To check for a good twist, examine the tips of the yarns and make sure that there is no fraying or untwisting of fibers. The tighter the twist, the better traffic the carpeting will withstand, heat setting merely locks the twisted yarns into place. Just as knit fabrics are different from wovens, carpet construction varies. It is tufted, woven, needle-punched, or hand knotted. Tufted is less expensive than woven, it is machine made by weaving the carpet fibers through a backing.
Most carpeting today is tufted.
Woven carpeting is similar to weaving fabric. Plush, needle-punched carpeting is made by placing layers of carpet fibers on a mesh fabric core and mechanically punching them through with thousands of needles. This results in a carpet that is resistant to water, insects, mold, and sun. Selection of this type is limited. Hand knotted carpets are commonly referred to as oriental carpets.