There is no set classification as production is not attributed to any particular group nor are there any clearly defined ranges in Nepalese carpets. However, Nepalese and Tibetan carpets can be broadly divided into three categories such as the Traditional Nepalese Carpets, Modern Nepalese Carpets and Tibetan Styled Nepalese Carpets.

Traditional Nepalese Carpet:

There are many types of floor coverings that are traditionally made and used in Nepal. The major ones among them are Radi, Pakhi, Pheruwa, Chauripat, Ghum radi, Kachar blanket and loop blanket. Of all the traditionally wovan wollen products, the radi is the best known and dominantly used in Nepal as a traditional carpet. The smallest sized radi is known as the fringed sleeping-mat and normally measures 70 * 150 cm. Larger radis are made up from two or more panel joined at the salvage. The manufacturers of radis have been associated with Gurung families for centuries. Radis, used by almost all Gurungs in one way or another, to sit or sleep on or as a travel rug, also form an important part of the dowry. The most treasured radis are used as a seat for honoured guests. Similarly, radi is considered a holy product because when a member of a family passes away, thirteen days of mourning are observed during which the mourners sleep on the radi in an isolated corner of the house. Likewise, a mother who has given birth usually sleeps on a radi for certain days.

The radi is woven mostly by the women, when they are free from the household and farm duties. However, the finishing and felting processes are carried entirely by men. The Gurung and Rai communities are involved mostly in radi weaving.

The main source of raw material i.e. wool, for weaving is the local Baruwal sheep. The fleece is short and rather hard but is easy to felt, which makes is particularly suitable for hard-wearing, rain and windproof outer garments and for radis. Garments are woven mainly from the soft wool of the first and second shearing of the Baruwal sheep and radis from the later shearing, as well as from goat and yak hair. Radis/Pakhis are always of natural color; they are never dyed. The different shades of the Baruwal fleece, from white, beige checks. However, the wollen yarns for the tapestry-type patterned blankets are sometimes dyed with the vegetable dyes like walnut shell, and light red from madder.

The striking geometric patterns based on triangle squares, crosses and key motifs amongst others are the distinctive features of the radi. These are created by independent weaving of different colored wefts not from selvage to selvage but back and forth, each in its pattern are and interlocking it with weft of the adjacent area on the return passage, thus forming the plain weave or  a 2/2 twill weave. All patterns are built up to the unwoven wrap threads at the end or between the panels are looped around each other to form a secure border with wrap or tailoring, but there is still some work to be done ton the radis before they undergo their width and need no joining. Where theu have fringes all the way round, these are added at this stage. Woolen, two-ply yarn strands are knotted into both the selvage sides with lark’s head knots. Larger radis are joined at the selvage to form a complete pattern. Before the stitching, a lot of pulling and stretching has to be done often so that that pattern will actually meet, although some eccentricity can add character.

High valued doubled blanket/rug is produced by placing two single radis of the same size but different patterns one on top of the other and joined by knotting the fringes through both layers of selvages. The two blankets will adhere completely during the felting process, giving the impression of a single piece of weaving and concealing how this rug with two completely different sides was wove.

The quality of a radi, including its wind and waterproof characteristic, depends, to some extent, on the finishing, the felting process, which might even take a whole day. Felting is done either on a flat stone or on a bamboo mat. Either hot water is poured over the folded radi on the stone or the radi is put into a big vessel with water, heated up and then placed on the stone, where it is trodden on until most of the water has come out. This process is repeated three times. The felter, supported by two long bamboo sticks, shifts his weight from one foot to the other in a rhythmical dance movement, graceful to look at but exhausting if done for hours. Where piped water is available, the process may be undertaken at a tap. Radis shrink considerably during felting and, through the matting of the yarn fibers, the texture becomes so close that sometimes one cannot recognize it as weaving.