The working crafts workshops along the lanes behind the Id Kah Mosque are where Kashgar's artisan traditions survive in their most intact form. The hat-makers (doppa) stitch the four-cornered embroidered skullcaps worn by Uyghur men using wooden forms that have been in use for generations. Coppersmiths hammer tea trays and platters from flat sheets of metal. Knife-makers grind blades and fit them into carved bone and antler handles. The work happens in open-fronted workshops and the craftsmen are generally happy to have people watch.
The best-value purchases here are functional objects rather than tourist souvenirs: a doppa for daily wear costs a fraction of what the tourist-facing stalls near the mosque charge, and the quality is higher because these are made for actual use rather than display. A good Uyghur knife with a proper handle is also a worthwhile buy — though note that carrying them across international borders can be complicated. Silk ikat cloth by the metre is another Kashgar speciality; you can find it at the covered silk market in the bazaar, sold by the bolt to tailors and dressmakers.