Rugs can add a fashion touch, help pull
together a room's furnishings or decrease the noise
and wear and tear from foot traffic.
Area Rug Colors
Area rugs are offered in every imaginable color and
pattern and in a wide range of prices. They also introduce
warmth and softness to rooms with such hard surfaces
as tile or hardwood.
Area Rugs by Region
Area Rugs are made in all parts of the world from
India, Nepal, Indonesia and China to the United States
and Europe. Area rugs from different areas will usually
have different patterns and styles that are common
in their region. Oriental or rugs from the Far East
can be reproduced by US companies and can save you
money and also still provide the look of an imported
rug.
Area Rug Construction
Area rugs may be machine-made, hand-hooked, hand-tufted,
hand-knotted, a flat weave or braided.
Twist
Refers to the amount of yarn spirals. A yarn twist
that is tighter provides added durability.
Fiber
Area rugs may be from a variety of
synthetic or natural materials, which will help determine
performance and appearance. Natural fibers provide
soft, low luster colors and long-term performance.
Synthetic fibers provide brilliant colors, softness,
easy maintenance and value.
Hand-Made Area Rugs
In addition to traditional hand-made area rugs, Asia
and other countries also produce many hand-made contemporary
area rugs. There are different types of hand-made
area rugs: knotted, tufted, hooked, looped and flat
weave. Rug construction alone does not dictate area
rug quality, factors such as density, material and
weave should also be considered when selecting an
area rug.
Hand-Knotted Area
Rugs
Hand knotted area rugs are woven by hand; and depending
on size, construction and density, one area rug could
take a year or more to complete. Hand-knotted area
rugs are secured to the foundation by knotting, versus
gluing, producing exceptional density and quality.
Hand-Hooked Area Rugs
Using a pattern and a hooking device, yarn is punched
through a canvas cloth creating a looped pile. The
yarns are then glued in place in lieu of knotting,
and a cloth is attached to the back.
Hand-Tufted Area Rugs
Hand-tufted area rugs are usually created by punching
yarn in a cloth that is attached to a frame, and then
gluing the backs with latex after hooking the yarn.
The surface loop pile is then sheared to produce a
flat surface. This process creates an area rug that
is very plush, generally less expensive and easier
to make than hand-knotted area rugs.
Flat Weave Area Rugs
Flat weave area rugs are less expensive, easier to
make and are usually made of wool, cotton, bamboo,
or nylon. Because they are looped, flat weave area
rugs do not have a pile and are reversible. This category
also includes Kilims, Dhurries and Soumaks.
Braided Area Rugs
Braided area rugs are constructed in several different
ways, including tape, tubular, yarn and flat. In the
tradition of early America from which braided area
rugs were created, these area rugs may be woven with
many different materials such as wool, clothing, old
blankets, nylon and blends.
Machine-Made Area Rugs
These area rugs are made on power looms by hand, machine
or computer. The loom is strung with a cotton or jute
warp, and then woven using nylon, polypropylene, wool
or other material. Computer operated machines produce
a number of contemporary designs in various sizes
and colors from a predetermined design. More than
40 shades can be achieved in a single area rug using
a cross-weaving technique. Machine-made area rugs
have become very popular due to the variety of sizes,
colors, designs, lower pricing and availability. Machine-made
area rugs are woven on Wilton, side-woven Wilton and
Gripper Axminster looms.
Wilton Woven
Wilton looms are situated face-to-face and feature
computerized electronic heads. The loom needles loop
the yarns in two synthetic backings. Loom size and
structure vary based on number of color capacities.
Two identical area rugs emerge from the loom once
the weaving process is complete and the rug is cut
in half.-
Wilton Side Woven
The Wilton side-woven area rugs are woven in a similar
fashion, but at a 90 degree angle to the above area
rugs. On occasion, cotton backing is to give these
area rugs a softer feel.
Axminster
Axminster more commonly refers to a type of carpet
rather than a type of loom, although the Gripper Axminster
loom was created to mass produce carpet in 1927. |
