Several colors are used to create pattern in this vintage braided rug.

My grandma Zabel showed me how to repair Persian rugs. When I look back on my early years in the rug restoration business, one memory of my grandmother stands out the most — her frugality.  She insisted on saving every scrap of leftover yarn.  The “scrap box” was the go-to source when we needed a piece of yarn to make spot repairs on rugs.  She would never pull yarn off a new skein of wool for a minor repair and if I dared to do so, she would throw a stern  look my way.  Grandma passed away long ago, but the scrap box remains and I use it daily.

Wool blankets (l) and coiled strips of wool (r) used to make braided rugs.

I am reminded of her lesson in frugality every time someone brings a hand-made braided rug into my shop for cleaning.  Vintage braided rugs were made from scraps of old wool clothing and fabrics cut into strips [photo above] then braided and woven together [photo below].

Three fabrics are braided and then the “rope” is stitched to the next in a coil.

Whether woven out of necessity to keep the floors warm or as a way to use the salvageable parts of worn garments, decades later these rugs are revered as much for their heavy-duty attributes as they are for the memories attached to them.  Many of my customers can point to a specific fabric in their rug and tell me where it came from, who wore it and how they remember their mother/grandmother weaving the strips into the rugs they now cherish and use in their own homes.

Some tips on purchasing vintage braided rugs:

• If buying off the internet, insist on a true close-up shot like the one I took below of a rug that I have in my shop.  It’s not uncommon for the first layer of fabric to show wear.  The rug is still very durable, but its appearance is obviously well-worn.

Close-up photo reveals fraying.

• The thread used to sew the ropes together breaks over time causing them to separate.  Sewing the areas that have split open is a simple fix, but if you prefer to have a professional do the stitching, the cost of repair should be factored into your purchase price.

• Not all the garments used were colorfast.  Ask if the rug has been washed and if there is evidence of dyes bleeding. (Note this does not affect the rug’s durability, only its cosmetic appearance).

(Photos via flickr and ehow)

Tags: Atticmag, passion for rugs oriental rug blog, vintage braided rugs