Rug repair

Why early repair matters

Most damage to a handmade rug starts small. A loose edge, a few missing fringe threads or a thin spot grows a little every time someone walks on it or the rug is moved. Fixing it early usually costs less and keeps more of the original rug.

Cleaning cannot fix physical damage. Many rugs go to a cleaner and a repairer at the same visit, and repairs are often done after washing.

Fringe and ends

On a hand-knotted rug the fringe is the end of the warp threads that run the whole length of the rug. When the fringe wears away, the knots at the end can start to come loose.

A repairer can secure the ends with a row of stitching so no more knots are lost. Where the fringe is gone, new fringe can be added. On a machine-made rug the fringe is usually sewn on, and a worn strip can simply be replaced.

Edges and sides

The sides of a rug are wrapped with yarn, a finish called overcasting or binding. It wears through where feet and vacuum cleaners hit it. Once the wrapping is gone, the outer rows of knots can unravel.

Rewrapping the sides in matching wool is one of the most common rug repairs. It is quick for a skilled repairer and stops the damage from spreading inward.

Holes, moths and dry rot

A hole can be patched from behind or rewoven. Reweaving rebuilds the warps, wefts and knots by hand to match the design. It takes longer but can be almost invisible on a good rug.

Moths eat the wool pile and leave bare patches, often under furniture or along the edges. The rug should be cleaned to stop the infestation before the damage is repaired. Dry rot is different: the cotton foundation weakens after long contact with moisture, and the rug cracks when folded. Rotted areas often cannot be saved and may need to be cut out and rewoven.

What you can do at home

Trim a loose tuft level with the pile using scissors. Never pull a loose thread, because it can take more knots with it.

Keep a damaged rug flat and out of heavy traffic until it is repaired. For anything beyond a loose tuft, ask a rug repairer who works on handmade rugs, and ask to see examples of similar repairs before you agree to the work.

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