The back of a hand-knotted rug shows the pattern in the back of the knots. This 200-line is an exquisite example of detailing.
The knot or line count is a measurement of the density of the knots that make up the rug’s pile. Generally speaking, the higher the knot count, the higher the quality of the rug. This, however, is not an absolute rule. There are other significant factors that will also affect the overall quality and aesthetic appeal of a particular rug. These include the skill with which a given design has been executed, the balance and subtlety of the color palette, the quality of the wool, and various finishing details.
The line count method is primarily used for Chinese rugs. The number of lines of knots per linear foot determines the line count. Qualities range from 50 to over 300 lines per foot.
Rugs made in India are described by a somewhat more complicated method. A rug may be referred to as a nine-sixty (9/60). The 9 refers to the number of knots for every 9/10ths of an inch in width, and the 60 refers to the number of knots for every 41/2 inches in length. In effect, a 9/60 construction would yield 135 knots per square inch. A chart of knot counts can be found in the next page.