What Makes A Fine Rug So Special?

In the world of carpets and Rugs, those with a Fine weave are a pleasure to behold. Finer rug weaves allow for the creation of awe inspiring detail. Fine rugs have a suppleness that coarse weaves lack. Fine weaves also allow for the threads to be packed tightly, which creates more durable carpets. Fine rugs are a real treasure to find, as they require considerably more time and skill from the rug weaver. They set themselves apart and have much more to offer than their high kpsi / knots per square inch.

What Does A Fine Weave Mean?

A fine weave rug is one that has a high knot count. The density of the knots is what determines whether a rug is considered to be coarse or fine. The simplest definition of knot density is determined by counting the number of knots in a square inch of weaving. It is possible that the knot counts can be different in the horizontal and vertical direction. The knot density typically can range from anywhere from 25 to over 1,000 knots per square inch (KPSI). Sometimes this measurement is translated into centimeters (knots per square centimeter, kpsc), or another measurement according to country or region. For instance, the knots per dihari is used in India.

To find the overall knot count, you simply multiply the number of knots in a vertical inch of weaving with the number of knots in a horizontal inch of weaving. The number of knots in a certain area is simply a way of describing the fineness of the rug and serves as a point of comparison. It is considered a measure of quality and has an effect on the value of a rug, but it is not the only determining factor. It may be noted that certain ranges of kpsi are associated with various regions of rug production. Many times, the materials available are a determining factor as to the quality of rugs that can be produced.

A fine rug takes much longer to produce than a rug of lower knot density. The most skilled weavers can only tie about 10,000 knots per day. This means that at the end of the day, they have finished a smaller section of a fine rug, as opposed to a coarser one. It can take several years to complete a fine rug, as opposed to several months to complete a coarse one. This affects the price / value of the rug, as fine rugs require more effort, time, and materials to produce.

What Affects the Fineness of the Rug?

There are several factors that serve to limit how fine a weave can be produced. One of them is the type of material that is available. Silk is prized for its ability to be spun into threads as fine as a spider web but still retain their strength. Silk allows for the finest rugs to be woven, particularly those that use both a silk pile and foundation.

The material that is second in terms of its ability to be spun finely is cotton. Finally, wool and other exotic fibers such as yak or camel are known for producing coarse threads. With wool, there is a high degree of variability in the coarseness of the hand spun yarn that can be produced. Sheep breeds, such as merino, can produce extremely fine threads, but they will never be as fine as silk. Many of the more primitive breeds of sheep, such as those reared by nomadic tribes, can only produce a coarse, rough textured yarn.

To weave a fine rug, you first have to start with a finely spun material. The next consideration is the type of knot. The Ghiordes knot, or symmetrical knot, is considered to produce a much more durable weave. However, it cannot produce as fine of design as the Senneh, or asymmetrical knot that we see in many of the fine Persian rugs. Many fine rugs use the Senneh knot to achieve cleaner lines in the rug design and a finer knot density. The use of the Senneh knot can be compensated for in terms of strength by the strength of the materials used and by packing the threads tightly.

The final factor that determines the knot density of the rug is the skill of the weaver. The mater rug weavers who creates these masterpieces are often trained from the time they are young children. They gain skill and the ability to produce higher quality carpets as they grow older. They develop the skills to produce more detailed designs and to pack the knots more tightly to produce a more durable rug.

Why Are The Fine Rugs With High KPSI So Special?

Aside from the density of knots, there are many reasons why fine or high knot density rugs are special. If one were to compare two different rugs of the same design, age, and condition, the kpsi would be the determining factor in which one was the more valuable of the two. However, it is possible for a carpet of lower knot density to be more valuable than one of higher density, depending on other factors such as age, condition, design, and the region where it was produced.

In addition, fine rugs allow for more intricate designs and are suitable for elaborate motifs carried out in breathtaking detail. Higher knot count allows curved lines to appear round, instead of jagged. This allows greater development of the fine details and expanded design potential. Coarse rugs are suitable for angular geometric designs, but to produce the realistic pictorial rugs, and / or detailed floral designs, a higher knot count is necessary. When you look at rug, it is easy to make a reasonable guess as to knot count by looking at the level of detail in the design.

Finer rugs also have a short pile length, which allows them to be soft and supple without losing strength. Fine rugs must be sheared shorter to avoid appearing blurry and losing the details due to the wool spreading out towards the end. Closely woven carpets with a low pile create a visual effect that reflects the light differently from longer pile carpets. They have a captivating look that lets you know the care and labor that went into them.

When you see a fine carpet, you know it, even before you know the knot count. The colors are brighter, the edges are sharper and the pattern is crisper. They have a luminous glow that is not seen in coarser carpets. They give the room a feeling of warmth and vibrancy.

Feel free to browse our spectacular collection of high knot density carpets and you will be sure to find the perfect one that will give your space the touch of elegance that it deserves.

This rug blog about fine rugs was published by Nazmiyal Antique Rug Gallery in NYC.

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