Kashmir is known for its fine quality carpets, an average piece being made with about 324 knots per square inch. Although the carpet industry here is of Persian origin, Kashmir has developed some of its own designs based on shawl patterns, the traditional paisley, leaves and flowers. Fine quality carpets are also produced in Amritsar (Punjab), Agra (Uttar Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan) and Eluru and Warangal (Andhra Pradesh). The Mirzapur-Bhadohi belt in Uttar Pradesh represents the most important area of carpet weaving in the country as it has the largest concentration of carpet weavers.

This area specializes in the lower, medium and low-fine qualities and accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the total production of carpets in India. The quality here ranges between 100 and 200 knots per square inch. The fineness of a carpet is judged from the number of knots per unit area, and the design, colors and quality of yarn. The firmness, thickness and appearance of the back of a carpet are the important considerations in determining the quality of the carpet. The Indian carpet industry is export oriented with the largest importers being Germany and the USA followed by Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

Woolen Carpets Handicrafts.

The wool used in carpets varies greatly. The best grades of Indian wool are used for medium quality carpets while imported wool blended with Indian high-grade wool is used for superior quality carpets. For fine quality carpets, such as Kashmir carpets worsted yarn is used. The best quality carpets made with high-grade wool develop a beautiful luster after use and therefore old carpets have special values. Today, however, when customers desire to have that effect immediately, the wool is washed with special chemicals to enhance its natural luster. Traditionalists however maintain that the process not only reduces the life of the carpet but also fails to produce the same luster that comes with age and use.

They also believe that carpets should never be dry-cleaned. Instead, they should be washed with ritha (a kind of hard berry, which is ground, and then soaked in water to produce a rich lather with which the carpet is brushed).