Handicrafts
 

Carpets are the perfect representative of the world famous Kashmiri arts and crafts. Main features of these Kashmiri carpets are that they are hand woven and knotted and not machine made and never tufted. The yarn used in carpets normally is silk, wool or silk and wool. Finishing of the artwork and the material makes carpet expensive for many, but one can always assures for having a collector's item in possession because a carpet is a life long investment.

Namdas are Less expensive then carpets. These rugs made from cotton and woolen fiber which is manually pressed into shape. These colorful floor coverings are decorated by chain stitch embroidery which is done beautifully by woolen and cotton threads

The finest shawls to the world is given by Kashmir. Kashmiri shawls are made from three fibers they are wool, Pashmina and Shahtoosh and decorated by Sozni , Motifs embroidery types. Pashmina, yarn is spun got from the hair of the ibex though pure pashmina is expensive, but semi or mixed Pashmina is affordable. Shahtoosh , the legendary ‘ring shawl’ is famous for its lightness, softness and warmth but it is a banned item now.

These products are made of the pulp of paper and adhesive. To make a product of Papier Mache, paper is soaked in water till it disintegrates. It is then pounded, mixed with an adhesive solution, shaped over moulds, and allowed to dry and set before being painted and varnished. There is a big variety in artistry and the choices of the colors. prices are decided by the material used to decorate these artwork.

It is one of the ancient arts in Kashmir, Kashmiri silverware, especially ornamental picture-frames, is in great demand in the markets of United States, European countries and Australia. The work known as ‘Naqash’ determines the price of the object, as does the weight.

wood-carving is one of the best known cottage industries of the valley .Kashmiri walnut and Chinar wood has a fine texture and smooth grain patterns, making the wood expensive. The price of the wooden piece of craft depends on the grain pattern of the wood used, the detailing of the carving and the part of the tree used.

Sericulture and tweed weaving is under the monitoring of the departments of State govt. the cocoon reared in Kashmir is yielding an extremely fine quality is nourished on fine mulberry leaves, Kashmir has a wide range of silk textiles of varied designs. The weaves popularly known as 'chinon' and 'crepe de chine' are of finest quality produced from the yarn.

Willow rushes that grow in plenty in the marshes and lakes of Kashmir are used to make some beautiful objects, ranging from shopping baskets and lampshades to tables and chairs, all in affordable ranges.