RealClean Rugs

Rug Edge Repair

The side of a woven rug where the fringe is found is referred to as an end. Typically it’s the shorter dimension. The edge of a hand knotted or woven rug that runs the length of the rug is called the selvage.

As an oriental rug is made and the weaver builds the rug row by row, the weft yarns are inserted horizontally and act to hold the pile yarns and warps in place. At the edge of the rug, the weft wraps around one or more heavy selvage cords as it turns around and comes back through the rug to hold the next row of pile yarns in place. (In the photo on the left, the light blue yarns visible near the white selvage cord are torn cotton wefts.) The selvage cord is then wrapped, typically with wool, to protect the wefts and selvage cords and provide a decorative finish.

The sides and ends of a rug often experience more wear, particularly in traffic lanes, than the middle. And because the yarns lie horizontally,they are more subject to wear than the pile yarns. If a damaged selvage goes unaddressed, the wefts will be torn and the pile will begin to fall out of the edge of the rug.

The before and after photos above are of the back of an oriental rug edge repair done here at RealClean Rugs.

Rug edge repair often includes rebuilding the selvage cord where necessary, securing the cord into the body of the rug and wrapping the cord to closely approximate the original yarns.

If you have a rug that needs repairing call us at 603-678-8142 or 802-651-7000.