Techniques, explained
What are the different types of rugs?
“Type of rug” usually refers to the technique used to make it, which determines its texture and surface. At Jubi, we specialize in all traditional rug-making methods. Learn more in this guide and explore how different rug styles, patterns, and materials create distinct looks and feels.
Hand-Tufted Rugs
Hand-tufted rugs are made by pushing wool through a fabric base to create a dense, textural surface. Each piece is then secured with a cotton backing and finished by hand along the edges for durability. The result is a plush, soft feel with sculptural dimension.
This versatile technique allows for curves, sculptural silhouettes, and detailed carving, making it ideal for modern patterned designs. With the aid of a tufting tool, it’s also the fastest method for producing a handmade rug. All Jubi tufted rugs are crafted from premium New Zealand wool and can be made in any size, shape, or color.
Pile Height: 0.5"–1.5", fully customizable.
What is a tufted rug?
Handmade with a Tufting Tool
Wool is pushed through a fabric base by hand, creating a dense, textural surface that’s later secured with a cotton backing.
Sculptural and Versatile / Backing?
Perfect for curves, waves, and detailed carving — tufted rugs allow for expressive, modern forms and intricate patterning.
Soft, Dimensional Texture
The pile can range from low and dense to high and plush, offering a cushioned feel underfoot and sculpted surface detail.
Our Tufted Rug Collection
Hand-Knotted Rugs
Knotted rugs are made entirely by hand, with individual knots tied one by one onto a loom. This meticulous process forms the rug’s structure, creating dense, detailed patterns and a strong foundation that lasts for generations. The result is a richly textured surface with subtle variations that reveal the hand of the maker.
Hand-knotted rugs are ideal for geometric motifs, tonal variations, and heirloom-quality pieces. Styles such as Persian, Oriental, and Turkish Oushak are all examples of this traditional technique. All Jubi knotted rugs are crafted from premium New Zealand wool and can be made in any size, shape, or color.
Pile Height: 0.25"–2" (shag), fully customizable.
What is a hand-knotted rug?
Individually Tied by Hand
Naturally Textured and Detailed
Heirloom-Quality
Our Hand-Knotted Rug Collection
Shag Rugs
Shag rugs are made by hand using the same knotting technique as traditional rugs, but with longer strands of wool that create a deep, luxuriously plush pile. The result is a soft, tactile surface with rich texture and warmth underfoot.
Known for their dimensional depth and sculptural quality, shag rugs can be carved by hand for added form and movement. Often inspired by Moroccan designs, they bring a relaxed, tactile feel to modern interiors. All Jubi shag rugs are made from premium New Zealand wool and can be customized in any color, shape, or size.
Pile Height: 1"–2", fully customizable.
What is a shag rug?
Made by Hand with Long Wool Strands
Sculptural and Dimensional
Soft, Relaxed, and Luxurious
Our Shag Rug Collection
Hand-Loomed Rugs
Hand-loomed rugs are made by weaving horizontal weft threads through vertical warp threads on a loom, producing a low, even pile. The result is a consistent surface with clean edges and a refined, structured appearance.
These rugs have a soft yet firm feel underfoot, ideal for rooms that call for polish without excess texture. Loomed rugs can also be hand-carved for subtle ribbing or linear designs. All Jubi loomed rugs are made from premium New Zealand wool and can be customized in any size, shape, or color.
Pile Height:Approx. 0.5", fully customizable.
What is a hand-loomed rug?
Woven by Hand on a Loom
Clean and Structured Surface
Soft but Firm Underfoot
Our Hand-Loomed Rug Collection
Hand-Woven Rugs
Hand-woven rugs are made by interlacing warp and weft yarns to create a flat, durable surface with no pile. The result is a lightweight construction with natural texture and subtle variation throughout.
These rugs are easy to maintain and ideal for high-traffic areas or layered styling. Their flat woven structure offers a relaxed, versatile look that suits both modern and traditional spaces. All Jubi hand-woven rugs are crafted from premium New Zealand wool and can be customized in any size or color.
Pile Height: Flatwoven, no pile.
What is a hand-woven rug?
Crafted by Interlacing Warp and Weft
Lightweight and Durable
Naturally Textured and Versatile
Our Hand-Woven Rug Collection
Compare Rug Types
Prefer to compare side-by-side? Here’s a quick breakdown of the key features of each technique.
| Technique | Pile Height | Feel | Best For | Durability | Customizable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tufted | 0.5–1.5" | Soft, plush; sculpted | Modern patterns, curves & carving; living rooms, bedrooms | Medium | ✔ |
| Knotted | 0.25–2" | Dense, richly textured | Heirloom pieces, geometric or tonal motifs; high-traffic spaces | Very high | ✔ |
| Shag | 1–2" | Ultra-plush, tactile | Bedrooms, lounges, relaxed modern spaces | Medium | ✔ |
| Loomed | 0.5" | Smooth, structured; soft-firm | Dining rooms, offices, refined interiors | High | ✔ |
| Woven | 0.25" (no pile) | Flat, naturally textured; lightweight | Kitchens, hallways, layering; high-traffic areas | Very High | ✔ |
Tufted
Pile Height: 0.5–1.5"
Feel: Soft, plush; sculpted
Best For: Modern patterns, curves & carving; living rooms, bedrooms
Durability: Medium
Customizable: ✔
Knotted
Pile Height: 0.25–2"
Feel: Dense, richly textured
Best For: Heirloom pieces, geometric or tonal motifs; high-traffic spaces
Durability: Very high
Customizable: ✔
Shag
Pile Height: 1–2"
Feel: Ultra-plush, tactile
Best For: Bedrooms, lounges, relaxed modern spaces
Durability: Medium
Customizable: ✔
Loomed
Pile Height: 0.5"
Feel: Smooth, structured; soft-firm
Best For: Dining rooms, offices, refined interiors
Durability: High
Customizable: ✔
Woven
Pile Height: 0.25" (no pile)
Feel: Flat, naturally textured; lightweight
Best For: Kitchens, hallways, layering; high-traffic areas
Durability: Very High
Customizable: ✔
Frequently Asked Questions
Each technique creates a distinct feel and texture:
- Tufted rugs are plush and sculptural, ideal for bold shapes and softness underfoot.
- Knotted rugs are dense and detailed, offering the most durability and heirloom quality.
- Woven rugs are flat and sleek—perfect for minimal, high-traffic areas.
For busy areas like hallways, entryways, or dining rooms, we recommend knotted or woven rugs. Both offer high durability and wear beautifully over time.
If you’re looking for softness, choose a tufted or shag rug. Both have a cushioned, cozy feel that’s ideal for bedrooms and living spaces.
View our Rug Size Guide →
Yes—every rug we make is customizable in size, shape, and over 1,200 wool colors, no matter the technique.
Learn more about our Custom Rugs →
Yes. Knotted rugs typically require the most time and craftsmanship, making them our most premium option. Tufted and woven rugs are more cost-efficient and faster to produce.
- Tufted rugs: 2–3 weeks
- Knotted rugs: 4–6 weeks
- Shag, woven, and loomed rugs: 3–5 weeks.
All rugs are handmade to order and ship shortly after production.
Yes! We offer 2' x 3' samples of most rug styles. A refundable deposit applies.
Contact us for more information →
The most important thing to understand about a rug before buying it is how it was made. Construction method determines pile height and density, durability under traffic, tactile quality underfoot, and — in handwoven rugs — the character the piece develops over years of use. Explore all constructions through rugs by technique, or read the breakdown above.
Rug Construction Types Explained
Hand-Knotted Rugs
Hand-knotted rugs are made by an artisan tying individual knots — each one by hand — across the length and width of the piece. It is the most labor-intensive rug construction available, producing the densest pile and the most dimensionally precise pattern of any handwoven method. The knot count per square inch varies by design complexity; higher knot counts produce finer pattern resolution and greater durability. A hand-knotted rug made in premium New Zealand wool will hold its pile structure, its color, and its pattern integrity for decades under regular use. Shop hand-knotted rugs.
Hand-Tufted Rugs
Hand-tufted rugs are made by an artisan working a tufting tool through a backing material, placing each tuft of wool by hand according to the design. The method allows a wider range of pile heights and more complex color distribution than hand-knotting, and it produces a rug with a plush, substantial surface. Hand-tufted construction in premium New Zealand wool is durable and tactilely rich — the artisan's hand is present in the finished piece in the consistency and density of the pile. Shop hand-tufted rugs.
Hand-Loomed Rugs
Hand-loomed rugs are woven on traditional looms by an artisan managing the warp and weft by hand. The result is a flatter, more textile-like surface than hand-knotted or hand-tufted construction — the softest and most fabric-like of the three pile methods. Hand-loomed pieces in wool have a particular warmth and drape that suits bedrooms and rooms where the rug's tactile quality is as important as its visual one. Shop hand-loomed rugs.
Flatweave Rugs
Flatweave rugs have no pile — the wool is woven directly into a flat surface without the knotted or tufted structure that creates height. The result is the thinnest and most lightweight rug construction available, with a geometric clarity to the pattern that pile constructions can obscure. Flatweave rugs are particularly suited to high-traffic spaces, layering under other rugs, and rooms where a low-profile floor covering is needed. Shop flatweave rugs.
Shag Rugs
Shag rugs have a long, high pile that prioritizes tactile depth and visual texture over pattern precision. The extended pile length creates a surface that is exceptionally soft underfoot and visually distinctive — the pile movement gives the rug a living quality that low-pile constructions don't achieve. Jubi's shag pieces are hand-knotted in premium New Zealand wool, with pile lengths that produce both the tactile experience and the longevity that shorter-pile shag alternatives in synthetic materials don't sustain. Shop shag rugs.
Which Construction Is Right for Your Space?
For the highest-traffic rooms and longest-term investment: hand-knotted. For plush pile with strong design complexity: hand-tufted. For a soft, textile-like surface in a lower-traffic room: hand-loomed. For layering, high-traffic corridors, or a flat profile: flatweave. For maximum tactile depth and a statement surface: shag. See the full technique navigation and collections at rugs by technique.