I have a large oriental rug that needs fringe. On one end, the fringe has been cut off completely. The other end has a few inches of the mesh rug backing at the end. Is there a way to add fringe and make it look fairly original to the rug?
If the rug is valuable, don't do anything! If it's a cheap one, sew on new fringe, but make sure you replace the fringe on the other side, to match
Sure you can. The most authentic method would be to use a 2-ply wool yarn and a darning needle. Pull them through in the right place, carefully putting 2 loops in each hole of the mesh. Use a piece of cardboard about 4 inches high and the width of your rug to keep your loops even. When you get to the end, go back over the spots where your loops come through the rug and use a backstitch to catch the thread of the first with a thread of the second...anchor it...do the same thing to do the thread of the second (which is part of your first tie) to the thread of the third. Keep going until they're all anchored. Then if you want cut fringe, go back over your threads and tie them a second time about 1/2 lower than where they're sewn down. Once your little pairs are tied, snip the bottoms open. The other option won't look as authentic, but it works. You can buy lengths of fringe in the trim section of a good fabric store. Buy a length that's about 5 longer than you need for each end (so you have enough to turn under at each end). Stitch it down by hand as no machine will sew well through a rug. Use a little Fray Stay or superglue on the ends to keep them from unraveling.
