Why Are There Tassels on Area Rugs?

Purpose

• Tassels along the ends of the rug are the warp foundation fibers of the rug. A textile craftsman weaves the warp--the strands running lengthwise--and the weft--the interwoven strands that form the rug design--in a cross pattern. He ties the long strands that protrude from the warp of the rug to prevent the rug from unraveling.

Variations

• A rug maker may overstitch the ends of the rug to prevent tassels from sliding off the warp of the weave. He may opt to leave the tassels simply tied, or he may braid the strands or craft intricate tassels for a more luxurious design.

Deterioration

• Tassels may deteriorate over time from normal wear and tear or damage from vacuum cleaners. If the strands break off, the warp of the rug may become unraveled and cause a hole.