| Turkish carpets are highly sought after throughout the | | | | patterns, including floral designs. Silk on silk rugs have |
| world. The beauty and artistry involved in making these | | | | the highest knot count and usually have very intricate |
| rugs, along with their warm, rich colors, are | | | | patterns. |
| much-enjoyed characteristics of the rugs. Highly | | | | In addition to materials used, you can determine |
| versatile, they can be used as flooring coverings or | | | | whether the rug is hand-or machine-spun by looking at |
| wall hangings, depending entirely on how they are | | | | the back of it. If the squares are all the same size, then |
| made and the materials used. | | | | the rug has been machine-spun. You can also tell |
| Because they are prized, they can be quite expensive | | | | whether the dyes used are natural or the less |
| and there are many forgeries on the market. As a | | | | expensive chemical versions by wiping a spot of the |
| result, anyone who is considering purchasing one | | | | rug with a damp white cloth. |
| needs to learn more about them first. | | | | If color bleeds off, then chemical dyes have been |
| Traditionally, carpets make in Turkey are made by | | | | used. Keep in mind that bleeding off on the cloth also |
| women and girls using wool pile, warps and wefts, as | | | | means they will bleed onto each other if the carpet is |
| well as natural dyes. Of course, the traditional method | | | | washed. |
| of making these carpets is not always the most | | | | Weavers of Turkish carpets make them to sell, but |
| convenient or cost-effective. | | | | they are also used by the weavers as floor coverings, |
| Some variations include weaving with wool pile on | | | | wall hangings, floor mats, and even protective covers |
| cotton warps and wefts, as well as using silk pile, warp | | | | during severe changes in temperature. Since they are |
| and wefts. Chemical dyes and machine weaving have | | | | not all made to sell, and they are only made in a few |
| also become common production methods for custom | | | | areas within Turkey, the rugs can be difficult to find. |
| carpets that are meant to be sold. | | | | Although hand weaving has declined because of the |
| The different types of Turkish carpets do have | | | | increase in machine weaving, the rugs are still made |
| different characteristics. Wool on wool carpets, for | | | | with the kind of quality that allows them to become |
| example, tends to have a low knot count and | | | | family heirlooms. Before buying, however, it is important |
| non-intricate patterns, like geometric shapes, while wool | | | | to know enough about the custom carpets to be |
| on cotton has a higher knot count and more intricate | | | | certain of what you're being sold. |