Handmade or hand-knotted rugs are the most desirable of all. In a hand-knotted rug, the pile –usually wool – is tied to the foundation, which is usually cotton. This gives them the durability to last for generations. They are made by expertly skilled artisans, carefully woven in exquisite designs and beautiful colours so they make wonderful heirlooms. The Carpet Cellar deals mostly in handmade pieces. Hand-tufted rugs are made partially by hand and partially with a tool that helps punch strands of wool onto the canvas of a carpet. These are less time consuming to make and do not require the same level of skill. We only do hand-tufted rugs on special orders for large projects. The final type of rug is the machine-made rug, which is made using a power loom.