Braided Rugs Consumer's Guide

Braided rugs came into being during the early days of the American frontier. This was a period when being self-sufficient was an essential skill as most settlers were poor and frequently isolated. Running down to the local shopping mall to pick up supplies was not an option and the tough living conditions in general meant very little could be wasted.

It was during this time that many women found a way to re-use old cloth and worn out clothes to make a braid rug to provide some warmth and comfort in what was otherwise a very spartan existence.

With a little ingenuity a woven rug could be made by cutting the old clothing into strips and sewing them end to end to form longer lengths. With skill and patience several of these strips were then braided together to form a durable strand. The final stage consisted of coiling the braided strand into the desired rug shape and stitching adjacent strands to one another to hold everything together.

The finished braided rug allowed the settler families to re-use otherwise discarded material and at the same time provide a practical home furnishing that would last for many years.

Over time, the rugs have become more sophisticated, being made from cotton, wool, and later synthetic yarn, in many distinctive colors, often designer-selected.

Braided rugs continued as a labor intensive cottage industry until the early 20th century when a way was found to make them mechanically using a converted shoelace machine. This simple innovation allowed the braided rug to be produced in large quantities and at affordable prices.

Many of the early manufacturers during this time were hard pressed to keep up with demand.The humble braided rug had gone from basic floor covering for farmers wives, to a fashionable home accessory sought by the burgeoning middle class.

Modem machine made braided rugs are made from a wide range of fibers including cotton, nylon, polypropylene, wool, acrylic, and polyester.

Commercially available braided rugs that your are likely to find at your local carpet store are manufactured in one of two ways.

Round (Tubular) Braid

Round, or tubular, braiding consists of a central core material wrapped with an outer braided shell. The finished braid looks a lot like rope and is usually made on the same equipment. Depending on the quality of the rug this core material can be a natural or synthetic yarn as well as foam rubber and in some cases paper. Round braided rugs are easier to produce and hence can be sold at lower cost.

The downside of the round braid is its limited durability which is usually a result of a poor quality core material. This fact invariably presents itself the first time the rug is cleaned.

Flat Braid

Flat braiding is the traditional method of making a braided rug. Flat braids are far superior in looks and also in maintaining their shape and form. They consist of several flat strands of material woven together to form a braid. The source material can be either fabric strips or woven yarn.

Unlike most floor coverings today, a quality braided rug is exceptionally durable. They are able to withstand the rigors of everyday use and still maintain their appearance and shape. It is not uncommon for a braided rug to last several generations.

Braided rugs have withstood the test of time and continue to be a stylish and cost effective floor covering enjoyed by millions worldwide.