Selvage and edge rug repairs

Selvage and edge rug repairs

Wear to edges are probably the most common type of wear. On the average rug, over time the edges loosen from the rug and wear through and break, exposing weft loops. Much of this damage can be avoided if you repair it the moment you start seeing the edges loosening because the longer you keep the rug in its current weak state it only gets worse.

For repairs of substantial damage to the edges of the rug where the edge is completely broken or there are missing parts, the rug edge is mounted on a loom where the damaged parts are kept under consistent tension so that the rug is not warped when the repair is completed. The missing parts then each have new foundation fibres that are passed on through the rug so that a grid is created and the weavers can then weave into the new grid, filling in the missing and damaged part of the rug.

However this is not usually the case, most repairs for this category are simply from worn out edges that are loose and about to come off. This only requires the edge to be removed and replaced with a new one which takes little to no time at all. 

Furthermore, in some instances it is the process of time where the edges begin to curl backwards making the rug look slightly awkward and out of shape. This is why leather backing is woven in to the selvage/edge of the rug so that it can maintain its rectangular position without curling inwards. Although this problem is not apparent for all types of rugs, the main types of rugs more prone to this problem are fine persian rugs, afghan rugs and most antique rugs.