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The Journal

Notes and guides on choosing, identifying, and living with handmade rugs — written plainly, with no overclaiming.

Close view of hand-knotted pile and foundation

Materials & Craft

How a Hand-Knotted Rug Is Made

From wool and dye to knotting, washing, and finishing, here is how a hand-knotted rug is made and why the process explains its character and price.

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A fine silk rug with a central medallion Buying Advice · June 19, 2026

What Makes a Handmade Rug Valuable?

Knot density, materials, age, condition, origin, and design all shape a handmade rug's value. Here is how to weigh them without falling for myths.

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A silk rug showing sheen and fine knotting Materials & Craft · June 12, 2026

Wool vs Silk Rugs: Which Is Right for You?

Wool and silk rugs look, feel, and wear very differently. Here is how to choose between them for durability, comfort, sheen, and the way you use the room.

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A finely knotted Persian rug with a central medallion Origins & Types · June 5, 2026

Persian vs Turkish Rugs: What's the Difference?

Persian and Turkish rugs differ in knots, designs, colors, and feel. Here is how to tell them apart and choose the right one for your home.

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A handmade Bakhtiari carpet photographed whole in daylight Buying Advice · May 28, 2026

How to Choose a Handmade Rug for Your Home

A practical guide to choosing a handmade rug by size, origin, material, color, age, and condition — so the piece fits both your space and the way you live.

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Detail of a hand-knotted tribal rug showing the weave Buying Advice · May 12, 2026

Handmade vs Machine-Made Rugs: How to Tell the Difference

The back of the rug, the fringes, the knots, and small irregularities all reveal how a rug was made. Here is how to read them.

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A handmade rug anchoring a furnished living room Size & Rooms · April 30, 2026

Rug Size Guide for Living Rooms

How to choose the right rug size for a living room, with simple rules for furniture placement and the most useful dimensions to look for.

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A flatwoven tribal textile with banded geometric motifs Origins & Types · April 8, 2026

What Is a Kilim?

Kilims are flatwoven rugs without a knotted pile. Here is what makes them distinct, where they come from, and how to use them at home.

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Close detail of a hand-knotted wool pile Care · March 20, 2026

Caring for a Handmade Rug

Simple, gentle habits that keep a handmade rug beautiful for decades: vacuuming, rotating, sunlight, spills, and storage.

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Handmade rugs and kilims in the Palmyra Oriental gallery in Istanbul Istanbul & Stories · February 26, 2026

Buying a Handmade Rug in Istanbul

Istanbul has long been a meeting point for rugs from across the East. Here is how to buy well here — in person or from abroad.

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