Materials: Three primary materials are used to make Turkish rugs: cotton, silk, and wool, or a mixture of these. Price is often determined by the material and whether it is hand-spun or machine-spun.

We enjoyed learning about the different fibers and gained an appreciation for these rugs, and ultimately bought one of the 18-inch-by-30-inch rugs woven with silk.

Handwoven Turkish rugs can cost thousands of dollars, and a single rug can take over a year to make. ... The finished silk carpets at the women's center cost as much as $4,000.