Difference Between Handmade Tufted & Hooked Rugs

Hooked rugs are different from tufted rugs in one way.

Handmade hooked and tufted rugs are two similar forms of throw rug. The step required to create each for--the preparation, the construction and the backing--are all the same. Both hooked and tuft rugs are available in a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes. Shapes can be rectangular, oval or round. There is only one basic difference between hooked and tufted rugs.

Preparation

Patterns are stenciled onto the backing. frame image by Natalia Pavlova from Fotolia.com

The pattern of the hooked or tufted rug to be crafted is stenciled onto the backing of the carpet. Once complete, the backing is attached to the frame of a loom. Most often, the backing is made of cotton.

Construction

The craftsman, following the stenciled pattern, inserts tufts or loops of yarn into the threads of the backing. The artisan uses a hand-held, single-needle tufting tool--sometimes called a "gun"--to loop the yarn around the threads. When the entire pattern has been looped with the appropriate yarns, the weaving is complete.

Backing

The back of the woven rug, whether hooked or tufted, is covered with latex in a milky, white liquid form. A second backing is then attached to the woven backing to protect the stitches and keep them in place. A binding, which prevents unravelling, may be added to the edges.

Pile is the Difference

Once backed, the tuft and hooked rug are treated differently. The round, looped stitches of the hooked rug are left untouched, but the stitches of the tufted carpet are shorn to create a thick, plush pile.

Materials

Wool, the yarn frequently used for hooked and tuft rugs. balls of wool image by Edsweb from Fotolia.com

Hooked and tufted rugs are usually made of wool or synthetic materials. Synthetic materials, because they are stronger and more durable, are most often used for outdoor rugs. Hooked carpets, because they are not sheared, take the shortest amount of time to make.

References

• Home Decorators: Rugs-Shop by Weave
• Frontgate: Methods of Handmade Construction