How to Bind a Carpet Piece

Trim the edge of the carpet piece with your carpet shears. If you want to round the edges or cut a particular shape, turn the carpet over and draw the shape on the back. Then cut the shape while the carpet is still upside down so you can use your lines as guides. If you don't need to alter the shape of the carpet, just ensure that the edges of the carpet are nice and even for binding.

Measure the circumference of the rug, and cut a piece of cotton binding that is about 6 inches longer than the circumference measurement.

Cut a 1-yard piece of jute thread, and thread it onto the carpet needle. Tie a knot in the end of the thread, and put the thimble on the pointer finger of your dominant hand. The thimble will help you force the carpet needle through the carpet without hurting your finger.

Wrap the cotton binding around the edge of the carpet so that half of the binding is on the back side of the carpet and half is on the front side. Insert the carpet needle through the back side of the carpet to the front side, catching the edges of the cotton binding on both sides of the carpet. Pull the needle until the knot catches in the back. Insert the needle about 1/4-inch away from where the thread comes through to the front and pull the needle all the way through until the first stitch is taut. Repeat this process until you run out of thread.

Re-thread your needle by making a knot on the back side of the carpet. Slide your needle under the last stitch you made and send your needle through the loop and pull tightly. Make one more knot to ensure that the thread won't come loose. Trim the thread close to the knot. Re-thread the needle with another 1-yard length of jute thread, tie a knot in the end of the thread, and continue stitching until you get back around to the place where you started stitching the cotton binding.

Fold 1 inch of the cotton binding under and overlap this folded end over the binding you began stitching earlier. Folding the binding under keeps it from fraying over time. Trim any extra binding beyond the 1 inch. Use your needle and jute thread to secure the folded-under binding in place, tie your knots on the back side, and trim your thread.