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How to Choose a Patchwork Rug
The guide below covers the two types of patchwork, color, sizes and custom orders, then which type suits each room.
What a patchwork rug is. A patchwork rug, or patchwork carpet, is made by cutting older handmade rugs into pieces and sewing them into one new rug. All of ours are made from Turkish rugs, kilims and other flatweaves. A fabric backing is stitched on the underside to cover the seams, and the edges are overlocked, with no fringe. The age on each listing is the age of the rugs the pieces were cut from, so a new patchwork rug can be made of pieces that are 30 to 80 years old.
Two Types of Patchwork
About two in three rugs here are wool patchwork rugs cut from hand-knotted rugs. The others are kilim patchwork, made from flatwoven pieces.
Patchwork
These wool patchwork rugs come from hand-knotted rugs with a wool pile on a cotton foundation. The rugs are often overdyed first, then cut and stitched together. They are about 0.31 in (8 mm) thick, and the pieces are 30 to 80 years old. All our patchwork runners and round rugs are this type.
Kilim patchwork
These are sewn from undyed, flatwoven pieces with no pile. Most are chaput kilims, rag kilims woven from strips of fabric, about 0.35 in (9 mm) thick and 30 to 70 years old. Others are cut from old Anatolian kilims, about 0.31 in (8 mm) thick and 40 to 50 years old. Some are made from thin, plain-woven cotton textiles, about 0.16 in (4 mm) thick and 30 to 40 years old.
Underfoot note. Kilim patchwork ranges from 0.16 to 0.35 in (4 to 9 mm), so check the thickness on the listing if a door has to swing over the rug.
Colorful or One Main Color
Colorful patchwork
About half the rugs here are multicolor, with pieces of different colors and patterns side by side. Most kilim patchwork falls in this group. A colorful patchwork rug usually sets the palette for the room, so pick one of its colors and repeat it elsewhere.
One main color
The rest have one main color, most often grey, then beige, blue, black, brown or pink. On the hand-knotted patchwork, that color usually comes from the overdye and runs across all the pieces, while the old patterns show through underneath. This quieter look suits a modern living room or a room that already has strong colors.
Sizes, Runners and Custom Orders
Most patchwork area rugs here are 6 to 8 feet wide, and about one in three is a 7x10. There are also 8x10 and larger rugs, and smaller accent rugs about 4 feet wide. Patchwork runners and round rugs are sewn from the hand-knotted pieces. A rug's exact size can differ from the size in its title, so check the width and length on the listing.
Custom size. If none of the listed rugs fits your space, we can make a patchwork rug, hand-knotted or kilim, in the size you need. Contact us with the width and length. Before sewing, we send you photos of the pieces we've chosen; if you don't like one, we swap it and send new photos. We start sewing only after you approve. Because the rug is then made for you, a custom-size order can't be canceled, returned or exchanged for a change of mind once sewing has started.
Which Patchwork for Which Room
Living room
Choose a size that lets at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs sit on the rug. The hand-knotted patchwork adds softness where people sit and walk barefoot.
Dining room
Allow about 24 inches of rug beyond the table on every side. Both types work here; kilim patchwork has a flat surface with no pile.
Hallway and entry
For a hallway, choose a patchwork runner; a small accent rug fits by the door. For more lengths and types, browse hallway rugs and entryway rugs.
Bedroom
For bare feet beside the bed, the hand-knotted patchwork is the softer choice.
Common Patchwork Rug Questions
What is a vintage patchwork rug?
It is a new rug sewn from pieces of older rugs. On ours, the pieces are 30 to 80 years old, and the age on the listing is the age of the pieces, not of the finished rug. The hand-knotted rugs are often overdyed first, and the kilim pieces are not dyed.
Are patchwork rugs one of a kind?
Yes. Each rug is sewn from its own set of pieces, and the photos on a listing show the exact rug you'll receive.
Can I order a patchwork rug in a custom size?
Yes, for both hand-knotted and kilim patchwork. Contact us with the width and length you need. You'll see photos of the pieces and approve them before we sew; once sewing starts, the order can't be canceled or returned for a change of mind.
How close are the colors to the photos?
Each listing shows that rug, and its color is checked against our stock records when it is photographed. On the hand-knotted patchwork, the pile leans one way, so the same rug can look lighter from one end and darker from the other; some photos show the lighter side. Kilim patchwork has no pile, so this doesn't apply to it.
How should I clean a patchwork rug?
Blot a spill right away with a clean, dry white cloth, without rubbing. Leave all cleaning to a professional rug cleaner, including after a spill. Don't machine-wash or soak a patchwork rug at home. Our rug care guide covers vacuuming, sun, moisture and storage.
What if the rug doesn't work in my room?
For an in-stock rug, contact us within 14 calendar days of delivery and we'll send return instructions. Custom-size rugs can't be returned for a change of mind, but if any rug arrives damaged or incorrect, the refund policy still covers it. Read the refund policy for the conditions before you order.
Related Rug Collections
For more colorful rugs, see multicolor rugs. For rugs woven in one piece rather than sewn from pieces, browse overdyed rugs, vintage rugs, Turkish rugs and kilim rugs. For a rug by the bed or door, see small rugs.
