Bayat Turkmen Carpet

Bayat Turkmen carpet is a traditional woven product of significant importance within the heritage of Oghuz handicrafts, entirely produced by hand using natural materials. These carpets, manufactured in the Bayat district of Afyonkarahisar, are distinguished by the use of kirman yarn spun from 100% sheep wool and dyed with root dyes, then woven on handlooms using a tight warp technique. The motifs and patterns passed down through generations, along with their original color tones and durability, make the Bayat Turkmen carpet not only a symbol of cultural identity but also an economic asset, representing one of the key examples in the preservation of traditional weaving art.

Throughout history, carpet weaving has been one of the most important cultural practices of the Oghuz people. Bayat Turkmen Carpets are produced entirely by hand using 100% root-dyed wool and 100% manual labor, preserving original designs, motifs, and colors. Key distinguishing features include dyeing with root pigments only, weaving with high-quality yarn spun using a kirman tool, and production using exclusively natural materials and human labor. Production uses 100% sheep wool. The wool is spun into yarn using a device called a kirman, which produces threads stronger than machine-spun yarn.

To obtain root dyes, plants such as pinar, palamut, and mazı are collected from mountains and dried in the shade. Once dried, these plants are placed in cauldrons with rope and boiled. Before dyeing, the wool yarn undergoes a process called “mordanting,” in which it is boiled with mineral salts and left to soak in water for a day to preserve its shape, texture, elasticity, and softness. For blue tones, civit otu is used; to deepen colors or shift them to other hues, saçıkıbrıs mineral salt is applied. The following plants yield specific colors: civit otu produces indigo and blue tones; palamut and mazı yield black and yellow tones; pinar gives green tones; and walnut shells produce brown tones.

After dyeing, the yarn is removed from the cauldron and hung to dry for a day. On the following day, it is washed thoroughly with plenty of water and detergent, then dried and formed into balls. The carpets are woven on metal looms, with fine threads tightly arranged in the warp according to the desired dimensions. Bayat Turkmen Carpets are characterized by small, densely packed motifs. The designs have been preserved and transmitted from generation to generation. Twelve distinct patterns are used in Bayat Turkmen Carpets: Avşar, Saçbağlı, Bindallı, Körçiçek, Hayat Ağacı, Başaklı, Bıtraklı, Ejderhalı, Seleser, Parmaklı, Konya and Kütahya. Due to the tight warp and dense weave, these carpets can be used on both sides. The colors derived from root dyes are initially darker and matte, but become brighter and more vibrant with washing and use. Colors from root dyes are resistant to light and do not bleed when washed. It may take approximately one month to complete a single carpet. Producing one square meter of carpet requires 0.400 kg of wool warp thread and 1 kg of root-dyed kirman yarn. After weaving is complete, the fringes are knotted.

^{Bayat Turkmen Carpet} (AA)

Carpet weaving has reached the present day through the manual labor of local women and skills passed down through generations. Under a joint project between the Bayat District Governorship and the Type E Closed Correction and Rehabilitation Facility in Afyonkarahisar, weaving courses are offered to detainees and convicts. Through these courses, individuals acquire a trade that enables them to find employment upon release. This craft is among the traditional arts at risk of disappearing and is actively being preserved. The Provincial Directorate and District Governorship provide support to sustain this culture. Patented carpets are sold via social media, and efforts are underway to expand their global reach through various online platforms.

^{Bayat Turkmen Carpet} (AA)

Supervision of Bayat Turkmen Carpets is carried out by a committee composed of experts from the Bayat Halk Education Center Directorate, the Bayat District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Bayat Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation, coordinated by the Bayat Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation – Carpet Workshop. Inspections verify the use of 100% sheep wool spun into kirman yarn, the application of root dyes, and the authenticity of carpet patterns. Inspections are conducted annually or as needed.