How Traditional Moroccan Rugs Are Made
The making of a Moroccan rug is a traditional craft passed down from mothers to daughters within Berber tribes. Each rug is the result of a multi-step process that combines natural materials, skilled craftsmanship, and cultural symbolism.
Wool Gathering and Preparation
The process begins with shearing sheep. In Morocco, sheep graze freely in the wild, which results in high-quality wool—but it also makes the wool more laborious to clean. As the sheep roam through meadows and shrubs, their wool collects twigs and thistles, which are carefully removed during washing and cleaning.
Next, the wool is hand-carded to align the fibers, making them ready for spinning into yarn. If needed, the wool is then dyed with natural plant-based dyes before weaving begins.
Recycled Materials and Boucherouite Rugs
Boucherouite rugs are made using recycled textiles and wool. The cleaned fabrics are cut into strips—known as rag yarn—which are then woven into rugs on a loom using traditional techniques. This process makes every Boucherouite rug one of a kind.
Weaving and Knotting
Before weaving begins, the warp threads—made of wool or cotton—are arranged on the loom. The weaving itself is done by knotting wool yarn row by row into the warp. Moroccan rugs use two main knotting techniques: the symmetrical knot and the traditional Berber knot, or a combination of both.
Between each row of knots, weft yarn is woven through and compacted with a special tool called a comb beater. Nomadic Moroccan rugs typically have a lower knot density than oriental rugs. This makes them lighter and easier to transport—an important feature for a nomadic lifestyle. These rugs were designed to be carried over long distances and adapted to a variety of uses.
The time it takes to make a rug depends on its size, design, and the number of artisans involved. On average, the process takes between two and twelve months.
Traditions and Beliefs
The making of a rug is also surrounded by traditional beliefs. Some weavers believe that if a rug remains unfinished on the loom for too long, it brings bad luck. This may partly explain why rugs are often finished quickly, and why vintage Moroccan rugs typically have fringes on only one end—the end where the rug is completed.
There are also practical reasons for this: weaving begins at one end of the loom, and only the finished end is left with visible fringes. A single-fringe edge also makes the rug easier to use, roll, and transport—especially for nomadic households.
Wool Quality and Characteristics
Moroccan rugs are often made from the high-quality wool of long-tailed sheep that live in the mountains. The higher the sheep graze, the finer the wool becomes. This wool has even been compared to cashmere for its unique properties: it is warm, airy, soft, lustrous, and breathable.
The natural cream-colored wool used in Moroccan rugs is always unbleached. However, the exact shade varies from sheep to sheep. Over time, sunlight may cause the wool to yellow to different degrees. As a result, the natural tones of vintage rugs can vary depending on the sheep, the environment, and the rug’s age.
Unprocessed sheep’s wool is also dirt- and odor-repellent, durable, and easy to keep clean. The sheep graze freely under the guidance of shepherds and are not subjected to mulesing or other harmful practices.
