Machine-made rugs
How power-loomed rugs are made, and how they compare.
Not sure about yours?Upload two photos and get a free report in about 15 seconds.Check my rugHow they are made
A machine-made rug is woven on a large electric loom. The design is programmed into the loom, which weaves the pile and backing together in one pass. A rug that takes a weaver months by hand can be made in a few hours.
Many machine-made rugs are finished with a backing of fabric or latex glued to the back, and the edges are bound or serged by machine. Fringe, when there is one, is usually sewn or glued on at the end.
What they are made of
Most are made of synthetic fibers such as polypropylene, also sold as olefin, or polyester and nylon. These are low in cost and resist stains. Some higher-end machine-made rugs use wool or a wool blend.
Synthetic fibers can crush under furniture and do not recover the way wool does. They can also be harder to clean once oil-based stains set in.
How long they last
A machine-made rug wears faster than a hand-knotted wool rug, and it cannot be re-knotted when it wears through. Latex backings can dry out, crack and shed powder over time.
They suit places where low cost matters more than long life: a rented apartment, a child’s room, an entry with heavy traffic or a rug you plan to replace in a few years.
How to tell one from a handmade rug
Turn the rug over. The back of a machine-made rug is perfectly even, often with a grid of straight lines or a fabric or latex cover. A hand-knotted back shows the design clearly, with small irregular knots.
Check the fringe. On a handmade rug the fringe is the ends of the warp threads running through the whole rug. On a machine-made rug it is usually a separate strip sewn on, with a seam at its base. Machine-bound edges are also very straight and even.
Quick answers
Are machine-made rugs worth anything?
Usually very little once used. They are made in large numbers, so there is no collector market for them. Their value is in their low price when new.
Is a power-loomed rug the same as a hand-tufted rug?
No. A hand-tufted rug is made with a hand-held tufting gun on a canvas, then backed with glue and cloth. A power-loomed rug is woven entirely by machine. Neither is hand-knotted.
Can a machine-made rug be made of wool?
Yes. Some are woven from wool or wool blends. Wool helps them wear better, but the rug is still machine-made, and the back and fringe will show it.
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