Shepherds tend to flocks of sheep in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. In the summer, the flock is sheared of its winter wool. It can take around 50-100 coats to make a standard sized rug.
The wool is then bundled and carried to the nearby River, where it is rinsed and is vigorously beaten against the rocks to cleanse it of a year’s worth of wear.
The wool is then left to dry in the summer sun.
The women spin the wool into long strings of yarn using just their hands, shins, and wooden dowels.
Now, the yarn is either left as natural, or dyed using natural pigments and then returned to the studio.
The women begin the long process of weaving a design. Each woman (sometimes working with a partner) works on a rug from start to finish. This can take well over a month of tying knots, or by 'knotting'.
The finished rugs are then doused with water, scrubbed clean, and draped over wooden racks where they are left to dry in the mountain air.
Traditional creations being stitched and woven, with all of their intricate imperfections and glorious outcomes, are what make Morocco so magical. Discover Jurande rugs here.
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