Hand knotted rugs are made by hand on a specialized loom. It is an art that needs hard work, dedication and lot of admiration. The size of the loom depends on the size of the rug and the weaving is done from the bottom to the top. All hand knotted rugs are made using the same type of vertical loom. The loom is outfitted with vertical strings, known as the "warp." Then, the weaver creates the rug by weaving wool (or silk) through the warp threads, from left to right. These strands are known as the "weft", which goes "left" to right. All rugs have both a warp and a weft. The difference between knotted carpets and woven carpets is, knotted carpets also contain lines of wools that are attached to the warp, between the weft strings. Hand knotted rugs have finer details and its length allow for pile and excess to clip off and require more skilled artisans. The rugs are “raw” after the knotting is finished and must be shaved down to get this finished, detailed look. They have a distinct back and a front; the front is the plush and detailed side. The length of time to produce a hand knotted rug depends on the size and intricacy of the pattern. A super fine quality 12’x15’ rug takes over a year to produce. Hand Knotted rugs can be made of wool, cotton, silk, jute and other natural materials. Silk is sometimes used in wool rugs for the outlines or highlights of the pattern to enhance the design. The quality of these rugs depends on numerous factors, such as the knot count, dyes used and quality of the yarns. Hand knotted rugs are typically more costly, but the life span of these rugs is greater and therefore usually a better value for money.