Knot count – an interesting term that has sparked off several discussions amongst rug enthusiasts. While some insist that rug count plays a key role in determining the cost of an Oriental rug, others disagree on this matter. It’s time to take a closer look into what exactly knot count is and how it impacts the price of a rug.
We’ll also show you how you can count the knots per square inch on your own.
What Is A Knot Count?
Persian rugs are entirely hand-woven. Weavers spend several hours a day for months and even years painstakingly hand tying individual knots to create each rug.
The number of knots created within a certain area of the rug is known as knot count or knot density.
This is usually measured as knots per square inch which is the total number of knots within a 1” square area.
Knot Count Is Not Always A Direct Indicator Of The Cost Of An Oriental Rug
As a general rule, Oriental rugs have a higher knot count are more expensive. This is because each knot is hand tied and tying more knots takes more time. For example, a rug with 200 knots per square inch or KPSI will take twice as long to weave as a rug with 100 KPSI. It’s only natural then that the first rug would cost more.
However, this is only a general rule and knot count is only one of the factors that goes into determining the total cost of any Oriental rug. The materials used as well as the design and construction of the rug also play a role in pricing Oriental rugs. Silk rugs are more expensive than their wool counterparts because it costs so much more to procure the raw material. Also, rugs with more elaborate patterns cost more than those with basic geometric motif patterns.
The age, condition, style, and general appeal of the rug also contribute towards its price. When buying an Oriental rug, experts suggest not to make a decision based solely on its knot count. Instead, consider all of the other factors. Most importantly of all, only buy a rug that you truly love and that you think will enhance your space. You’ll be looking at your rug every day, so you want to make sure that you buy one that you enjoy.
How To Determine Knots Per Square Inch On Your Own
The actual process of determining knots per square inch is very straightforward. If you want to calculate the knots per square inch of a rug you own or one that you want to buy, here’s how you can do it.
• Turn the rug over so that the reverse side is facing you. Knots are easier to count on the reverse of the rug.
• Mark out a square area with a 1” width and 1” breadth.
• Count the knots across the 1” width of the square, then count the knots along the 1” length of the square.
• Multiply the two numbers and that will give you the knots per square inch of that particular rug.
As you can see, determining knot count on your own is surprisingly simply and only takes a few minutes.
