Handmade Woolen Dhurries

Dhurries are flat weave pile-less rugs generally used for casual purposes. They are often brightly colored with loose weaves of cotton and wool. They are reversible rugs and the size apart form the conventional, can be conveniently varied as per the requirement.

Origin and Regions
The flat weave carpets or durries originated with the flat weave cloth. They were used to spread on floor. They were initially used in India and other neighboring countries but now for ease of use maintenance and colorful designs, have become famous all over the world.

The production centers are mainly located in Punjab and Haryana, in and around Panipat. Panipat has gained prominence in the handmade woolen durry sector as it combines the talent of the weavers of Punjab, Haryana, Sindh and Multan (last two, now in Pakistan). Banglore in Karnataka is also famous for its Ikat pattern durries though the production is not on a large scale, as in Panipat.

Woollen dhurries are mainly produced in Bhadhohi, Mirzapur, Agra, Jaipur, Panipat and Bangalore.

Technique
The process of making durries is as simple as creating a normal basket weave cloth on the handloom. The art lies in creating colorful patterns still keeping the rug reversible. Dhurries are usually woven in India with either cotton or wool. The design is created by interweaving colored weft threads through the warp threads. The weft is usually wool and the warp is either cotton or wool.

Durry here is of two kinds one that can be spread on the bed and another on floor. The Bed Dhurry is made on pit loon and the floor dhurry on the elementary loom traditionally called adda.

Patterns
Panipat is famous for 'panja' durrie a kind of a floor covering. It used to be a traditional item made by village women for daughter's dowry. Apart from 'panja' durrie several other styles are handloom durries, chindi or fabric and leather scrap durries, rugs, druggets and carpets. The locally made blankets in the same fashion are called 'khes'

Durries come in numerous designs although the most common are stripes of different colours and geometrical designs. Sometimes animal and bird motifs are also used.

Woollen dhurries are one of the least expensive yet one of the very elegant flat floor-coverings that compliment from most traditional to most contemporary settings, and very formal to casual settings.