Options for Rug Fringe Repair and Restoration

 As we have repeatedly noted in this blog and elsewhere, fringes are a rug's most vulnerable area.  They are victims of pulling, tugging, and sometimes chewing either by hungry vacuums, high heels, pets, or kids.  For this reason, one of the most common kinds of repair projects we get called upon to do involves some form of fringe repair.  There are usually three options for repairing or restoring fringes.  I consider each in turn below:

1.  Full restoration of damaged fringe - this involves rebuilding the fringe so as to make it integral to the rug.  This involves recreating the warp by extending it well into the pile.  This is considered a full restoration and will last as long as the rug lasts so long as no extraordinary stress is placed on the fringes.

2.  Shortening along the fringe and binding the edge.  This will result in a shorter fringe, but the binding will help minimize the risk of unraveling and will serve to protect the pile.  This is considered a repair, not a restoration, but will last for decades.

3.  Sewing on readily made fringes.  This is also considered a repair and is a good option for those who prefer the look of longer fringes but do not wish to opt for a full restoration.  This option for fringe repair will not last as long as options 1 or 2, but will protect the rug's edges and pile.  The fringes used for this option are machine made, and they are hand sewn onto the rug.  We have seen instances where a shortcut is taken and the readily available fringes are glued on (as seen in the photo above).  We highly recommend against this route as this does damage to the pile area of the rug.  Moreover, this is a temporary solution at best as normal wear will eventually cause the glued on fringe to separate from the rug.

From an aesthetic viewpoint as well as for the preservation of the rug itself, we generally recommend options 1 or 2.  As with many other things, addressing fringe damage early on minimizes the risk of further damage and lessens the cost of any necessary restoration or repair work.  ---www.traditionalrugrepair.com