The Many Ways Artisans' Hands Touch Our Rugs

At Natural Rug Co. all of our rugs are created from sustainable fibers and handmade by artisans from around the world.

In looking at our selection of bamboo, cotton, jute, and wool rugs, you'll see several terms describing how they were made. If you're wondering what those terms mean, here's a quick breakdown and a few examples of each:

Hand-woven

Hand-woven rugs are woven similarly to a basket so that the front and the back look the same. Because they have no pile or knots, they are flat, and therefore often referred to as flatweaves.

Hand-knotted

Hand-knotted rugs are created by artisans tying thousands of knots individually to a base. After the knotting is finished, hand-knotted rugs must be shaved down to reveal their beautiful, often intricately detailed patterns. Unlike hand-woven rugs, the front and back are not the same.

Hand-loomed

To create hand-loomed rugs, several artisans often work in unison using a large loom. The loom interlaces the warp (parallel threads going lengthwise) and weft (the threads running widthwise) as the artisans maneuver them by hand, layer by layer. Hand-loomed rugs are known for their textural depth.

Hand-tufted

To make a hand-tufted rug, the artisan punches tufts of fiber - typically wool - through the back of a canvas or cloth backing. The process is newer than hand-knotting and takes less time.

All of our rugs are skillfully created and all have been touched by artisans' hands. The time they take to create, the fibers they are created with, their size, and the intricacy of their patterns all affect their durability and pricing. We invite you to explore our wide array of options to see what's right for your space and your budget.