It wasn’t until the 20^th century that we witnessed the birth of hand tufted rugs. The basic method of production was developed in Whitfield County, USA by Catherine Evans. Inspired by a family heirloom she recreated a hand-tufted bedspread using a technique know as Candlewick embroidery. She created a design by sewing tick cotton yarn using a continuous stitch into a muslin sheet, then cut the tips to give a soft fluffy appearance, washing the bedspread cause the muslin to shrink and lock the tufts in place. Her bedspread cottage industry grew and moved to Dalton, Georgia where the tufting technique was adapted and mechanised to suit carpet production and the birth of the modern carpet industry. Over 90% of carpets produced throughout the World today are machine tufted. Although today hand-tufted rugs are secondary backed and have their tufts locked by adhesive, they’re still produced using the same basic method of the original candlewick bedspreads.

 

Over the past twenty-five centuries we have seen rugs develop from hand loomed to computerised power looms while still retaining many of the basic traditions, techniques and styles of our forefathers. At the same time there has also been massive developments in modern designs and textures and carpet runners, particularly in hand tufted rugs. While rugs were traditionally produced from Wool, Silk or Cotton, modern manmade fibres such as Acrylic, Nylon and Polypropylene are designed to give a greater diversity in both pastel and primary colours. All these elements are essential for creative modern rug design and production.            

 

At Rug Zone we like to think of rugs as being a work of art for your floor. It doesn’t even have to match your décor, it can be a contrast, it can make a statement, it can be as individual as you are! For these reasons the rugs offered at Rug Zone are often only available from Rug Zone. Whether it be shaggy rugs, wool rugs, traditional rugs, handmade rugs, modern rugs, contemporary rugs, cheap rugs, large rugs, small rugs or hall runners. Then Rug Zone has rugs to suit your budget and life style.

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