Carpets!

Another day, another 'factory'. 

At a collective in Amber (Amer) they specialise in carpets and block printing. The word factory is used in its loosest sense, often meaning a room where everyone works on the floor in what we would think of as dreadful conditions. Much of the work is done at home because this allows workers to remain in their community rather than move to a city, and the collective at least ensures workers get a fair price for their work. The looms here were for demonstration but once knotted at home the finishing process was carried out here.

The guide told us that each family has its own traditional 'signature' design, and we are beginning to realise that this is true of so many things. The shop keepers in Delhi proudly displayed photos of their ancestors who traded from the same shop selling the same thing as proof of quality, and whole villages are dedicated to one trade - scrap iron, recycling tyres, quarrying etc.

Anyway, back to the carpets: 

Wool arrives in these big sacks and is hanked up by women using vertical swifts

These carpets are hand-knotted rather than woven, with each thread secured around two warp threads in a figure-of-eight 

before being cut short with the knife

They were happy to let us have a go (for the usual tip) so some poor tourist will end up with our ropey knots in their carpet.

If they are making an intricate pattern it is mapped out on a grid, much like counted cross stitch.

Once complete the carpets are clipped to even up the surface and brushed to remove loose fibres. 

Then the backs are burnt to remove loose fibres and make them rough (non-slip) 

before they are scrubbed to within an inch of their life with soap and these paddles. Apparently the paddles help the fibres lie in one direction so they have a sheen and prevent the wool fibres from felting.

And this is the stunning result, from traditional designs to contemporary ones, wool and beautiful silk. All of these town 'factories' have disproportionately large basements where the very well rehearsed hard sell begins.

Did we succumb? I'm afraid to say we did, but we drove a hard bargain and these guys were very friendly, the helpers (who are usually just there to get out the goods) chatting about their hobbies in broken English (kite flying competitions) and interested in what we did and all things English. The manager said they are hoping to be able to come over for a trade show soon.