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The quality of a carpet
depends on various elements and the fiber employed is one of the
crucial elements. The higher the quality of the fiber, the
long-lasting is the endurance of the carpet. There is variety of
fibers used, jute, hemp, cotton, silk, wool, etc. Best known since
centurys wool is one fiber that bears wear for years. The grade of
the fiber leads the quality; finest quality wool serves more than
twenty years. Manmade or semi-synthetic fibers such as rayon and
viscose are also available, where silk is quite expensive on the
pocket. These fibers bestow sheen that is akin to that of silk and
are comparatively less costly.
Weave type also is major factor, hand-knotted carpets are known best
for their endurance. Hand-tufted are comparatively less preferred to
that of hand knotted ones, as they lack knots and are woven by
loops. Nevertheless, flat weaves, hand-loom, and Tibetan are the
other types of weaving rugs and carpets.
Fiber
Grade
Weave type
Texture
Density of knots
Thickness
Pile
Fiber:
Each fiber boasts exclusive characteristics and it plays a crucial
role in endurance of a carpet. The strand implied could be sole or
even a blend of fibers, which gives it that luster, sturdiness, and
longevity.
Various types of fibers are used to manufacture floor coverings from
pure organic to manmade synthetic fibers. Wool and cotton are the
essentials implied to make floor coverings, tapestries and hangings.
Not only they accentuate the place but they insulate the room, it is
very healthy way of insulating. The properties of these natural
fibers have proved themselves since centuries. Fiber such as silk
has been in demand for its multiple characteristics.
Carpets should be placed considering the traffic and endurance of
fiber. The weave type should be such that it can bear the daily wear
and tear. Endurance of a carpet completely relies on its fiber.
Proficiently woven fine quality of fiber will serve for many years.
Wool and silk are the best known fibers, but along with these
now-a-days many other synthetic and semi-synthetic fibers are also
utilized. Rayon and Viscose are few fibers that may substitute the
most precious fiber silk. Other natural fibers such as hemp,
sisal, jute, coir are renowned in carpet industry.
How to choose fiber?
You can choose the fiber by looking on for the swatches available
with the manufacturer. The texture of the carpet is also more often
dependent on the type of fiber you choose. Manufacturers and
retailers have samplers with them, the yarn and the ready samples
that can help you understand the yarn, and will make it is easy for
you to choose. Make sure that you buy from a reliable vendor.
Silk
Wool
Cotton
Jute
Hemp
Sisal
Sea grass
Polyester
Viscose
Rayon
Grade:
Have you ever noticed carpets with very thick strand of fiber? Some
fibers embrace beautiful finesse and sheen over them, and contrarily
others show comparatively less refinement and thickness.
Fibers when processed for weaving are classified in many qualities
according to their grades, measured on various scales. Moreover, it
is not actually the thickness on which the fiber is graded. The
fiber is ranked by professionals according to its quality, and the
finesse of high graded fiber is unsurpassed. Such high grade fibers
are capable of bearing wear and tear for a much longer time and are
much reliable for longevity.
Fibers are implied depending on the type and quality of the carpet.
Other than grading, fibers are also blended to enhance quality,
sheen, look and help reduce shedding. Various combinations serve
well, for instance, high and low quality of wool is mixed to make
carpet cost effective. New Zealand wool boasts high grade and known
for its quality, sheen, resilience tendency to bear the wear and
lessen shedding. Mixing of New Zealand wool with others results in
additional sheen and also lowers the tendency to shed.
Another known blend is nylon and wool, which results in adding up
strength. Blending of various graded silk is even common in the
industry resulting cost effectiveness.
Nevertheless, there are other factors also that may lead to blending
fibers. Nowadays, people are very peculiar with their choices, where
some may not like that extremely shiny look, which ultimately leads
to blending a proportion of wool with lustrous fibers, giving a more
subtle appearance. Contradictory, the demand to add some sheen in
wool results in mixing viscose. The blend of viscose with wool adds
sheen, enhancing the look of the carpet.
Weave type:
The beauty of the carpet relies on the type of weaving and the fiber
employed. The quality and the charm that hand-knotted carpets
embrace is unparalleled. Amateur may not be able to distinguish the
difference between a hand-made and a machine-made carpet.
Hand-knotted carpets boast numerous handmade knots made by
proficient artisans. Per square inch of a carpet can embrace 64 to
more than 250 knots, depending on the variety. Made exclusively,
handmade carpets are more enduring, comparatively expensive, but
very attractive.
Contradicted to hand-made ones, machine made carpets are less
expensive. Machine made carpets do not embrace knots, loops are made
via machine, which at times are later backed with latex and cloth
for endurance. These carpets are less-problematic, easy to make and
comparatively manufacturing cost is less and that is the reason why
manufacturers offers them and emphasize the buyer to choose one.
Although, making carpet via machine does not disgraces its value and
quality, poor quality of fiber is implied to lower down the cost.
Such deals turn to be scam, as carpets are judged by the years they
serve and not on their initial beauty.
One who discerns the difference between the two will definitely opt
for a hand-made one, for its perceived value.
The other category in construction of floor covering is hand-tufted.
A hand- tufted carpet is made using a tufting gun that is operated
manually. The tufting gun is equipped with all the required tools,
needle and cutter, it make the loop via specially designed needle
and incises. The carpet is then backed with latex to provide it
support. These carpets consume less time in production as compared
to hand-knotted.
Flat-weave carpets are pile less and the production is done via
surrounding the yarn over and under the warp and weft. Such carpets
are suitable for high traffic areas, they are also easy to maintain
and are prone to bear more wear and tear. Nevertheless, the only
thing that lacks in a flat weave carpet is that plush and supple
texture, which are carpets known for. Dhurries and Kilims best
exemplifies a flat weave floor covering. Hand loom carpets are made
on wooden loom, operated manually, the process is similar to that of
flat-weave and the difference is because of the mechanism.
Generally, flat woven, these may embrace pile at times.
Tibetan carpets are known round the world as high valued carpets,
the unique art of weaving has made them a piece of craftsmanship.
Tibetan is actually the type of weaving that gives a Tibetan carpet
that touch. The knots in Tibetan weave are hand-made, the loops are
made on a rod, when a row of knots is complete, the pile is cut and
the rod is removed. Evenly textured pile is left on the warp of the
carpet, which is much neat and clean in comparison knots cut
individually. The texture of Tibetan carpet embraces a much even and
fine look that acts to make them inspirational and favorite among
people. The technique of making several loops at a time increases
the pace of carpet manufacture.
Hand-knotted
Hand-tufted
Hand loom
Tibetan
Flat weave
Texture:
Texture denotes to the touch of a carpet, which depends on various
factors, the quality and type of yarn, weave type, etc. This section
further highlights the elements that affect the texture of the
carpet. Carpets are an emblem of luxury, their significance in
interiors is impeccable and their absence noticeable.
The texture of a carpet can give a pleasing silky feel under feet
and can also insulate the room, saving electricity. Fibers encompass
various quality, thickness, appear, which may transform the touch
from smooth to course. Pile length also brings immense difference,
where lengthy pile delights with soft lush texture. Low length pile
bestows plush surface.
Count of knots and the thickness of strand play it all, the texture
can be more dense and lush with the increased number of knots.
Furthermore, these topics are elaborated to make it more
comprehensive:
Type of yarn employed
Type of weave
Length of nap
Type of yarn employed:
Carpet boasts a soft and lush texture due to the type of fiber
employed, fiber such as silk leads a lustrous smooth texture.
Initially made using fur and wool, today, carpets are made using
various diverse fibers.
 Wool, Silk, Hemp, Jute, Coir, Cotton, Rayon,
Polyester, and Viscose are the types of fiber that give that texture
to a carpet. Wool, Silk and Jute are much familiar to each of us,
which bestow a soft, supple and lustrous appeal to the carpet.
Felted, twisted, thick, thin, etc are the forms of yarn generally
available and implied. Frieze carpets are known for their texture
that comes from the twisted wool. High quality of wool like New
Zealand wool is known for endurance and sheen. Silk is loved for
lustrous appeal, carpet made of silk are soft, silky and shiny
textured. A combination of silk and wool is often noticed in
carpets, embossing is done using both, which gives a beautiful
texture to the carpet. Nevertheless, the fiber such as jute and coir
are comparatively coarse.
Type of weave:
Weaving technique of a carpet plays a significant role, where cut
pile and densely woven carpet possesses very soft, plush texture.
Moreover, an uncut or level loop structure is capable of hiding dust
and debris underneath. Flat woven carpets are pile less,
contradicting them Shags are loved for their extra long length.
Thus, while choosing a carpet it becomes really essential to know
the type of your personal favorite.
Length of nap:
As discussed earlier the extra pile on the shag bestow the carpet
that soft, lush and shaggy appear, which depends on the length and
the technique. The low length carpets are helpful in hiding the
marks, and are comparatively easy to clean.
A vast array of rugs and carpets leaves you in completely lost
state, where all look beautiful and attractive. But after seeking
these factors you will be able to understand what will suit best in
your dwelling.
Density of knots:
Density of knots in various types of carpets depends on the
application of yarn over warp and weft. The density of knots in
hand-knotted carpet is dependent on the quality of carpet and the
count of knots. The knots count in carpet may vary from 60 to 2500
in per square inch, which makes the carpet lush and dense.
In a hand tufted carpet the density varies according to the
application of wool on it. The fiber used in hand tufted carpet is
measured in kilograms, and it may weigh from 1 kg to maximum 5 kg in
per square meter of area. The gap between each knot may not vary
according to the weight, if you wish your carpet should be dense and
lush you may opt for, by increasing the count of tufts in per square
inch. The closer the tufts will be the dense and lush the floor
covering will become.
In hand loom carpet, where the carpet is entirely woven on a wooden
loom, the density will rely on the count of reed. Hand-loomed
carpets do not boast knots, procedure follows, that of flat weaves.
Reed in handloom carpets refers to the warp. The count of reed may
vary according to the quality and vice-versa. The application of
yarn is done over the warp, thus, the density of the carpet will
increase with the rising count of warp strands in per square inch.
Thickness:
High and low length of the nap over the surface of the carpet
denotes to the thickness. The soft and supple texture on a carpet
varies with the variation in length of the pile. The quality of
fiber will also play a foremost role in the thickness of a carpet.
Where a low cut pile gives a plush texture, extra long pile length
over shag gives it a playful texture.
Nevertheless, the limitation over the thickness may occur in cases
of twisted or thick wool, where a limited count of the knots and
loops can be made. Counting on the length, you can give a very
sturdy and neat look with low cut pile, which will also help in
hiding the dust, the footprints and vacuum marks. Moreover, the
length of the pile should always be considered according to the
traffic that carpet bears.
Pile:
The importance of pile type in a carpet has already been discussed
under various sections. The endurance of your favorite master piece
may long last if you chose the best suitable piece according to the
flow of traffic. Underneath details will elaborate the subject,
facilitating you to get your rug customized.
To understand various types of piles of carpet, it is really
essential to know what a carpet pile is.
Carpet pile is the dense lush fiber that is woven over a foundation
to make a rug or a carpet. A carpet is made on the foundation of
warp and weft made using cotton fiber strands. Diverse qualities of
floor covering embrace the strand according to its quality and weave
type. The application of yarn over and surrounding the warp and weft
create the pile over it. As mentioned earlier, rugs and carpets are
made using numerous fibers, and various type of weaving technique.
The techniques that are implied to weave a carpet embrace diverse
type of piles over them that can also depend on the type of fiber.
Cut pile is most loved texture in floor covering, not only it gives
a plush texture, it also help in hiding the footprints and vacuum
marks. A cut pile portrays knot length that is cut over the surface
of the floor covering and height varies on high cut or low cut pile.
The density of the knots and the thickness of the pile make the
carpet plush and luxuriant.
Plush is not actually the type of weaving technique, it is the
texture that cut piles weave gives to a carpet. Plush carpets are
velvety soft and loved under feet. In cut pile carpets the length
may vary accordingly. Saxony and Frieze carpets are the best
exemplary of plush carpets.
Shags are known round the world for their appearance, long pile
length, these carpets are helpful in hiding the dust underneath the
pile length. Shaggy carpet may vary in looks and texture according
to the length of the pile and the type of fiber. The length varies
according to the demand and design, and you may discover long, short
or mini lengthen pile. Twisted yarn over a Shaggy carpet may vary
from smooth fluffy feel.
Uncut loop pile denotes the surface of the carpet with the knots
that are not cut. Such carpet surface embraces the loops over it,
and suits best for the high traffic areas, where it can hide all the
dust and stain on the foundation, not showing them up on the
surface. Cut and loop pile, clear from its name only, these embrace
an uneven texture, where high and low effect comes due the pile
length and type. According to the pattern, pile of the carpet is
kept cut and left uncut in loop form.
Frieze generally showcases a twisted yarn that is often recommended
for high traffic areas. The length of pile varies according to the
design and requirement.
Cut pile
- Low cut pile
- High cut pile
Loop or Uncut pile
- Level loop
- Multi loop
Shag
Cut and loop pile
Frieze
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