Tibetan carpets are known for their beautiful designs, quality and durability. Some of the best quality Tibetan carpets are made in Nepal by artisans who follow the age-old Tibetan carpet-making traditions.
The wool for the carpets still come from sheep or yak reared in the high-altitude regions of Tibet. After sorting and washing, the wool is ‘carded’, where it is untangled to remove knots. Then it is dyed to the required colour. The wool is next made into yarns. The weaving is then carried out by skilled artisans under the directions of an experienced carpet master.
Video
The quality of the carpet is determined by the number of knots per square inch of carpet. A skilled craftsperson is capable of weaving between 60 to 150 knots per square inch on average. The higher the value, the better the quality of the carpet and finer the motifs. After the weaving has been done, the carpet is trimmed carefully to the required shape. It is then washed and dried. The final step is another trim accompanied by stretching or straightening if needed. All of the above processes are carried out by hand.
