Around the world, people seek to acquire Turkish carpets. Prized for their artistry, the rugs are enjoyed for their rich, warm colors and beautiful patterns. They have a variety of uses, from a floor covering to a wall hanging, depending on how they are made and what materials are used. It is possible, however, for them to be quite expensive, and there are fake versions available. Anyone considering the purchase of one of these carpets should take the time to learn about them first.

Traditionally, carpets make in Turkey are made by women and girls using wool pile, warps and wefts, as well as natural dyes. Of course, the traditional method of making these carpets is not always the most convenient or cost-effective. Some variations include weaving with wool pile on cotton warps and wefts, as well as using silk pile, warp and wefts. Chemical dyes and machine weaving have also become common production methods for custom carpets that are meant to be sold.

Before buying Turkish carpets, it is important to be able to tell the difference between the various production methods. Typically, wool on wool carpets have a low knot count and the designs are non-intricate, usually consisting of geometric patterns. Wool on cotton generally has a higher knot count and the designs are more intricate, while silk on silk has the highest knot count and the most intricate patterns. In addition to material, you can tell whether natural or chemical dyes have been used by rubbing a damp white cloth on the carpet.

If color bleeds off, in addition to the fibers, then chemical dyes have been used, which creates the possibility of bleeding onto lighter colors in the rug when if it is washed. Finally, turn the carpet over and see if all the squares of the weave are the same size. If they are, then it has been machine spun, which weakens wool and shortens the lifespan of the carpet.

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