Fringe Repair & Replacement

Fringe is the first thing to wear out on a handmade rug — it takes the vacuum, the foot traffic and the sun — and it's also the rug's structural anchor: those tassels are the ends of the very threads the rug is knotted on. When fringe goes, the rug's edge rows follow. The good news: fringe is repairable, and there's more than one way to do it.

Secure it — the early fix

If the fringe is shortening but the rug's body hasn't been reached, we stop the unraveling with a hand-stitched securing line. This is the least expensive fix and the one we recommend most often — done early, it saves the cost of everything below.

Replace it — the full renewal

When fringe is gone or too far worn, we attach new fringe by hand, matched to the rug's age and color — bright white fringe on an antique rug is a giveaway; properly matched fringe just looks right. On fine pieces we can rebuild the fringe from the rug's own foundation threads, the way it was originally made.

Or remove it — the modern option

Some rugs — and some rooms — look cleaner without fringe. We can remove it and finish the ends with a hand-secured edge instead. It's a legitimate choice, and we'll tell you honestly whether your rug's value would suffer for it before we touch a thread.

Done in-house, often with a cleaning

Fringe work happens in our own facility, usually in 2 to 3 weeks, and most customers pair it with a hand-washing since the rug is already with us — fresh fringe on a clean rug is a transformation. Edges worn too? See serging and binding, or the full repair and restoration service. Call (630) 324-6567 or text a photo of your fringe for an honest assessment.

Cassim Rug Gallery · 239 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515 · (630) 324-6567 · Mon–Sat 10–6, Sun 12–5