Handloom carpets are actually hand knotted carpets in three different styles. They are traditionally woven on a vertical loom with a mounted warp. Cotton yarn is most commonly used for warp, though sometimes even silk is used. Cotton is preferred because it is cost efficient and easily available. It is an alteration of knots and wefts where the knots are wrapped around the warps. Weaving process is conducted in the horizontal movement of lines.
Full range of Indian floor coverings includes cut shuttle rugs, durries, area rugs, prayer rugs, shags, shaggy cushions, carpets, runners, coir mats and door mats.
Besides handloom carpets, India also produces all popular varieties and types of hand knotted, handwoven and hand tufted carpets, rugs and floor coverings. These include Oriental, Silk, Laurie Baft, Silk Flower, Indo Nepal, Kilim, Shaggy and Modern designs, made in wool, acrylic, polyester, cotton, jute and recycled materials.
ndian hand-made carpets and floor coverings epitomize the world of arts and crafts. From the most exquisitely hand knotted, light weight pure silk carpets of Kashmir to the hand-tufted shaggy rugs of Panipat, all Indian carpets and area rugs carry the mark of human ingenuity. A Kashmiri carpet can at times take upto a year to weave one piece of 9 ft. x 12 ft.
Several specialised carpet clusters are spread across the country, with each one specializing in a particular variety. Hathras in Uttar Pradesh is famous for Chenille pile rugs. Bhadohi near Varanasi is the most important carpet cluster in the country, producing traditional, oriental and modern western designs in hand knotted and hand tufted carpets and rugs. Bikaner and Jaipur are famous for silk flower and woolen carpets. Agra and Gwalior are other important production centers.
