The most labor-intensive weaving process, these rugs are created by specially trained artisans and are easy to identify because individual knots are visible on the back of each rug. The finer the knot, the higher the quality of the rug.
These rugs are woven by hand on a loom and include felted textures, shags, naturals, and solid or bordered rugs. Handwoven rugs generally have a low to medium pile and sometimes have a canvas backing added to them.
Less skill-and labor-intensive, tufted rugs are made when individual yarns are punched through a backing fabric with a special gun, which hooks and pulls the yarn through the backing to create loops or piles. These rugs always have a canvas backing.
Easy to identify because of their thin, flat nature, flat-weave rugs are often reversible, with designs on both sides. Due to their lighter weight, a rug pad is often required to keep them in place.