hand-knotted rugs. 14/14 implies 196 knots per square inch and is one of the best qualities that large carpets are available in.

It is the number of holes in the rug fabric. It is a standard to indicate the detailing of a hand-tufted rug. The greater the number of holes, the more intricate the design.

A quality standard for hand-knotted rugs. 3/20 quality translates to 12 knots per square inch. In the case of lower quality carpets, the knots are thick and are not tied in exact squares, so this measurement is used by local craftsmen.

A quality standard for hand-knotted rugs. 4/25 quality translates to 25 knots per square inch. In the case of lower quality carpets, the knots are thick and are not tied in exact squares, so this measurement is used by local craftsmen.

A quality standard for hand-knotted rugs. 6/6 implies 36 knots per square inch.

A quality standard for hand-knotted rugs. 8/8 implies 64 knots per square inch.

The aged look of a carpet is known as Abrash. The look is the effect of colour variation, which can emerge due to multiple reasons, such as the non-uniformity of yarn or the thickness of the tied knots. It can also happen because of how the yarn absorbs dye, or on the type of wool used.

A blend of wool sourced from Afghanistan. It is well-known for its durability and unique texture.

It is a knitted piece of fabric that is glued on the back of a rug.

It is a natural fibre extracted from the stalks of bamboo plants. The fibre has a texture similar to natural silk.

It is a rotating part in the head of a vacuum cleaner that knocks the surface being vacuumed to dislodge trapped dirt. While vacuuming a rug, it is recommended to switch off this setting or use a vacuum cleaner without a beater bar to avoid damage.

It is the tying together of the edges of a carpet to give it better durability. Traditional carpets are bound only along the length while for modern designs it is done on all sides.

A thick fabric glued to the back of a hand-tufted or a handloom rug with latex to protect the fibres from easily coming out. It increases durability and helps in identifying the construction type of the rug.

A process used to untangle clumped fibres of raw wool. The wool is groomed using a tool similar to a bristled brush.

A blend of wool sourced from Bikaner, in Rajasthan, which is known for its durability. It is considered the best quality of wool available in India.

The churi is used when weaving hand-knotted rugs. It is a curved sharp knife-like tool used to cut the yarn after tying each knot at the loom.

Cotton is a fluffy and soft staple fibre that grows in protective capsules around the seeds of cotton plants.

Also known as flatweave in India, the Dhurrie is a simple rug made by intertwining warp and wefts together.

This refers to the average life of a rug with regular use. Hand-knotted - 30+ years, Hand-tufted - 5-7 years, Handloom - 10+ years, Flatweave - 10+ years

The process of infusing colours into yarn, by dipping them into vats of dye.

Fibre is the continuous, thread-like material that is woven to make rugs. It can be spun out of natural or artificial materials such as cotton, wool, silk, or synthetics.

This refers to all the steps a carpet undergoes when it comes off the loom to make it ready for the home. Some steps include washing, trimming, binding and embossing. For a hand-knotted rug, there are 18 finishing steps, all of which are done by hand.

A flatweave is made entirely of interlocking warp and weft threads, the colours are based on the thread and the design is based on the different styles of interlocking.

An initiative where the long-term inmates in the prisons of Rajasthan design and weave rugs. It is a sustainable initiative that uses surplus and leftover yarn from the industry. The initiative is currently in Bikaner, Dausa and Jaipur Jail. The Freedom Manchaha collection has unique, one-of-a-kind rug designs.

It is the last step in the finishing process. The artisan carves and embosses the designs on the wool with scissors to sharpen the designs. Through this, a high-low effect is created on the carpet.

Lumps of wool are untangled by repeated combing by hand as Katwaris sift through the wool using a bristle pad.

On a loom set up with warps, an artisan ties individual knots on each warp thread, going line by line. Once a line is complete, it is locked in place with a thread of weft before the next line of knotting begins.

A rug woven and finished by hand, without the use of a machine.

In this process, the fibres are carded by a machine while the yarn is produced by spinning a charkha by hand. The hand-spun yarn has an uneven thickness which gives it a rustic look.

To create hand-tufted rugs, the artisan uses a tufting gun to push yarn into a piece of fabric. The fabric is outlined with a design that guides the artisan to create the rug’s final design.

This form of weaving is similar to textile weaving on a vertical handloom. Handloom rugs cannot bear intricate floral designs and generally have plain or geometrical designs.

It is a loose bundle of yarn formed after spinning. Hanks come in different lengths, depending on the material and manufacturer.

It is a natural fibre extracted from the stalks of the cannabis plant.

It is the level of detail in the design of a rug. It defines how compressed the variations in design are in a given space. In hand-knotted rugs, a greater intricacy means a greater number of knots per square inch, while on a hand-tufted rug it means a greater pic.