Hand knotted and hand tufted woolen carpets

Hand knotted Woolen Carpets from India are the continuation of the medieval traditions that began during the time of the Mughals. The present day hand knotted woolen carpet tradition is a fine blend of Persian patterns and designs inspired my modern aesthetic sense. These carpets not only speak high of exquisite workmanship but also reflect the creativity of the individual craftsmen.

The traditional hand knotted woolen carpet is based on the number of knots per square inch. The more knots per inch the better are the texture and look of the carpet (up to more than 300 knots per square inch). The durability and long life of a good carpet also depends on its knots per square inch.

The main areas which are engaged in the productions of woolen carpets are Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Khamaria, Ghosia, Varanasi & Agra in Uttar Pradesh; Amritsar & Pathankot in Punjab and Jaipur in Rajasthan. Kashmir is also famous for its woolen carpets. Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and Darjeeling in West Bengal also manufacture woolen carpets.

There is a lot of local variety in traditional hand knotted woolen carpets:

Woolen Carpets from Kashmir are not only known for their highly intricate decorations and patterns but also for their durability and subtle colours. Woolen carpets generally have a cotton base and silk yarn is also used with woolen yarn to highlight important motifs. These carpets use yarn dyed with mineral colours. Kashmiri carpets have a higher number of knots per inch, which increase the durability of these carpets.

Woolen carpets from Ladakh region in Kashmir and from Darjeeling in West Bengal show a strong Tibetian influence in the depiction of themes and motifs. The themes generally revolve around the life of Gautam Buddha and tantrik Buddhism that is practiced in Tibet. These carpets follow the same mandala scheme, which can also be seen in traditional Thanka paintings.

Woolen carpets from Agra are vegetable dyed, so are the carpets from Jaipur. The dyes obtained from vegetable sources lend a rich and subtle colour to the carpets, which does not fade easily.

Hand knotted carpets from Bhadohi-Mirzapur belt in Uttar Pradesh are known for their Persian look and the imitation of intricate designs of the Mughal period. These carpets are not only in bright colours but they are full of detailed work.

Hand knotted Aubusson (Floral) carpets from Bhadohi and Varanasi Uttar Pradesh are also famous. The entire surface or a large area of these carpets is decorated with intricate floral patterns.

Jaipur is also known for its hand knotted woolen carpets. Carpets created here are known for their intricate work, which is reflective of the Persian tradition.

Bhadohi, Varanasi and Kamaria in Uttar Pradesh are known for their hand knotted Gabbeh carpets. These carpets portray the vibrant tribal traditions of our country. These carpets have 75% wool content and 25% cotton content in them.

The popularity of handmade tufted woolen carpets is increasing by the day. These carpets are made with the aid of tufting guns. A fabric of good quality is used and the desired number of stitches is applied to create carpets having myriad patterns and colours.
Panipat in Haryana is the main tufted woolen carpet-producing center.

Hand knotted woolen carpets from India have carved a niche for themselves not only in the local markets but they are also immensely popular abroad owing to their superior hand knotting techniques, variety of colour, designs, combined with a good finish.