Rug Glossary

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Abrash: [AH-brash]; Abrash describes the intentionally aged look of rugs, characterized by color variations caused by uneven yarn, different knot thicknesses, and variations in dye absorption or the type of wool used.
Afghani Wool: [af-GAH-nee wool]; A type of wool blend originating from Afghanistan, known for its robustness and distinctive feel.
Backing: [BAK-ing]; A knitted fabric layer that is glued onto the back of a rug to provide additional support.
Bamboo Silk: [BAM-boo silk]; Sourced from bamboo plants, this natural fiber has a texture comparable to natural silk.
Beater Bar: [BEE-ter bar]; The spinning part of the vacuum cleaner’s head designed to loosen dirt from surfaces. To protect a rug, you should either deactivate this setting or use a vacuum without a beater bar to prevent damage.
Binding: [BAHY-nding]; Securing the edges of a carpet to enhance its durability. Traditional rugs are typically bound along the length, while modern designs include binding on all sides.
Canvas Backing: [KAN-vuhs BAK-ing]; This thick fabric is glued to the back of hand-tufted or handloom rugs with latex to protect fibers from coming loose. It improves the rug's durability and helps distinguish its construction type.
Carding: [KAR-ding]; This process untangles clumped fibers of raw wool using a tool similar to a bristle brush.
Chokla Wool: [CHOHK-lah wool]; This wool blend from Bikaner, Rajasthan is known for its exceptional durability and recognized as the highest quality wool in India.
Churi: [CHOO-ree]; When weaving hand-knotted rugs, the churi—a sharp, curved tool resembling a knife—is used to snip the yarn after each knot is tied at the loom.
Cotton: [KAH-tuhn]; This staple fiber grows in soft, fluffy clusters within protective capsules around the seeds of cotton plants.
Dhurrie: [DUR-ee]; Often referred to as flatweave in India, the Dhurrie is a basic rug constructed by weaving together warp and weft threads.
Durability: [dur-uh-BIL-ih-tee]; This describes the typical longevity of a rug with regular use: Hand-knotted rugs last 30+ years, Handloom and Flatweave have a similar lifespan of 10+ years, Hand-tufted rugs last 5-7 years.
Dyeing: [DAHY-ing]; Yarn is colored by submerging it into large containers of dye.
Fiber: [FYE-bur]; Rugs are made from these long, thread-like materials that can come from cotton, wool, silk, or synthetics.
Finishing: [FIN-ish-ing]; The finishing process includes all steps required to prepare a rug for use after it leaves the loom—including washing, trimming, binding, and embossing. Hand-knotted rugs, in particular, go through 18 careful finishing procedures, all done by hand.
Flat Weave: [FLAT weev]; Flatweave rugs are created using interlocking warp and weft threads. The thread colors define the color scheme, while different interlocking patterns shape the design.
Freedom Manchaha: [FREE-duhm MAHN-chah-hah]; The Freedom Manchaha program engages long-term prisoners in Rajasthan to create and weave rugs. This sustainable effort makes use of excess and leftover yarn from the textile industry. Currently, it is implemented in Bikaner, Dausa, and Jaipur jails, offering exclusive, distinctive rugs.
Gultarash: [GUL-tuh-rahsh]; In the final finishing step, artisans use scissors to carve and emboss the designs into the wool. This sharpens the details and creates a distinct high-low effect on the rug.
Hand-carded: [HAND KAR-ded]; Katwaris use a bristle pad to sift through wool while manually separating lumps through repeated hand combing, ensuring the wool is thoroughly untangled.
Hand-knotted: [HAND-NOT-ed]; The artisan ties knots onto each warp thread on a loom, working one line at a time. After completing each line, they secure it with a weft thread before moving on to the next line of knots.
Hand-made Carpet: [HAND-mayd KAR-pit]; This rug is entirely handcrafted, from weaving to finishing, without any machine assistance.
Hand-spun: [HAND-spun]; A machine handles the carding of fibers, while a charkha is used to spin the yarn by hand. This results in yarn with uneven thickness, adding a rustic touch.
Hand-tufted: [HAND TUHF-ted]; Artisans use a tufting gun to insert yarn into a fabric base. A design template on the fabric guides them in shaping the rug’s final design.
Handloom: [HAND-loom]; This weaving method resembles the process of vertical handloom textile weaving. Handloom rugs usually feature simple or geometric patterns and are not suited for detailed floral designs.
Hank: [HANGK]; After spinning, yarn is gathered into a loose bundle known as a hank. The size of hanks varies according to the material and the manufacturer's specifications.
Hemp: [HEMP]; A natural material sourced from the stalks of the cannabis plant.
Intricacy: [IN-trih-kuh-see]; The degree of detail in a rug's design. It defines how closely design variations are arranged within a given space. In hand-knotted rugs, higher intricacy means more knots per square inch, while in hand-tufted rugs, it indicates a higher pic count.
Jute: [JOOT]; Sourced from the stalks of corchorus herbs, these plant fibers have a coarse texture yet are valued for their sustainability and durability.
Kilim: [KEE-lim or KIL-im]; This style of flat weave comes from Persia. Unlike traditional hand-woven rugs that use colored strands woven into the warp and weft to create designs, kilim patterns are made by interlacing different colored warps and wefts.
Knot: [NOT]; This refers to the way fibers are interwoven with the warp and weft frame. Different knot types, such as Persian, Turkish, and Tibetan, are used to create distinct rug patterns.
Knotting: [NOT-ing]; This technique is used to make hand-knotted rugs. The three main knotting styles include Turkish, Persian, and Tibetan, each from a different region.
KPSI: [KAY-pee-ess-eye]; KPSI stands for knots per square inch and assesses the rug’s level of detail and complexity. Rugs with a higher KPSI tend to be more durable due to their higher knot density.
Latex: [LAY-teks]; This is a natural rubber adhesive applied evenly to the back of hand-tufted carpets. It enhances the carpet’s strength and durability.
Loom: [LOOM]; In rug weaving, a loom is a device that holds threads under tension. Operated manually, it helps interweave weft threads with taut threads.
Machine Spun: [muh-SHEEN spun]; In this process, yarn is carded and spun by a machine, ensuring uniform thickness and consistency.
Machine-made Rug: [muh-SHEEN-mayd rug]; This type of rug is produced through machine processes that handle yarn development, structural design, and the entire production and finishing stages.
Manchaha: [MAHN-chah-hah]; This initiative empowers artisans to design and weave their own rugs on the loom, using surplus and leftover yarn from the industry. The collection features unique rugs that embody the rich cultural heritage of rural India.
Merino Wool: [muh-REE-noh wool]; Micron is a measurement unit used to denote the thickness or diameter of fibers. Wool with thinner fibers is generally finer and softer, while thicker fibers are known for their increased durability.
Micron: [MY-kron]; Micron is a measurement unit used to denote the thickness or diameter of fibers. Wool with thinner fibers is generally finer and softer, while thicker fibers are more durable.
Panja: [PAHN-jah]; Shaped like a bear claw, this tool is used on the loom to compress the weft and knots by striking them through the warp. It is commonly used in hand-knotting and the Panja weave style of flat weaving.
Pile: [PY-l]; The pile refers to the finished fibers on the rug's surface. These fibers can be trimmed, untrimmed, or a mix of both, creating various visual and textural effects.
Rafu: [RAH-foo]; A technique that uses a needle to interweave fibers and repair worn-out corners of a rug. It’s typically used to replace damaged weft, redo knots, and fix minor flaws, but it can also be applied creatively as part of the rug’s design.
Real Handspun: [REEL HAND-spun]; Real handspun wool is carded and spun by hand, resulting in a non-uniform appearance. This manual process causes variations in color during dyeing, giving the yarn a unique and varied look.
Rug Washing: [rug WAH-shing]; As part of the 18 finishing steps, rug washing involves placing the carpet on the floor, pouring water and a mild detergent over it, and using a paddle resembling an oar to dislodge and remove trapped dirt.
Sardinian Wool: [sar-DIN-ee-an wool]; Originating from Sardinia, Italy, Sardinian wool is a coarse blend used to make orbace—a durable, waterproof fabric made from the longest fibers obtained through carding.
Silk: [SILK]; Harvested from the cocoons of wild silkworms, silk is a natural fiber known for its exceptional quality, making it one of the premier materials used in rug production.
Sorting: [SOR-ting]; Sorting is the initial step in yarn production, where wool clumps are separated based on color, texture, and quality.
Spinner: [SPIN-er]; A spinner is a skilled artisan who converts raw wool into yarn using hand-carding and hand-spinning techniques. The Bikaner region in Rajasthan, India, is renowned for its exceptional spinners, and we have a network of over 3,000 spinners.
Spinning: [SPIN-ing]; After carding, spinning transforms wool clumps into yarn by twisting fibers into a thick thread. Hand-spun yarn is especially valued for its durability and charming, rustic aesthetic.
Spooling: [SPOO-ling]; In the spooling stage, dyed hanks are carefully wound into small spools by hand. These spools are then packed and dispatched, completing the yarn production process and making it ready for use as raw material.
Tassle: [TAS-uhl]; Tassels are loose warp threads found along the width of traditional rugs. To enhance the carpet's appearance, these tassels are sometimes interlocked in a decorative manner.
Texture: [TEKS-cher]; The texture of a rug refers to its tactile quality, which is influenced by the weaving type, pile height, and the type of fiber used.
Tufting: [TUHF-ting]; Tufting involves using a tufting gun to push yarn into a backing fabric stretched on an iron frame, forming the desired design.
Tufting Gun: [TUHF-ting gun]; A tufting gun is a mechanical tool, either hand-operated or electric, used by rug artisans to insert individual yarns into fabric. It is essential for creating hand-tufted rugs.
Vacuum: [VAK-yoom]; A vacuum cleaner uses suction to remove dirt from surfaces, including rugs.
Viscose: [VISS-kohs]; Made from wood pulp, viscose is a natural fiber that is spun into yarn to create various textile products.
Warp: [WORP]; The warp consists of vertical threads that form the rug's main framework. These threads are set under tension on the loom, with weft threads passing through them.
Weaver: [WEE-ver]; A weaver is an expert who constructs textiles or rugs by weaving yarn threads together.
Weaving Technique: [WEE-ving tek-NEEK]; The weaving technique determines how a rug is constructed. Common styles include hand-knotted, hand-tufted, handloom, and flat weave.
Weft: [WEHFT]; The weft is the horizontal part of a rug's weave. It creates the base for yarn and secures the pile in place.
Wool: [WOOL]; Harvested from shearing sheep, wool is a natural fiber used in rug making. The highest quality wool comes from the neck, legs, and belly regions, where the fibers are softer, finer, and longer.
Yarn: [YAHRN]; After the processes of sorting, carding, and spinning raw fiber, yarn is produced. This thick thread is used to craft rugs.
10/10 Quality: [ten out of ten KWAH-lih-tee]; For hand-knotted rugs, 10/10 quality reflects a density of 100 knots per square inch.
11/11 Quality: [ee-LEV-en out of ee-LEV-en KWAH-lih-tee]; In hand-knotted rugs, the 11/11 standard indicates a density of 121 knots per square inch.
12 Pic: [twelve pick]; This refers to the number of holes in the rug fabric, serving as a quality benchmark hand-tufted rugs. The higher the hole count, the more intricate the design.
14 Pic: [fourteen pick]; This indicates the number of holes in the rug, which serves as a standard for detailing in hand-tufted rugs. More holes result in a more detailed pattern.
14/14 Quality: [fourteen out of fourteen KWAH-lih-tee]; The 14/14 quality measure for hand-knotted rugs, equating to 196 knots per square inch, is among the top quality options for large carpets.
16 Pic: [sixteen pick]; This metric counts the holes in the rug fabric, serving as a standard to gauge the detailing in hand-tufted rugs. More holes indicate a more complex design.
3/20 Quality: [three out of twenty KWAH-lih-tee]; Hand-knotted rugs with a 3/20 quality have 12 knots per square inch. Lower quality rugs can feature thicker, irregularly shaped knots, so local craftsmen use this measurement as a quality standard.
4/25 Quality: [four out of twenty-five KWAH-lih-tee]; In hand-knotted rugs, a 4/25 quality rating equates to 25 knots per square inch. Local craftsmen often use this measurement to avoid creating thick, uneven knots.
6/6 Quality: [six out of six KWAH-lih-tee]; The 6/6 quality measure in hand-knotted rugs signifies 36 knots per square inch.
8/8 Quality: [eight out of eight KWAH-lih-tee]; Hand-knotted rugs that meet an 8/8 quality standard have 64 knots per square inch.

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