The Rug Journal

Stories & guides

Everything we know about hand-knotted rugs — how to choose them, how to care for them, and the craft behind every knot.

Afghan Rugs Explained: Chub-Rang, Kazak and Sherwan

Three weaving families, three visual languages. Here is how to tell Chub-Rang, Kazak and Sherwan rugs apart — and which suits your room.

Buying Guides29 September 20261 min read

Turn the rug over, check the fringe, look at the pattern. Five simple checks that reveal whether a rug was knotted by hand.

Buying Guides20 September 20261 min read

Measure the room, leave a border, and let the furniture decide. A practical rug size guide in centimetres for every room.

Craft & Heritage11 September 20261 min read

Why naturally dyed wool glows rather than fades, and which plants give Afghan rugs their reds, blues and golds.

Care & Styling2 September 20261 min read

Vacuum gently, rotate twice a year, blot — never rub. Simple habits that keep a wool rug looking new for decades.