How Beni Ourain rugs are made

Morocco is a country located in North Africa with a deep history stretching back thousands of years. The people of Morocco have faced a harsh climate since nearly the beginning of time in this area. The cold winds and unending heat make it a challenge to survive in such an area. The people of Morocco had to make do with what they had to survive this harsh climate. This meant that working with materials they had such as sheep and their wool. The wool from Morocco is known as some of the magnificent wool in the world. 

The Beni Ourain rug, also known as “King rugs” are hand woven Moroccan handicrafts. The art of handweaving is passed down from generation to generation which has led to its unique design. The Beni Ourain rugs are some of the softest and most comfortable rugs imaginable. Beni Ourain are made from 100% sheep wool and each one is entirely unique with its own design. The design features dark brown lines upon a cream white background. 

So how is a Beni Ourain made? This special process begins with first obtaining the wool. The wool used is unique to the sheep from the mountains of Morocco. First, the wool is carefully sheared from the sheep. The wool is then cleaned and washed thoroughly to remove any dust or dirt that it may have gathered.  

After the wool has been cleaned and dried, the wool is then hand spun. This process transforms the individual threads of wool and twists them together to make yarn. After this the loom and warp are then prepared.

The next step is the process of knotting. This is where the craftsmanship of the people is most evident. The rugs are woven with a little pile left between the knots which makes the rug extra dense.

The rug is then dyed with natural dyes. The rug is then cut from the loom and trimmed down using special scissors. This makes sure that the pile length is standard in size. The final step is to wash and dry the rug once again. This is because the wool can get dirty again while being on the loom for so long. The rugs are then left to dry naturally in the sun before being shipped off.

The Beni Ourain rug is a rug seeded deep in the history of the country of Morocco. The design is more distinguishable than nearly any other rug. Having a Beni Ourain rug on your floor is having a piece of history there right with you, which often becomes a family heirloom which is passed down from generation to generation. 

To see our selection of Beni Ourain rugs click here.