The Art and Craftsmanship Behind Handmade Rugs

Many people don’t fully appreciate the art and craftsmanship involved in making a handmade rug. The process is intricate, starting with shearing the wool, followed by separating, washing, dyeing, and spinning it into yarn. Then the real work begins—this is where artistry comes to life.

A designer first sketches the rug’s design on paper. Using this design, one to four craftsmen create the rug using a technique called knotting. Each knot is tied individually, a painstaking process that takes time and skill. Even the simplest handmade rugs require at least a month to complete, while the most complex can take up to two years. On average, most rugs take two to four months to finish.

The quality of a rug is often determined by its knot count. Lower quality rugs have around 80 knots per square inch, average rugs feature 150 to 180 knots per square inch, and finer rugs can exceed 300 knots per square inch. The higher the knot count, the finer and more valuable the rug.

Once the rug is complete, it is washed to lock in the colors and then dried in natural sunlight. Finally, the wool is trimmed to an even pile length before the rug is ready for sale. Every step in this process is labor-intensive, with each handmade rug requiring hundreds of hours to produce.

At Raleigh Furniture Gallery, we take pride in being a premier destination for hand-knotted rugs because we understand and value the extraordinary craftsmanship and artistry that go into each piece. Our collection represents not just beautiful decor, but the dedication, skill, and cultural heritage of the artisans who create these rugs. We carefully select each rug for its quality and  design, ensuring that our customers receive only the finest examples of this timeless craft. When you choose a hand-knotted rug from us, you’re not just adding a stunning piece to your home—you’re investing in a work of art that embodies tradition, beauty, and exceptional craftsmanship.