Kashmir Carpets

Carpet weaving in Kashmir in India arrived with the Mughals. The craft flourished in Kashmir and now Kashmir has become a hub for the quality rugs. The patterns are influenced by the Persian style with Indian version. One typically Kashmiri Indian pattern is the tree of life.

It is the color of the carpet that helps distinguish it from others. The colors of Kashmiri carpets are more subtle and muted. The yarn is dye using vegetable colors. The yarn is either silk, wool or a combination of the two. Wool pile is more common. Woolen carpets always have a cotton base but silk carpets may have a cotton or silk base. Wollen carpets are more common and affordable than the silk though silk is used in the woolen carpets for highlights.

Just like Persian carpets, the knotting determines the durability. Other quality aspects include color and design.The kashmiri carpets can be double knotted and single knotted. The single knotted pile is fluffier than the double knotted. The pile of the double knotted carpet is less resistant to touch and pressure.
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