Most people believe that complex work such as rug-making requires the use of machinery, but the Berber women disagree. Despite the fact that Moroccan rug production has a lengthy history, the process has remained mostly unchanged despite Morocco's overall modernity. Handwoven rugs have been made by skilled women weavers in the same method for thousands of years, one knot at a time. A method of handweaving a finished rug with high-quality output that requires patience, technique, and creativity. Every hand-knotted Moroccan rug undergoes a lengthy process that includes collection, preparation, and eventually weaving. They are as follows:

Behind the Creation

The concept behind making Moroccan rugs is fascinating because it kept on changing throughout time. Handweaving the shag rugs began as a way for Berber peoples to defy the harsh environment and bring warmth into their homes, but it has since evolved into a one-of-a-kind beautiful area rug that is sought after from house to house. Not to mention, local weavers and their designs are influenced by a variety of variables, ranging from nature and superstition to the land's fertility.

Naturally Sourcing and Preparing Materials

It all starts in the summer when sheep in Morocco's Atlas Mountains are ready to be sheared of their winter wool. This is the first phase of weaving a handmade Moroccan shag rug. The raw wool is then bunded and sent to be washed properly before being sun-dried for two to three days. Next, the wool is carded, spun, and converted into skeins using a spinning wheel after it has been thoroughly washed. When it comes to creating a beautiful rug, color is crucial. In fact, the colors Berbers employ are entirely dependent on what is available in the location, as each region has its own set of colors based on the herbs available, the type of wool used, and local designs. The yarn is eventually colored or left in its original ivory hue before being delivered to the women's homes, where the majority of the weaving.

Method of Making

With high-quality weaving, soulful hands give a soulful finish; women weavers begin the long process of weaving on a vertical loom, combining tribal motifs and patterns. The latter are can be categorized into imperfect geometries, figural and abstract patterns, as well as Berber symbols and compositions. Women's instincts about where lines, characters, and shapes begin and end are purely dependent on instinct, a knowledge passed down from their mothers and grandmothers. The rug is finely and beautifully handmade in one to three months, perhaps longer depending on the complexities and subtleties. Then it's washed and dried by hand over and over in the Moroccan sun for several days.

The Finished Rug

When it's all done, a work of art emerges, consisting of a thick or flat piece of textile embroidered with soothing hues and Berberly classic motifs. All of these area rugs have their own distinct themes consisting of wonderfully simple designs, and a supremely warm feel because of the soft texture.

Even if some of the methods and techniques used to weave a handmade rug change from one region to the next, and even from one country to the next, the fundamentals of hand-weaving are nearly universal. Even so, having a basic understanding of how an authentic handmade rug is crafted can be extremely beneficial before purchasing one.