How to Save a Rug's Fringe - Binding

 

Rugs are most fragile at their edges, in particular, their fringed edges.  This is because fringes can get sucked by vacuums, pulled by heels, kids, or pets.  Fringes are merely extensions of the warp which, together with the weft, form the backbone of a rug.  When a weaver finishes knotting a rug and cuts the rug off the loom, she or he leaves a little warp at each edge of the pile.  This is not merely decorative, the fringe is left so that the pile is protected a bit.  The fringe acts like a barrier between the piled section and external stresses, in a sense.  For this reason, it is important to protect the fringes, so that they, in turn, can protect the knotted pile.  One way of protecting the fringes is to bind the fringes so that they remain intact.  One way of binding is as shown, vertical zig zag threads which hold the fringes and anchor them back into the pile.  This is one way of ensuring the fringes remain intact and can preserve the pile of a beloved rug for decades to come. --www.traditionalrugrepair.com