The carpets are of with various exquisite and intricate designs motifs and colours which are typical of sikkimese type and made of various sizes.
Carpet weaving patterns of sikkim.
Originally the process starts preparation of wool involving carding dyeing and balling.
The women of the bhutia community of sikkim practice what is perhaps the oldest form of carpet weaving in the world where they traditionally weave hand knotted woollen carpets with tibetan designs on upright wooden frame loom.
Traditionally carpet locally known as den weaving is a symbol of cultural expression in the state of sikkim.
Geometrical patterns are created using knots of different colour.
Besides regular carpets the bhutia women also weave small bedside carpets and squares called asans to sit on.
Nearly all types of weaves can be woven in the loin loom.
The yarn is then loomed using a weaving rod from one end to other creating a pile of rug.
The vertical frame loom with a back strap used by the lepcha women is indigenous in sikkim.
The process therefore starts from winding the yarn into balls.
Vegetable and natural dyes are still used to obtain the right colours.
Besides carpet is very important export oriented handicraft industry in sikkim.
But these days wool is bought directly from the market to be used for weaving.
The weaving starts from a basic cotton warp which serves as the skeleton.
Their weaving techniques are being extended to dhurrie weaving and woollen dhurrie weaving.
Carpet designs are normally of mythical birds flowers like the lotus snowlions eight buddhist lucky signs etc carpets of different sizes for covering walls chairs sofas beds or diwans are made and marketed through the sikkim handloom and handicrafts development corporation the time taken in making these carpets varies according to the size.
The weave frame is made from bamboo or various types of wood which is available.
