Silk Turkish Carpets

When I took the Rick Steves Villages of Turkey tour in 2011, we visited a carpet weaving co-operative. Anyone who has been to Turkey will know that these carpets are sold everywhere, by enthusiastic (you could say 'pushy') salesmen. And you could buy them here (the carpets, not the salesmen) at the factory, too, if you wished.
 The co-operative ensures that the weavers (women) get a fairer share of the profits than they usually recieve from other suppliers. The women weave the carpets at home and then the co-operative organises the sales.

 The very best carpets are made of silk. They are light and supple, beautifully soft and have incredible colours. They last almost forever.
The photo above is of a woman taking the silk from the cocoons of the silkworms.

The only dyes used at the co-operative are natural ones, and this is a display of the substances used, and the colours they give.

Here's Yaren, our lovely guide, taking a well earned break!

Weaving the carpet. After trying it for a few minutes, Karen quickly decided this was not going to be a career-changing moment!