Time on the Loom
From First Warp to Final Fringe
Abstract
Visitors often ask, “How long does it take to make one rug?” The answer is a function of knot density, loom width, and weaver rhythm—not a flat calendar number. This case study dissects a recent custom Azilal commission, mapping work hours, knot counts, and rest cycles to present a realistic timeline and cost-of-time matrix.
1. Commission Brief
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Client: Interior designer, Brooklyn penthouse
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Design spec: 280 × 180 cm Azilal, ivory field, multicolour glyph sequence (ZZ-↝, TR-ϴ, EV-✶)
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Knot density: 32 knots / dm²
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Target delivery: 12 weeks door-to-door
2. Loom Setup (Day 1–2)
| Step | Hours | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Shear & scour | 5 h | Spring clip shearing; scoured in 38 °C lye bath |
| Warping | 6 h | 560 warp threads, hand-tensioned goat-hair core |
| Dye prep | 4 h | Henna + indigo + pomegranate vats revived from previous batch |
Total set-up time: 15 hours = 1.9 workdays.
3. Knotting Phase (Day 3–62)
| Week | Net Knot-hours | Knots Added | Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 2 | 42 h | 11 k | Establish field, first glyph string |
| 3 – 4 | 39 h | 10 k | Colour fastness check; adjust indigo depth |
| 5 – 6 | 40 h | 10.3 k | Mid-loom tension reset |
| 7 – 8 | 38 h | 10 k | Insert star glyphs (EV-✶) |
| 9 – 10 | 35 h | 9 k | Shoulder-rest week; tempo drops 7 % |
Grand total: 194 knot-hours → 50 300 knots.
Weaver rota: Two artisans alternating 4 h morning / 4 h afternoon sessions, Friday rest.
4. Finishing (Day 63–70)
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Fringe secure & roll hem: 6 h
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Sun-bleach & drench: 2 days, 9 h net labour
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Shearing & pile levelling: 7 h (12 mm uniform)
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Final inspection & Certificate of Authenticity: 2 h
Net finishing labour: 24 h = 3 workdays.
5. Time-Saving vs. Craft Integrity
Could we weave faster? Mechanically, yes. Spiritually and structurally, no. Reducing hours would:
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Lower knot density → flatter pile, reduced generational lifespan.
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Compress rest cycles → risk loom tension “laddering”.
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Shorten sun-bleach → dye oxidation incomplete, colour drift over time.
Atelier des Atlas opts for longevity over speed; each extra hour banks decades of floor life.
6. Client Deliverables & Timeline Recap
| Milestone | Client Touch-point |
|---|---|
| Week 2 | PDF loom sketch & wool palette couriered |
| Week 5 | Mid-loom photo & glyph alignment sheet |
| Week 10 | Video walkthrough + balance invoice |
| Week 12 | DHL Express shipment + Tracking |
| Post-delivery | Care kit & 10-year repair guarantee |
7. Conclusion
Time on the loom is not idle duration; it’s stored labour energy. Each knot seals ancestral technique, ensuring that what lands in a Brooklyn penthouse was forged under Atlas sun and artisan hands—hour by hour, knot by knot.
Citations
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E. Benchekroun & L. Zaïm, Chronometrics of Middle Atlas Weaving (2019).
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Atelier des Atlas Time Log, Order #A24-03-AZ (2025).